“I want to find my mom,” I say. “I’m … not afraid anymore. I want to find her and tell her everything I’ve done. I want her to know me, and I want to get to know her. Is that weird?”
Jay’s eyes drift back toward the crowd of dancers, and I follow his gaze to see his dad and Sakchai dancing back and forth—just as his dad steps on her foot and she jokingly reprimands him.
“It’s not weird,” Jay says. His voice falls softly. “I think it’s normal.”
I squeeze his hands. “Not wanting to get to know your dad with everything that’s happened between you two is just as normal, you know.”
“No. I want—I mean, I think I want to at least try. We’ll see how it goes.”
“Well, you better keep me updated on that.”
“Oh, don’t you worry.” Jay kisses my forehead. “I will.”
“Wow, get a room,” Erik says. I hadn’t even noticed him come over, but he stands not far from us with Al at his side.
“No one wants to see you two being all disgusting,” Al chips in.
Jay’s face is red as he pulls back, but I say, “I just won us a war—I’m going to do whatever the hell I want.”
Al laughs. “Won’t argue with you there.”
“Well, sorry to interrupt, but at least spare us a little time,” Erik says. Al grins. “Get over here and dance with us.”
Al grabs my hand and pulls me back into the crowd. I can only laugh as she awkwardly twirls me around and I see Erik giving Jay the same treatment. There’s still a lot to be done to win true peace. We all have a long way to go from here. But for now, everything is perfect.