Chapter Thirty-Three

Juno

The words might as well have been a slap to her face. She’d hoped for them, dreamed about them, and now that they’d been said, she couldn’t say anything back.

Maddox took the moment to walk to her, to meet her close to the edge of the bridge, with the water waving below. “I love you,” he repeated. “And I should have told you before.”

Emotion crawled up her throat. She held it back. She loved him, too, or had, but words alone didn’t fix this.

“It’s…” She shook her head. “Thank you for telling me.”

He almost smiled. “You’re welcome.”

“But.”

Maddox held up his hands. “I knew there would be a ‘but.’ There’s more, I promise. Will you please listen? Just for a few minutes, and then I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want.”

Alone? She felt like she’d been alone her entire life. Maddox was the only one who had made her feel alive. But again, him being here didn’t solve the problem. It didn’t fix everything that had happened.

Juno turned to face the water, to stare at the small hint of light that was vanishing over the horizon. The stars were out in multitudes, and maybe another day she might have stared at the inner city, the Light Side, dreaming of being there. But that was the old Juno.

She had a chance to make something of herself now; she just had to figure out where to start.

She nodded. “Okay. Talk.”

Maddox came up next to her but didn’t touch her. “I left you. I walked out on you when you needed me. Or—or maybe you didn’t need me. You’re strong, but I should have been here. Every time I wasn’t here, I should have been here.”

Yes, she’d needed him. She’d needed him so badly. But now…he was right. She was strong.

“I love you, but that’s not enough.” Maddox’s voice lowered, carried away on the wind. “I know that’s not enough.”

She waited for him to continue, almost wondering if that was all he had to say. But then he turned to her, his face a shadow just like all those times they’d met at the dock.

“That’s not enough,” he repeated. “I don’t want to have to hide this—what I feel.”

She opened her mouth to argue. It wasn’t like they could tell anyone else how they felt. Pillar was the only one who knew anything more, who’d had a glimpse at how much she and Maddox shared.

“I told my mom,” Maddox said.

“What?”

He nodded and ran a hand over the back of his neck. “I’m tired of our communities being at war. Of everyone worrying all the time. But mostly, I was tired of not telling the truth and not being able to say how I feel.” He lifted his head. “So, I told her about you. Everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yes. I told her I was the one who went to your side and started this mess.”

“You did?” Juno finally turned to him, a small crack opening in her heart, just enough to let hope through.

“Yes. She knows everything. In fact, most of my community probably does now, too. She knows you didn’t take the supplies.”

“How? Did you find out who took them?”

“It was Theo.”

She slapped a hand over her mouth, and her voice came out muffled. “Really?”

“Really. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but my mom knows the truth, and she’s not going to let Theo or anyone else come after you. You’re safe here.”

“But…what about the feud and—and—”

“We’re going to talk about it. She wants it to be over, and so do I. She’s going to offer a truce. Which means…you’re safe. You could go back if you want.”

Juno blinked. Go back? Was that even a possibility? She’d decided long ago she didn’t belong there. Even after things changed—if they changed—was that what she wanted?

Maddox gave a smile that was almost shy. “And she knows the rest, too.”

“The rest?”

“That I love you,” he said, reaching for her hand. “The most important thing.”

Her heart broke and she squeezed his hand. “You told her that?”

“I told her that. I needed her to know. I needed to fix this. Not just by telling her, but by making sure she knows what’s important in my life. You.”

Juno wrapped her arms around Maddox, and he responded immediately, his mouth closing over hers. He ran his hand down her back in a gesture of reassurance as she clung to him, allowing herself to hope more than she’d ever hoped before.

But then a thought occurred to her, and she jerked back. “Wait. Did she kick you out?”

He laughed. “No. She didn’t kick me out. She let me come to you. She’s not mad.”

“Really? But how…” She still couldn’t believe it. Not only were they trying to end the feud, but it was okay with Maddox’s mom if he loved a girl who was supposed to be the enemy?

“I’m serious,” Maddox said as if reading her thoughts. “She understands.”

She swallowed and clung tighter to Maddox. “I’m glad.”

He took her hand, turning them to face the water again. To listen to the waves below. “Do you think you’ll go back? If things change? If your side accepts some sort of truce?”

“I…I don’t think I want to.”

“Really?” He squeezed her hand.

“Really. I think I found my home.”

Maddox’s voice lowered. “I saw how your family was. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Juno.”

She smiled at him. “I’m not. It was time for things to change. I’m sure you have to get back now.”

“No. I don’t. And even when I leave, I’ll come back and see you. Tomorrow. The next day. As many days as you want.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, making him laugh again.

“I know you don’t have much reason to trust me, but I promise I’ll be here. I love you, and I need to be here for you. For whatever happens.”

“I love you, too.” She sighed and faced the water again. “So what’s next?”

There was a smile in his voice when he answered. “I have no idea. But whatever it is, it’ll be together. And it’ll be an adventure.”

He was right. It would be an adventure. So many things up to this point had felt like a fight—her family, her relationship with the one person who truly seemed to understand her, and even her own feelings. It almost didn’t feel real that she might have a chance to live a life free from those same worries.

But with Maddox by her side, she was starting to believe there was a whole world out there she’d have a chance to explore.

So they stared at the stars together, and finally, finally, after all this time, Juno felt like she’d found her place.

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