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I shrug. “Plans changed.”

I can see by the way both Mom and Dad eye us that they know exactly why our plans changed. Dad nods, digesting the reality that I’m growing up far too fast for him. Mom says, “The back yard is all ready for you girls. There’s a heap of treats on the counter in the kitchen.

She pats Dad’s chest. “I’m glad you girls made it home safely. We’re going to hit the sac, but we’ll leave the back door open for you girls.”

“Thank you,” Andy and Shyanne say together.

Mom’s eyes meet mine halfway up the stairs. She winks at me, mouthing, “Love you.”

I smile at her even though I still feel fragile. “Love you too.”

“Your dad is seriously the best.” Andy flicks the strand of twinkly lights Dad hung inside the tent. He hung more outside, to light our way at night. And to make it magical for us while he can still make life magical.

Dad says that a lot. That we have to take the magic where we can, because the older we get, the harder it is to find.

Shyanne pulls a six pack of coolers from her overnight bag, giving them a little shake as she wiggles her hips where she sits. “I brought treats, too.” She smirks. “Thank you big sister.”

Andy hoots, reaching for one. She tosses it to me before grabbing one for herself. She takes a big swig and reaches for the massive bowl we’ve filled with chips in the center of a pile of blankets and pillows.

She pops another chip into her mouth, her eyes sliding from Shyanne’s to me. “What was that with Tate?”

I sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

“I think he’s hot for you.”

My mouth drops and I gasp, “Shy! No, he isn’t. He’s my boyfriend’s big brother.”

“Who comes when you call him? Yeah, I don’t think so.”

“My family is close to his. We hang out together all the time.” I nibble a chip. “Tate is like a brother to me, of course, he came.”

“If you say so.” Shyanne takes a drink.

“He has Laura, and she’s the greatest.” I look down into my drink. “I think they’re even going to move in together.”

Andy leans into a pillow. “Have you heard from Holt?”

“We text.”

“Micha said some big wig was watching today.”

Something pierces my chest. Hurt, maybe. “He talked to Micha?”

“They were texting when we were at Kevin’s.”

“Oh.”

Andy straightens. “He was going for dinner with the guys, so it was a short conversation.”

There’s a beat of silence. It’s heavy enough to suffocate us all before I ask my friends, “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Shyanne frowns. “Why would we think that?”

“Because I love him.”

“Babe, any girl would love Holt.”

“Yeah, but he’s going to make it, you know…”