Julia

After working a half day at the center, I drove to the bakery to meet Darby. I entered and found her sitting at a table wearing a hat with a box of donuts and two drinks. I joined her and hung my bag on the back of my chair. "How are you doing?"

"Today is a good day." Darby smiled. "Donut?"

"I thought you would never ask." I grabbed a donut and bit into it.

Darby sipped on her iced coffee. "One more year before you become a senior in high school. Are you excited?"

I chewed and swallowed. "I should ask you the same thing. After next year, you'll be a college graduate."

"Yeah. It seems surreal." Darby sighed.

"Are you okay?"

Darby looked at me and shook her head.

"What's wrong?"

"Dallas has all these plans for us."

"That's good, right?"

"It is, but it isn't. Even if I go into remission, the doctor says there's a chance it could end. I don't want Dallas to get his hopes up for us."

"I can understand your reasoning. But it would help if you gave Dallas more credit. He's loved you since he was thirteen."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Isn't there someone special you love?"

I looked at Darby as my lips twitched slightly. "I thought there was. But it was only a dream."

"Julia, if you have the chance to find love, don't let your anger stop you. Too many people let past hurts influence their happiness. You don't want any regrets."

"Do you have any regrets?"

Darby nodded. "I regret fighting with Dallas. It robbed us of time together. I let my jealousy interfere with my time with Dallas. Life is too short to be unhappy."

"You sound like you don't have much time." I knitted my brows in confusion.

"Not at all." Darby shook her head. "But I'm realistic about my sickness. I don't want to leave this earth without appreciating what I have. No matter what happened, I made peace with the outcome. But I need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"If anything happens to me, promise you will make sure Dallas finds someone to love again."

"Darby."

Darby shook her head and held up her hand before lowering it. "Julia, I trust you to keep your promise. Dallas deserves a second chance at love. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Thanks, Julia. I have a feeling you will get your wish." Darby's lips curved upward in a genuine smile.

We sat at the table, ate donuts, and talked. It's moments like these you learn to cherish. One day, you will need them.

*******
Bradley

Having the boys home for the summer reminded me of when they were little. The house didn't feel so empty with their conversations and laughter. Hazel basked in having the boys home. She missed them as much as I did.

We were having a movie night tonight, just like when the kids were younger. Jace and I walked into the house after work, carrying pizza boxes. Hazel brought cups and a two-liter of pop into the living room. Braydon handed out plates and napkins while Dallas had a popcorn bowl.

Of course, Jace played The Avengers. It's not like we haven't seen this movie a billion times. But I would watch it a billion more times if that meant the boys were home.

The boys cheered when Thor appeared on screen and knocked out Loki. Hazel and I exchanged glances before snickering. The best part was when Odin appeared on screen.

"Hey, look, it's Thor's dad!" The boys yelled.

Hazel and I laughed.

For twenty-year-olds, the boys were still those little kids we welcomed into our home when they were seven. They might be older with deeper voices and facial hair, but they were still our boys.

I wouldn't change anything.

******
Julia

After hanging out with Darby, I headed home. I found Dad and Jas having an ice cream contest in the kitchen. I grabbed a bowl of ice cream and joined them.

"How was your visit with Darby?" Dad asked.

"I'm not sure." I shook my head.

"What do you mean?"

"It was like Darby was saying goodbye."

My dad furrowed his brows before looking at Jas. "Peanut, why don't you take your ice cream into the living room and watch a movie."

"Works for me," Jas said, taking her ice cream into the living room.

Dad looked at me. "Troy said Darby made peace with her diagnosis. She doesn't want to give anyone false hope."

"Darby made me promise that Dallas would find love again."

My dad's brows lifted in surprise.

"Dad, I'm only sixteen. What do I know about love?"

"Pumpkin, are you sure you don't know about love?"

"Yeah, since I've never been in love." I rolled my eyes.

"Why do you say that?"

I shrugged.

"Or are you denying the truth?"

"What's the truth?"

"That you don't have a stupid crush on a certain neighbor boy."

I looked at my dad and blinked.

"Julia, you can deny it all you want. But you wouldn't care what Jace does if you only had a crush."

I pinched my brows but didn't say anything. My dad wants me to admit something I wasn't sure about.

Dad leaned forward and placed his hand on mine. "You have a year to figure it out. Take it." He patted my hand before getting up and taking his ice cream into the living room.

I had a year to figure out what. 

******
Jace

After watching movies and eating dinner, I headed upstairs to my bedroom. I dug my wallet out of my back pocket, pulled out the picture of Jules and me, and sat on the bed. I stared at the picture, trying to figure out what happened.

"You okay?" Dad asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded.

"That's the million-dollar question."

Dad stood erect, walked to my bed, and sat beside me. He glanced at the picture and smiled. "I want to say people are right, but you can't fight fate."

"What do you mean?"

"Jace, you have a year left of school. Take this year to figure out what you want before you make a decision that could hurt someone. No one will fault you if you decide it's not what you want. But be honest with yourself. Lying doesn't help anyone, including yourself."

"And what happens if I still feel the same after a year?"

"Then you have your answer." My dad gave me a reassuring smile.

I rubbed the side of my face, knowing my dad was right. I didn't want to make a mistake and hurt Jules. It wouldn't be fair to her.

"Okay," I conceded.

"Jace, we all make decisions that aren't favorable. But sometimes, you don't have a choice. Life isn't always fair. Sometimes, it throws you a curveball. The last thing you want is regrets."

I nodded in response.

My dad patted my leg before getting up and leaving the room. I understood what my dad meant. But it didn't mean I liked it. Then again, a lot could happen in the next year. It would lead me on an unexpected journey to realize the truth. And someone would help pave the way for one hell of a love story for me.