Summary

It is now 7:17 p.m., and the boys are on their way back to Mateo’s home. On the way, Mateo asks if they could see his dad one last time. They agree to rest for a bit at the house before heading out. Once inside, Mateo gives him a tour, including his chaotic bedroom, messy from his earlier panic attack. Rufus finds the Luigi hat from Mateo’s profile picture and begins taking photos “of this awesome, unrecognizable Mateo” jumping around on his bed (338).

Mateo moves to the piano and tells Rufus to “feel special” because he is about to play a song that his dad used to sing to his mother (339). After the song, they make their way to the kitchen, pretending that they just returned home after a normal day. They lie in bed together, sharing stories about their histories...