“Max! Jasper told me you were awake!”
She bounds into the room, diving straight onto the bed by my side. I wince but I’m so freaking glad to see her.
“Oh sorry, should I not—”
“No,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her close. “Stay here.”
She nuzzles into me, and we lie quietly for a moment.
“So that was crazy, huh?” she says.
“Pretty wild.”
“I’m glad you’re safe. I mean I know we’re all heading off to college or whatever, but it would have really sucked if you’d have, like, died.”
“Ditto,” I say. “But for you.”
“And you’re like a full-on superhero now, hey?”
“I don’t know about that. I’m not even sure what I did.”
She leans forward so she can look me in the eye.
“You’ll figure it out. And even if you don’t, I’m still going to tell everyone that my bestie is, like, stronger than Superman.”
“Wow,” I say exaggeratedly. “That’s pretty strong.”
“Just the truth.”
She lies back down, resting her head on my shoulder.
“I’m really glad you’re safe, bestie,” I say.
“I love you, Max. “
“You too, bish.”
“You know you’re stuck with me forever, right?”
Again, she sits up, smiling and meeting my eye.
“Of course. I’m counting on it.”
She hugs me tightly, the best best-friend hug, and I reciprocate with all the strength in my weak little arms.
Another knock at the door interrupts our moment.
“Mind a few more visitors, Cuz?” Omar is poking his head through the open doorway.
Katie sits back and I try to sit up a little higher. “Sure.”
Omar pulls Mason through the door, and I clock how their hands are linked. Too cute, those two. They’re followed by Mia and Olivia.
“What time do you call this, sleepyhead?” Mason says, a big grin on his face. “The rest of us have been up cleaning this dump for hours.”
Mia slaps his chest. “Maybe go easy on him, he did save the world. Besides, those soldiers left a lot of filthy sheets and towels lying around, there’s plenty of work to be done when he’s feeling up for it. Right, Max?”
“You got it.”
