Once Mila was inside, I checked the clock in her car.
11:40 p.m.
If I hurried, I could still get to Leo before midnight. So I could kiss him. Make New Year’s Eve worth something after all. Make that night matter. I texted him. Told him I was on my way.
He texted back. Where have you been?
I’ll tell you when I see you.
There were cars parked up and down the block, plus a tangle of beach cruiser bikes in the front yard of Cody Calabrese’s house when I walked up. Music seeped out onto the street, the same radio station I listened to on Mila’s crappy car radio on my way over, playing a countdown of the top one hundred pop songs of the last year. I checked my phone.
11:57 p.m.
It wasn’t midnight yet. I could still find Leo. I could still save the night.
I pushed through the wrought-iron gate. Scanned the crowd. The backyard was filled wall-to-wall with people from school. It might as well have been a hallway crammed with lockers and seniors and school dance flyers.
11:58 p.m.
I weaved my way through the cold wintry air that smelled of campfire smoke and pine needles. I spotted Thea, Iris, and Juliette sharing the hammock, gently pushing themselves back and forth, waiting for midnight. Sitting there with them would’ve been so much easier than what I had done that night.
“Leo?” I mouthed.
Iris pointed across the pool. I saw him on the deck. Tall and sure, wearing worn jeans and a hoodie and checkerboard Vans. Holding on to a can of Coke. Surrounded by friends. He threw his head back and laughed at something.
His happiness made my tension melt away.
The pool lights were on and the water glowed turquoise at his feet, casting slippery shadows against the wall behind him. He looked like he was underwater. Like I’d have to swim to get to him.
11:59 p.m.
He turned. Saw me. Grinned a grin that lit up his whole face. It lit up the whole backyard.
I wanted to tell him everything and nothing at all.
He rounded the pool. Met me in the middle of the grass. Around us, everyone counted down to midnight, sending streamers flying and party horns bleating.
Leo pressed his mouth to mine at exactly midnight.
I went loose in his arms with relief.
Letting go of the whole night. Of Mila and Robert and beer and the beach.
“You made it,” Leo said.
“I made it.”