NESSA: what were you thinking?
CAL: aren’t you supposed to be at practice, soccer star?
NESSA: mind your business.
LANA: He’s never had a birthday party because…well, reasons…but it’s his half birthday and I’m pretty sure he won’t be mad
BEA: We’re in!
LANA: I need everyone
ELLISON: Everyone, everyone?
LANA: Everyone, everyone—go big or go home
NESSA: Give me the dates and times, like down to the minute, and I’ll make it happen.
ARDEN: am I excused from this?
LANA: absolutely not.
ARDEN: come on. I’m barely family.
ELLISON: you’re my family. If I go, you go.
ARDEN: I don’t think I like you that much.
ELLISON: your fault. You found me. Now you’re stuck with me.
CAL: see? We all have to live with the consequences.
ELLISON: that’s not nice.
CAL: yeah, but you like it.
There’s jokingand laughing and sassy remarks, but there’s also so much love. These people are the best kind of friends.
They’re family.
“Do you think this is overkill?”I ask, turning my head to look at Bodhi.
“Yep.”
“Do you think he’s gonna be mad?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t know. But if he’s gonna be mad, he’s gonna be mad at both of us.”
There’s a small comfort in that.
Things between Mason and Bodhi had been strained the first couple of weeks after Sorren and Hank had taken him off the worksite. It’d been heartbreaking, the two of them broken and battered with the news of the new trial.
And even though it’d taken time, they’d gotten past the hurt, their bond as strong as when they’d come to Blackstone Falls.
I nibble my bottom lip as I look out at the yard. I’d rented a tent that Bodhi and Montana had come over last night to put up, gotten folding chairs, and had the food catered.
There’s even a balloon arch.
It’s exactly what I would have done for either of the kids. It’s a party like I’ve thrown well over a dozen times.
