By the time the Hale twins returned to their apartment, only their dad was awake. He looked tired but asked about their dance, as usual.

Kaleb had much to say, chattering about his fun with Vanessa, but Violet simply said it was fine. Prom, unfortunately, hadn't been special.

After Aaron listened to their accounts, he went to bed. Something felt amiss, but Violet couldn't pinpoint it. The next morning, Nathan whispered that Grandpa had died the previous night while they were out.

No wonder the apartment had been so quiet! Violet's heart ached. She hadn't said goodbye because she'd gone to a stupid dance she hadn't even enjoyed. She could never undo that.

She locked herself in her room and sobbed. Grandpa had been ill for a long time, but still… Violet had thought she'd say goodbye. She hadn't visited him in over a week. Now she never would.

Her phone rang. She almost ignored it until she saw it was Noah. He was probably checking on the dance. If anyone understood, it would be him.

She didn't want to be around her weeping family—especially her distraught mother—which is why she'd hidden. But someone who wasn't crying might help.

Violet answered, and before Noah could speak, she sobbed his name.

He was silent a moment before saying, "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Unable to bear the gloom of her apartment, she went downstairs to meet him, still in her striped pajamas and an oversized T-shirt. She didn't care she looked like a mess. She just wanted her best friend.

Seeing him, she threw herself into his arms.

[Remove the promotional sentence about the website.]

"What happened, Vi?" Noah asked gently, stroking her hair.

"Grandpa died last night. While I was at the dance. I didn't get to say goodbye," she choked out, tears streaming down her face.

Noah held her tighter. He knew how close she was to her grandfather, the family's only beloved granddaughter.

"I'm so sorry. What can I do?"

His kindness made her cry harder. Violet couldn't respond. They were making a scene in the lobby, so he led her to the parking garage.

He helped her into the backseat and held her so she could cry privately. Going to that dance had been so stupid.

How could she have thought it worthwhile? Nothing was worth missing saying goodbye to someone she loved. Guilt and self-disgust swirled with her grief.

Finally able to speak, Violet snorted. "I shouldn't have gone to that stupid dance. I didn't even have fun. It was all for nothing, and now I'll never see Grandpa again."

"He would never blame you," Noah said softly. "He knew how much you loved him. You told him so every time you saw him, didn't you?"

"Yes," she sniffled. She always told him she loved him goodbye.

"You have nothing to beat yourself up about. He left knowing you loved him, and that's what matters."

How did he always know what to say? The knot of guilt began to loosen. Noah was right. Grandpa knew she loved him. But his absence wouldn't be easier to bear.

He'd been at every recital, at their house for dinner several nights a week. Robert Hall was an essential member of the Hale family. And now he was gone.

"I know he's in a better place. He's with Grandma and Uncle Caleb again. I know how much he missed them, especially Grandma. She died thirty-one years ago, and he never stopped thinking about her."

Violet almost smiled through her tears, remembering his stories about his wife. He rarely spoke of her, and then only in passing. Violet didn't even know how they'd met or fallen in love.

Once she'd asked, but he said it hurt too much to think about it. She hadn't asked again, though her curiosity remained.

"Can you imagine loving someone that much?"

Noah was silent, looking thoughtfully out the window. Perhaps he was trying to imagine it. It was a devotion not everyone could achieve.

Finally, he smiled slightly. "Do you want a distraction or comfort food?"

He hadn't answered her question, but he often got distracted. Violet was used to it. She wasn't sure which she wanted.

"Can I have both?" she asked sheepishly.

"Duh. Which first?"

"Comfort food. I haven't had breakfast."

Noah took her for pancakes. She ordered a chocolate chip tall stack to share. They'd shared food for so long that it didn't occur to her they looked like a couple on a date to others in the restaurant.