Page 62 of Grief & Glitter

His lips parted, and he handed me his phone. Whatever this was, we’d face it together. We could be home in six hours, and if his dad needed him…

Dear Ryan Vale,

Congratulations.

I didn’t need to read beyond the first line when I saw who it was from, and my heart exploded with pride.

I looked at him. “You got in.”

“Oh, my God. Oh my God. Gideon.”

“I know.”

“Gideon!”

He launched himself at me. I caught him around the waist and went backward onto the bed with Ryan half on top of me, laughing so hard I could barely breathe.

“I got in!”

“You got in.”

He kissed me. Hard. Then pulled back. “Starting soon. Part-time.”

“Yeah?”

“I can keep working.”

“That’s amazing.”

“And it says—wait, wait.” He scrambled upright and started reading again while I watched his face. I saw every flicker of disbelief, every flash of joy, his mouth moving silently over the words, his eyes filling. “I’m going to beauty school.”

“You are.”

“I’m actually going.”

“Yeah.”

He looked at me. “I thought they might say no because of the drugs.”

“I know.”

“Or because I’m too old.”

“You’re twenty-three.”

I reached for him. Ryan came willingly, folding himself against me. I held him while his shoulders shook.

“You okay?”

“Happy crying.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to call Dad.”

“You should.”

He sat up, then stopped. “Actually, no.”