I glance back at Camden and find him biting back a laugh.
“I said?—”
“Why are you yelling? I’m right here,” he says, joining us in the doorway.
With a sigh, she turns back to us. “Never mind. Are you all packed?” she asks, her face suddenly a mask of worry.
I nod. “I’m going to miss you both so much.”
She gives Camden a serious look. “You better take care of her.”
He shifts the box onto one hip and wraps an arm around my waist. “I will. And we’ll still come by for Sunday dinners when I’m not traveling.”
Rosalie’s stern expression brightens dramatically. “Such a good boy.”
I hold in a laugh, my mind going straight to the gutter, but when Rosalie focuses on me, her eyes filled with emotion, tears suddenly threaten to escape.
“I’m so happy for you, Savannah. No one deserves this more. Remember, you’re family.” She opens her arms wide.
I throw myself into her embrace, relishing the softness of the woman who has become more of a mother to me these last few years than my own.
Family doesn’t have to be blood. Hell, sometimes the people meant to love us are the ones who hurt us the most. So it’s hard to believe that a person who has no obligation to me whatsoever could ever show me this kind of love. But Rosalie broke down those walls with her loud voice and her pushy attitude and the sweet moments sprinkled in here and there.
She pulls back and squeezes my shoulders. Then she pushes me toward Nick, who gives me a big hug as well.
The first floor is quiet, meaning the Donovans must be out. It’s a relief, really. I’m not sure I could handle saying goodbye to the kids. Last night, when Piper and Alice sat on my bed, crying about how we can’t have random playdates, was hard enough. I promised to visit often. As excited as I am for this next phase, there are parts of this transition that are hard.
When I get in the car, I finally look at my phone and am bombarded with texts from the girls. They’re so ridiculous that they instantly lighten my mood.
Josie: Um, hello? Where are the pics for proof?
Addie: I’m a little nervous to see this tattoo after hearing where SOME people put their tattoos.
Josie: I swear to god if this is about my FATHER, I’ll unalive you.
Sutton: Definitely avoid reading Sav’s chat with your mom’s friends, then, Jose.
Josie: I hate you all.
Josie: Savannah?
Addie: Sounds like she got distracted
Sutton: She got Di-something
Addie: Bahaha. SUTTON, did you make a DICK joke?
Josie: She’s been DICKMATIZED, let’s be honest.
Sutton: Bet his is tatted too.
Josie: I will need 7-10 business days before I speak to you again.
“What are you giggling about over there?” Camden asks as he pulls out into traffic and heads toward his—no, our—place.
Giddy, I smile at him. “Josie’s trying to come to terms with the fact that her father is also the infamous War that I now know far too much about, thanks to Hannah.”
Camden barks out a laugh. “Fuck.”
