Things started out rocky between my family and Ava, but they’re great now. She comes to the house regularly, making sure to come over when I’m in town, which means a lot to me. We’re all slowly getting to know our sister.
We haven’t let Bruce get between us, which is why I think Dahlia and I should be able to do the same.
One thing at a time, I guess.
I go back to the table and pick up on the conversation. Tully’s on a roll with a story about his neighbor’s cat sneaking into his house, and it’s cracking us all up. The guy is even more dramatic than I am, which is saying a lot.
“When I walked into the living room, looking for him, I didn’t realize he’d somehow climbed up the curtains. He parkoured it, soaring right over my head and barely missing by an inch. I felt the breeze on his way down. And then I couldn’t get him out! The little squatter managed to leave little treasures for me all over the house.”
We’re cracking up, and Tully is just getting started, so I hate to interrupt.
I clear my throat. “Hey, uh—I’ve gotta head out early.”
All three of them freeze and turn to stare at me.
Camden’s eyes narrow. “What’s your rush?”
“You mean what’s-her-name?” Tully says.
Noah lifts an eyebrow, which for him is basically shouting.
“I have some things I need to do before going back to the house.”
“Uh-huh,” Camden says. “Definedo.”
“Tell her we said hi,” Tully adds.
They all erupt into laughter.
I clap Tully on the back and shake my head. “You’re hilarious. All of you.”
Camden makes a kissy face, and Noah just smirks at me. I flip them off on my way out, and they howl even louder.
The second I hit the cold air of the parking lot, I bolt. Dahlia’s car is conveniently tucked in the far corner. I slip into the passenger seat, close the door quietly, and breathe.
Two minutes later, Dahlia appears, walking as fast as she can while holding Chloe, who’s burying her face in her mom’s neck to avoid the chill. She opens the door and puts Chloe in her car seat. For Chloe’s part, she looks so stunned when I pop my head around the seat that she just blinks before breaking out into a big grin.
“You look like you just robbed the place,” Dahlia says as she slides into the driver’s seat.
“Stole myself away.”
I know she’s nervous because she doesn’t even do a polite chuckle. She exhales, her fingers tapping anxiously against the wheel. The whole drive to Erin’s, she talks nonstop—about how fun Erin seems, disbelief that she was at the same restaurant as Ava this afternoon, about whether Ava likes coffee or tea.
I rest my hand on her thigh. She covers it with her own. Neither of us says the real thing out loud: She’s scared and hopeful.
When we pull up to Erin’s house, Dahlia stares at the front door.
“Are you up for this?” I ask after we’ve sat there for at least five minutes.
“Yes.” She straightens her spine. “I want this.”
We walk up the path. I can feel her hand trembling in mine. Chloe has her other hand. Before she can knock, her breath stutters. I squeeze her fingers, and she knocks.
The door opens almost instantly—both Erin and Ava are standing shoulder to shoulder. Ava looks like she sprinted from wherever she was. Her eyes are wide, vulnerable in a way that cracks something open in my chest.
She and Dahlia gulp simultaneously and stare at each other.
Ava’s breath catches first. “Hi,” she whispers.
