On the Edge of Love (CarlxAlan)

Chapter 22: Alan

I had never felt this celebrated before.

The party was overwhelming at first—so many people, so much attention—but once I let myself relax, I actually started enjoying it. Elie had really gone all out. There were string lights wrapped around the deck, music playing over the speakers, and an entire spread of food that I was pretty sure she had forced Mason to make.

People swam, played games, and goofed around in the backyard, but the best part was that Carl was right there with me the whole time.

He didn't hover, didn't act suspicious or weird—just existed in my space in the most natural way possible. And maybe we were pushing it a little, letting our friends see the way we smiled at each other, the way Carl would lean just a little too close to whisper something in my ear, the way I grabbed his wrist once while laughing at something stupid he said.

It was subtle enough to brush off if anyone noticed, but it still felt different. It felt... real.

And I loved it.

A little while into the party, Carl nudged me.

"Come with me," he said.

I raised an eyebrow but followed him as he led me inside. The music dulled when we stepped into the kitchen, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

"Needed a break?" Carl asked.

I nodded. "A little."

"Well, I also have something for you."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He didn't answer, just grabbed a bag off the counter and gestured for me to follow him upstairs.

I was already suspicious.

Once we got to Elie's room, Carl shut the door behind us and handed me the bag.

I gave him a look. "What is this?"

"Your present."

I blinked. "Carl, the party was already a present."

He just shrugged. "Open it."

With a sigh, I pulled out the tissue paper and—

My breath caught.

Inside the bag was a guitar. A real guitar.

Not some cheap one from a discount store. Not something Carl picked up secondhand.

A real, quality guitar.

I swallowed. "Carl..."

"I know you love music," he said, almost shyly. "And you've mentioned wanting to get a guitar before, so I figured... why not?"

I stared at it, at the deep brown wood, at the way it gleamed under the light.

"Carl," I said again, shaking my head. "This is too much. You shouldn't have spent this much on me."

He hesitated, then stepped closer. "It was worth it."

I looked up at him.

"For what we have," Carl continued. "For you. It was worth it."

I felt my throat tighten.

This was real. Not just the guitar, but this. Him. Us.

Carl reached out hesitantly, and I let him take my hand, his fingers brushing over my knuckles before lacing them between mine.

I exhaled shakily. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Carl murmured.

I met his eyes, and for a second, the whole world shrank.

And then he kissed me.

It was slow, careful, like he was afraid I might pull away.

I didn't.

I melted into it, let myself fall into the feeling of his lips against mine, the warmth of his hand holding mine, the way everything just fit.

When we finally broke apart, Carl exhaled a small, nervous laugh. "I—uh." He ran a hand through his hair. "I've never felt like this before."

I swallowed. "Like what?"

"Like I can actually be myself with someone."

My chest ached in the best way possible.

I squeezed his hand. "Me too."

Carl smiled softly, then sat on the edge of the bed, pulling me down beside him.

We sat there for a second, just holding hands, letting the moment settle.

And then—

The door swung open.

We jerked apart instantly, hands snapping to our laps as Summer stood in the doorway, wide-eyed.

"Oh," she said, blinking. "Sorry. I was looking for Elie."

Carl and I exchanged a lightning-fast glance.

"Uh, she's downstairs," I said quickly.

Summer's gaze flickered between us.

I kept my face neutral. Carl did the same.

After a second, Summer nodded slowly. "Right. Okay. I'll just—go find her."

She hesitated for a second longer, then slipped back out, shutting the door behind her.

The second she was gone, Carl exhaled sharply.

"Well," he muttered. "That was terrifying."

I let out a breathless laugh, my heart still racing. "You think she—?"

Carl shook his head. "I don't know."

Neither of us moved for a second.

Then I let out another small, nervous laugh and nudged Carl's shoulder. "Guess we should be more careful, huh?"

He gave me a lopsided grin. "Yeah. Probably."

But even as we sat there, barely breathing, I couldn't stop thinking about the way his hand had felt in mine.