I found Kane the next day by the vending machines near the back entrance of the gym. He was pretending to choose between chips and trail mix, but his red-rimmed eyes gave him away.
"Kane," I said softly.
He didn't look at me. "Don't say sorry. I'm not mad anymore."
"I wasn't going to say sorry. Not exactly."
That got his attention. He turned, arms folded. "Then why are you here?"
"Because you matter. And I hate this awkward silence between us."
He gave a short laugh. "You chose Aaron."
"I did."
"And you love him?"
"I do."
Kane exhaled through his nose. "Then there's nothing else to say, is there?"
"There's this," I said, stepping closer. "You were my first home at college. My best friend. And I will always love you in a way that doesn't disappear just because I fell for someone else."
Kane blinked hard. "Then promise me something."
"Anything."
"Don't ever make him wait like you made me wait."
The honesty in his voice hit me harder than I expected.
"I won't," I whispered.
We stood there a moment. Not hugging. Not holding hands. Just two people learning how to let go without breaking apart completely.
As I walked away, I saw Sammy waiting at the end of the hall. She didn't say anything. Just smiled gently at Kane as he approached.
"Hey," she said. "Vending machine's broken again?"
"Something like that," Kane murmured.
She handed him a chocolate bar without a word.
Kane likeschocolate and usually I used to give it to him before but I guess now sammy can do that for him.