I love Alis. I loved Naomi because she’s easy to love, but this feels different. Like there’s more substance and depth to it. Alis gets me like no one else can. When we’re alone, lost in our own little world, my guard drops, and I can just be. Canyon. Not an emotionally brittle high school senior who’s had to deal with the shattering of his family and the loss of his best friends. Just Canyon. Happy. Relaxed. Hopeful. When I’m with Alis, I’m solely his. He protects me in his own way. Shields me from my dark, inner thoughts when I get pissed about Dad and distracts me.
