Page 63 of Strange Love

“You were never invisible to me, Baby,” he whispers, causing a chorus of laughter and french fries to be playfully thrown at us.

“And before we know it, graduation will be here,” Taz says, looking at Corey strangely. Corey returns the look with a glare that speaks volumes about their unspoken tension. The group ignores the palpable hostility and enjoys the rest of our meals, talking about nothing in particular.

The drive to my house is filled with tense silence, but I can’t help but bring up the elephant in the room as soon as we park.

“So, what was going on at the food court?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.

Corey’s head tilts to the side, his expression curious. “What do you mean?”

“I couldn’t help but notice how Taz looked at you when discussing graduation.”

He lets out a heavy sigh and finally meets my gaze. “I’ve been trying to tell you, but you haven’t been ready to discuss it.”

Feeling a knot form in my stomach, I step out of the car and walk towards my front porch, needing some space for this conversation. I sit down on the steps and bury my head in my hands, taking deep breaths of the cool evening air.

“You’re leaving,” I say softly, knowing it’s true even though he hasn’t said it yet. “I’ve always known that you were meant for bigger things. I’m so proud of you.”

My heart aches at the thought of him leaving our small town and chasing his dreams, but I know deep down that it’s what he needs to do. Still, saying goodbye will be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do.

He settles down next to me, his gaze fixed ahead and his lips pressed into a tight line. The silence between us is heavy with unspoken words. I muster a weak smile and attempt to swallow the lump in my throat.

“So, where did you ultimately decide to go?” I ask, feigning nonchalance.

His eyes briefly meet mine before flickering away. “Boston,” he says quietly. “Full ride.”

Corey

Ivy’s golden curls bounce as she shakes her head, turning to face me. Her blue eyes, usually bright with excitement, are now red-rimmed and filled with a sadness she’s trying desperately to hide.

“That’s amazing, Corey,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not surprised at all. I think it’s exactly where you belong.”

“Where do you belong?” I ask.

She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, shaking her head again.

“I don’t know,” she admits, her voice laced with uncertainty.

“Do you think you want to take classes at the community college?”

“Maybe?” she shrugs, looking lost in thought. “I still don’t know what I want to do.”

“My mom always says that’s the beauty of our age.” I offer with a small smile. “We don’t have to have it all figured out yet.”

As we sit there in silence, the late afternoon sun casts a warm glow, reminding me that the journey matters even though we may not know our destination yet.

“Your mom is right,” Ivy concedes with a sigh, her voice tinged with frustration. “I wish I had anything figured out.”

“You’ve come so far this year,” I remind her gently.

“I have,” she admits, a glimmer of pride shining in her eyes. “I’ve figured out a few things between you and my friends. Just not who I am, and that’s an important one.”

I nod in understanding. “It is. So if you’re feeling lost here, maybe you can find yourself in Boston?”

Her brow furrows in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Ivy,” I plead, taking her hands in mine, “come to Boston with me.” It’s something that I’ve thought about but didn’t know I was going to ask until the words poured through my mouth, straight from my heart.

She stands abruptly, shock written all over her face at the unexpected request.