I share one last look with my father before nodding and heading to the bathroom.
I’m gonna survive too.
My heart kicks out of place as I glance down at the ticket in my hand.
It feels like a chance. A whisper of hope.
Damn, it feels like fucking everything right now.
CHAPTER 52
DANI
So, I drove up to Nolan this afternoon, sporting the jeans with the little rips and the top with the deep V-neck.
“And make sure you pair that with your black leather jacket. You know the one I love?” Tobin had instructed me.
When he spots me coming, he lets out a squealing cheer. “Yes, girl!” Running over, he picks me up, spinning me around and kissing my lips once before taking me in.
“You did everything I told you to. And your hair!” He makes me turn so he can get a decent look at the soft locs I got done. It took a few hours and cost a ton, but they should last me around six weeks, and I really love the new look. It makes me feel like a new woman, and I really needed to do something different after saying goodbye to Atlas.
Holding my cheeks, Tobin gives them a little pat and bats his eyes at me. “Daddy’s so proud.”
I laugh. “Thank you,” I say, then reach up to hug Jed.
“How you doin’, girl?” he softly asks when he releases me.
“Yeah, I’m great.” I tug at the back of my jeans and look between them.
Their frowns are so skeptical that I have to blow out a huffing breath. “What? I am. I’m doing really well.”
“You seem on edge.” Tobin rubs my arm, sharing a concerned frown with Jed.
“What do you expect me to be?” I swallow and scratch the side of my nose. “I mean… is he here?”
Please be here. Please be here!
“Not yet.” Jed glances around as if Tyrell might suddenly materialize.
I can’t help following his gaze, my heart in my throat… until I see Nix skipping toward me with a bright smile.
“Hey, you.” I laugh, pulling her into a hug. Oh my gosh, I had no idea how much I’d been missing her!
Squeezing her tight against me, I make her hug me for a few more seconds than she wants before letting go.
“How are you?” I smile at her, and she gives me a little smirk.
“I’m doing good.” She throws a thumb over her shoulder. “In spite of having to live with this tree over here.”
I glance up at the man standing behind her. He is tall and very handsome, his smile lopsided as he throws an arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t listen to her. She’s secretly in love with me. Can’t get enough of climbing trees, this girl.” He winks as Nix elbows him in the stomach, and he makes a big show of pretending that it hurts.
Nix rolls her eyes and introduces us in a droll tone. “My peeps, this is Darian, who should not be living at Basketball Base, but his dumb ass failed one of his papers last year, so he’s been catching up in summer school. Meaning… that six-bedroom mansion I was supposed to be enjoying all to myself has been overcrowded.”
Darian frowns and points to himself. “It’smyplace. And my sister never should have agreed to let you live there without discussing it with everyone first.”
“None of you were supposed to be there!” she argues back, flinging her arms wide, and that’s when I see it.
