He looked around at them."Damn, guys, I've missed you."
They all stared at each other for a long moment before Mav broke the silence."I'll be the one to say it first.I've missed you too, Mitty—and the rest of you bastards."
The others all nodded, mumbled, or—in Travis's case—voiced their agreement.
Blane caught Emmett's gaze and smiled."Sorry, but I couldn't shield you from that one."
~ ~ ~
"Hey, Harper, how was your day?"Tanya asked as she climbed into the passenger seat.
"It was good, thanks.How about you?"
"It was okay."
They both turned when Alana climbed into the back."Hey, Harper.Thanks for coming to get us."
"It's my pleasure.I know you guys can ride the bus again now that you don't have rehearsals, but since I was going to be in town right around the time school got out, I thought it'd be nice for us all to ride home together."She met Alana's gaze in the rearview mirror."I hope I didn't stop you from riding the bus with your friends."
"No, it's cool.Like I told Dad, most of my friends don't ride the bus anymore."
"Well, I'm sure you'll be driving yourself soon."
Alana smiled at her."Dad was talking about it again last night.It sucks to be one of the youngest in my grade, but as soon as I can, I'll be driving."
"Well, I hope you know you always have me as an option when you need a ride."
"Thanks, Harper."
"Are you going to stay when we get home?"Tanya asked.
"I don't know yet.I can make you something to eat when we get there if you like, but I don't know if I'll stay."
"I'm sure Dad will want you to settle in.He'll be disappointed if he comes back and you're gone."
"Maybe he'll be back before I'm ready to leave anyway."She didn't know what Emmett had going on today, only that he'd had to go over to Bozeman this morning, so he’d shifted his appointments to this afternoon.
She didn't understand the smile that Alana gave her in the rearview mirror, but it seemed… encouraging.
"Are you coming over this weekend?"Tanya asked."I miss you being at home."
"Your dad and I haven't made any plans yet, but I won't be there tomorrow night.I'm going out with my friends."
"Oh.Are you?"Alana sounded disappointed.
"Yeah, you know Shelley, and of course you know Libby, and there's Ari, and Retta, and Candy as well."
"Yeah, yeah, I know them," said Alana."I just didn't realize that you wouldn't be coming over tomorrow night."
"But it's okay," said Tanya, "because we won't be home tomorrow night either."
"You won't?"Harper asked."What are you guys up to?"
"We're not all going out together," Alana explained."But Tanya's going over to the MacFarland place to hang out with Nat."
"Yeah, and I'm gonna sleep over there," Tanya added.
"And I'm going home with my friend Dakota after school, and I'm staying the night at her house, too."
