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It can’t hurt, right?

Everyone has to share what they’re grateful for,” I announce, passing around the bottle of hard cider. No one likes wine except for Danika.

There’s groaning from Gavin.

“Shut it,” I tell him. “No one invited you, so you should be grateful you’re even here.”

“That’s what I’m grateful for,” Gavin says, like his contribution is now over.

“Hey! I invited him,” Collin throws in.

“Be friends on your own time.”

“Siblings. Siblings.” Jaz interrupts us, holding up her glass. “Let’s not bicker. I’m hungry, and in order to eat this incredible dinner that we all made, we need to share. So, start sharing.”

“I’m grateful that we’re together again,” Darcy says, adjusting her cushion so it’s closer to Jaz. “I’ve missed us. And I’m in love with Sadie’s new apartment. And that we get to eat Thanksgiving off a row of coffee tables while sitting on pillows. This is so fun. And—”

“One thing, love,” Jaz says sweetly.

“But there’s so many things,” Darcy says with an adorable sulk.

“There are so many things,” Danika agrees. “I’m grateful for getting accepted into the nursing program.”

We all holler congratulations.

“I’m grateful I don’t have to drive my mother’s car to campus anymore,” Collin announces.

“What?” Jonathan asks. “The Charger’s done?”

“No. My grandfather gave me his truck. He bought a new one.”

“Is that car ever going to be finished?” I ask.

“You shut it,” Collin says, pointing at me. “She’ll be ready when she’s ready.”

“I’m grateful I got that internship in Connecticut next semester,” Jonathan says. “And an apartment to go with it.”

“I can’t believe you’re not going to be here next semester,” I complain.

“Co-dependent much?” Gavin grumbles.

“Shut it,” Jaz and Danika say at the same time.

“This is the strangest gratitude blessing ever,” Darcy says, sipping her cider.

“I’m grateful that we still have each other, no matter where we are,” I announce with a hand on my heart.

“Always!” the girls chorus, raising their nearly empty glasses. They glare at the boys when they don’t echo their sentiment.

“Yup,” Collin says.

“To that,” Jonathan adds, clinking my glass and kissing my cheek, whispering in my ear, “and forever.”

I can’t believe I’m sitting at a table in a steakhouse, being stood up by the person who orchestrated it, across from her teenage daughter who’s even more uncomfortable than I am.

Emma finally makes eye contact after fidgeting with her napkin. Her silverware. And her water glass. Rachel’s running late. I’m not surprised. She rushes through life and doesn’t pay attention to where she is or where she’s going most of the time. But I really wish she’d made an exception to be here right now.

Honestly, I’m used to being around the socially awkward. I was, anyway. I need to keep reminding myself to think in past tense. It’d be better if I didn’t refer to my past at all, even in my head. But I can’t erase it. So I might as well use what I’ve learned.