“They aren’t excuses.”
“I know.”
His voice broke slightly.
“I was young.”
“So was I.”
“I thought you were trying to trap me.”
I stared at him.
“Why would I need to trap you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Exactly.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I spent eight years telling myself I made the right decision.”
“And now?”
“Now I know I didn’t.”
He looked toward the house.
“I watched those boys tonight.”
He smiled faintly.
“Ethan folds his arms exactly like I do.”
I laughed despite myself.
“Daniel bites his lip when he’s nervous.”
Adrian smiled.
“Noah doesn’t trust strangers.”
“Neither do you.”
“And Samuel…”
He stopped.
“What about Samuel?”
“He laughs the way I used to.”
I looked at him.
“You remember?”
“I remember everything.”
Then he said something that made my chest hurt.
“I should have been there.”
