Luna was in the kitchen when Ryan got home. He dropped his backpack beside the couch and leaned against the counter. She didn’t look at him, though that was probably for the best since she seemed to be chopping something.

“I screwed up.” He huffed.

She chuckled. “You know, you’re not the first person who’s said that to me today.”

Great. He rested his chin against the countertop. She was probably tired of hearing about other people’s problems then.

She stopped chopping, and a moment later a plate of apple slices was set beside his head. “Tell me what happened.”

“I think I gave away that I can speak.” He nibbled on a slice. They were fresh and crunchy, just the way he liked them. She had even pealed the apple first, which he appreciated because the skin sometimes gave him a stomach ache. He put the rest of the slice in his mouth and grabbed another.

Before he could grab a third, Luna picked up the plate. Like someone luring a small animal with a treat, she kept it in his line of sight as she moved it to the table. He obediently followed and they sat down.

“Who do you think found out?”

“Jake. That’s why it’s bad.” He quickly told her about the talking through texts, and how happy it had made him. It hurt to think about how quickly he had screwed that up.

Luna hummed in acknowledgement as she picked up an apple slice. “I don’t think you have to worry too much. Jake’s the kind of guy who would completely understand if you explain why you don’t speak.”

Ryan glanced at his backpack, where he had stuck his phone while he ran home. That was an explanation he was not eager to give.

“I am curious though. Why do you think he knows?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I made a sound. When he, uh…”

“When he kissed you?”

Ryan’s head flew up to look at his sister. She was failing to hold back a smile. She knew! Somehow, she already knew what had happened.

He glared at her while nodding slowly. “How did you know?”

She shrugged casually, as if it was no big deal. “Jake called. He thinks he scared you away.” She got up from the table and started to retreat to her room. “By the way, he said nothing about you being able to speak. I don’t think he noticed.”

Ryan stared after her. Didn’t notice? He looked back at his backpack. He could suddenly see the situation as it must have looked to Jake. He felt like an ass. Why had he run instead of letting the confrontation happen? There wouldn’t have even been a confrontation.

He propelled himself out of the chair and dug out his phone. As he flopped down on the couch, he saw texts from Jake.

‘Is it okay if I kiss you?’

‘Shit, it didn’t send! I’m sorry!’

‘Please tell me we’re alright.’

‘Not that there was a ‘we’, but… you know what I mean.’

‘Shit, what if you don’t? Everything I know about you tells me you’re different from other people, so I can’t make assumptions like that.’

As Ryan stared at the texts, a new one was delivered.

‘I understand if you never want to talk to me again. But, please, just let me know you’re okay.’

He sent a quick ‘I’m okay’. Then he stared at the digital keyboard, trying to sort out what he wanted to say. He brought a hand up to his mouth, remembering the kiss without worrying about what had come after it.

‘Is there a ‘we’?’

‘Only if you want there to be. But… I’d like it if there was.’

‘I think I’d like that too.’ Ryan hesitated, then put a blushing emoji at the end of the message and sent it.

Jake sent back a heart.

‘So, I’ll see you tomorrow?’

‘Yeah.’