I laugh, remembering those early days. “You were terrified of the seniors.”
“They were intimidating!” she protests. “All cool and confident and like they belonged here.”
“And now that's us,” Trixie says, poking at the fire with a stick. “God help the freshmen.”
Jonathan, who's been quietly talking with Alfie about some math theory I couldn't follow, looks up. “I still don't feel like I know what I'm doing half the time.”
“That's the secret,” Troy says, squeezing my shoulder. “None of us do. We're just better at faking it now.”
The conversation flows easily, jumping from memories of freshman disasters to plans for after graduation. I hear the full story of how Alfie and Tara got stuck doing community service last summer.
Troy and I have been talking about the future too—whether we'll end up in the same city, how to make it work if we don't. Nothing's certain yet, but the conversations don'tscareme like they once would have.
“I'm getting another drink,” Ethan announces, pushing himself up from his chair. “Anyone need anything?”
Lacey stands too. “I'll help. My hands are freezing anyway.”
They head toward the house together, and I don't miss the way Ethan casually offers Lacey his jacket, or how she smiles up at him as she slips it on.
“That's new,” I murmur to Troy.
He follows my gaze and grins. “Who knows with him. He deserves somebody good though. She seems good.”
“She is good.” I turn to look at him. “She’s the greatest. Why didn’t you tell me that he likes her? Maybe we could set them up?”
He shrugs, looking slightly guilty. “I don’t know if he does, but they look like they’re getting on pretty well. But, I don’t know if he’s ready for it, he got burned pretty bad by Paige.”
I wince remembering how she treated him. “Ethan deserves someone who makes him happy.” I say softly.
“So do you,” Troy says, his voice serious beneath the playfulness.
I look up at him, at the face I've somehow memorized without trying. “I have that.”
His smile is slow, private. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He presses a kiss to my temple, lingering there. “Good.”
The back door swings open, and Lacey emerges with a tray of what looks like hot chocolate. Ethan follows with a plate of s'mores ingredients, looking more relaxed than I've ever seen him.
“Dessert!” Lacey announces, setting the tray on the rickety outdoor table. “Because we're adults and can have chocolate for dinner if we want.”
“The ultimate freedom,” Trixie agrees, already reaching for a mug.
As everyone gravitates toward the treats, I stay put for a moment, taking in the scene. My friends—old and new—laughing together in the golden light of the fire. Troy beside me, solid and warm.
Tara catches my eye again and lifts her mug in a small, private toast. I nod, understanding passing between us. She's seen the change in her brother, just as I've felt the change in myself.
“Coming?” Troy asks, standing and offering me his hand.
“In a minute,” I say. “Just... taking it all in.”
He nods, understanding without needing more explanation. That's one of the things I love about him—he gives me space to process, to feel, without pushing.
As the group clusters around the s'mores station, I hear Freddie ask, “So who's coming to the Living Classroom ribbon-cutting next month?”
“We all are, obviously,” Tara says. “It's going to be epic.”
