Page 258 of Commander’s Mate

“If Earth gets found tomorrow, what happens?”

No one moved.

The question had lived with us for weeks.

Apparently we had all agreed not to look directly at it.

Nora put down the bands.

“We go home.”

Scarlet nodded.

“Do we?”

Zoe frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I don’t know what home means anymore.”

My chest tightened.

Scarlet looked at me.

“Harper has Zared.”

“I also have parents.”

“I know.”

“Nora has—”

Nora pointed at her.

“Do not say Sahvin.”

“You were going to say Sahvin,” Zoe said.

“I was not.”

Scarlet looked innocent.

Nora’s face betrayed her.

We laughed.

Too loudly.

The laugh died slowly.

Zoe rubbed her palms over her thighs.

“My mom thinks I vanished getting the mail.”

I looked at her.

She had said it before.