Lena's POV
I'm standing in the courtyard of the Mercer estate, and the word "estate" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Perfectly manicured hedges line the circular driveway, and there's a fountain in the center that probably costs more than my entire house.
Everything about this place screams wealth and privilege and a world I don't belong to, and I'm acutely aware of my worn sneakers on their pristine stone pavers.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I look down to see Mom's message glowing on the screen.
"Whatever you decide, make sure it's what YOU want, not what you think you owe them."
The words settle over me like a blanket, warm and grounding, and I realize she's given me exactly what I needed—permission to want something for myself.
My thumbs move across the screen before I can overthink it.
"Mom, can I love them both? Is that allowed?"
The question looks absurd typed out like that, like I'm asking for permission to break some fundamental rule of the universe, but I hit send anyway because I need to know.
Her response comes almost immediately. "Baby, there's no rulebook for love. Choose what you want."
It's so simple, so Mom, cutting through all the complexity and shame and confusion to the one truth that matters. I can choose. I get to choose.
A smile spreads across my face, tentative but real, and that's when I hear them. Footsteps pounding against marble, getting louder, more urgent, and then they're bursting through the front door into the courtyard.
"Lena," they say in perfect unison, and the synchronization would be funny if they didn't both look so desperate, so scared of what I might say.
My smile widens despite everything, despite the chaos and the rumors and the impossible situation we're all in. They're here. They came running.
They start talking over each other, words tumbling out in a rush of apologies and explanations.
Noah's saying something about a post he almost made, and Evan's trying to explain why he stopped him, and they're both looking at me like I'm something fragile they're terrified of breaking.
And it shows just how much they care about me.
"That's not why I'm here," I say, cutting through their tangled apologies. They both stop mid-sentence, staring at me with expressions that are equal parts confused and hopeful.
I take a breath, steadying myself. "I told my mother everything and she said one thing that made me realize I need to know what I want and choose. So I have decided."
The words come out stronger than I feel, but I'm committed now. There's no going back.
Both boys look at each other, and I can see the fear flash across their faces. They think I'm about to reject them. They think this is goodbye.
"I need to say something first, before I tell you my decision, and you both need to listen without interrupting," I say firmly, because if I don't get this out now I'll lose my courage.
They nod, silent and attentive, and I force myself to meet their eyes as I speak.
"I came to that hotel room prepared to hate myself," I begin, and the memory of that night feels both distant and immediate. "You made me hate myself differently—for wanting something I thought I didn't deserve."
I see Noah flinch at that, see Evan's jaw tighten, but they stay quiet like I asked. "I don't know if what I feel is real or just gratitude or guilt or trauma bonding or what. But it's something." My voice cracks slightly on the last word, betraying the uncertainty I'm trying so hard to hide.
I pause, gathering the courage for what comes next. "I'm not going to choose between you. I can't. So I have decided, and that is if you still want me or you decide you can still want me."
"What is it?" Evan asks, stepping forward with his hand reaching for mine, but I step back. I need space to finish this, need to not be touching either of them when I say what I'm about to say.
"I love you both, I can't deny it any longer. What happened between us was the best thing," I say, and I watch their faces light up with hope before I deliver the rest. "But for my mental health, I think it's best we end things."
"What?!" The word explodes from both of them simultaneously, identical expressions of shock and betrayal painted across their faces.
I can't help it—I laugh. It's small and shaky but genuine.
"Relax," I say, and there's something almost playful in my tone now that I've dropped the bomb. "If truly you love me like you claim, then here is a little test for you. I made this decision because it's just two months away from graduation. I'm going to college immediately after and I heard Evan also picked a college in the same school. I don't know about you, Noah…."
"I can do the same," Noah says immediately, no hesitation, and the certainty in his voice makes my heart do something complicated in my chest.
I smile at him, at both of them, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. "If you're both willing to wait till we get to college, then first, I'm in." The words hang in the air for a moment, and I watch them process what I'm actually saying—not goodbye, but see you later.
Noah and Evan stare at each other for a long second, some silent conversation passing between them that I'm not privy to, and then they're moving.
Their arms come around me from both sides, pulling me into a hug that lifts me slightly off the ground, and the joy radiating from them is almost overwhelming.
"Two months is not a long time. Of course, we can wait, right?" Evan says, turning to Noah over my head, and there's excitement in his voice that makes him sound younger, less guarded.
But Noah's expression shifts, worry creeping in.
"What if I don't get into the same college as you? Your college is just thirty minutes away from her." The insecurity in his voice is raw, genuine, and I want to reach up and smooth the worry lines from his forehead.
"You will," Evan says with absolute confidence. "It doesn't matter if it's same college, it just has to be in the same city." The way he says it makes it sound simple, achievable, like geography is just another problem to solve.
Noah's face transforms, the worry melting away into something that looks suspiciously like happiness.
I watch them, these two boys who've turned my world completely upside down, and instead of seeing the disagreement or disappointment I'd braced myself for, all I see is excitement.
They're not fighting this. They're not trying to talk me out of waiting. They're just happy I'm giving them a chance at all.
My heart swells so big I think it might actually burst, and I open my arms wider, inviting them deeper into the embrace.
They respond immediately, holding me tighter, and in this moment surrounded by their warmth and their hope and their ridiculous optimism, I let myself believe this might actually work.
"I love you, Lena," Noah says against my hair, quiet and reverent, like he's making a promise.
"Me too," Evan adds, and his voice has that same quality of certainty that he usually reserves for charming his way out of trouble.
I close my eyes, feeling tears prick at the corners but not letting them fall.
"I love you both, too," I whisper, and the words feel like taking flight, like letting go of all the shame and fear and impossibility that's been weighing me down. For the first time since this whole mess started, I feel like maybe, just maybe, everything is going to be okay.