The realization hits me hard. This is it. This is the last big house dinner before everything changes. The guys decided toorder a huge Mexican feast—tacos, enchiladas, rice, beans, and the best carne asada I’ve ever had.
We set the table. Coronas all around. I quickly slice up a couple of limes, and then we sit down. We don’t immediately dive into the food.
I think we all just realized at the same time, this is it. The moment is too heavy to ignore.
I glance around at all of them. These guys who became my family. Who took me in when I had nowhere else to go and who supported me through the breakup and the makeup and everything in between. I'm going to miss this so much.
We all exchange looks, and I swear I see tears in Crew’s eyes.
I’m a girl and just walk right into the stereotype and cry. They’re happy and sad tears.
“You okay?” Declan asks.
I smile and nod, blinking away the tears and pushing through the moment. “I’m just thinking about how much I'm going to miss this."
"We'll still see each other. Boston's not that far."
"I know. But it won't be the same."
He doesn't argue because we both know it's true. This chapter is ending. We're all moving on to the next thing.
Dinner is chaotic in the best way. We pass dishes while talking over each other. Everyone is excited about their futures. Everyone except Ashton will be staying in the general area. There are lots of plans to get together and do the usual stuff, but I know that’s unlikely to happen. I know how this goes. They’ll all have careers, girlfriends, and new families.
This is it.
"Speech!" Holden suddenly calls out, banging his fork on the table. "Hayes, you gotta say something."
"I'm not making a speech," Declan protests. “That’s dumb.”
“I’ll say something,” Ashton says. His tone is serious.
The table goes quiet, and we all give him our full attention.
He takes a deep breath. “So I had this whole thing prepared about how you guys changed my life and how I'm a better person for knowing you all. Very heartfelt. Very emotional."
I can already feel myself tearing up again. I reach for my beer.
"But then I remembered that time Crew shit his pants during practice sophomore year and tried to blame it on the equipment manager."
I choke on my Corona. Beer goes up my nose, and I'm simultaneously laughing and dying.
"Dude!" Crew shouts, his face turning bright red. "That was confidential information!"
"Or the time Holden got so drunk he called his mom, thinking it was that girl from his psych class, and told her he wanted to bend her over."
Holden is the one choking now.
"Or Pierce," Ashton continues, grinning like the devil himself.
"Do not finish that sentence," Pierce warns, but he's laughing, too.
I’m invested. I need him to finish that sentence.
“Pierce was dared to stick his tongue against a pole and did it,” Ashton says. “The ambulance had to come and everything.”
"And Declan." Ashton turns to look at him. "My best friend. Who once got so nervous before a game that he threw up in his helmet and then had to wear it anyway because we didn't have a backup."
"I hate you," Declan says, but he's smiling.
