“I’m getting some good-girl-gone-bad vibes,” Ginny teases as she begins to scan the books.
I laugh. “Not exactly. More like good girl flies free.”
Ginny blinks as if she’s seeing me for the first time as myself—not as the person Dusty Hollow had defined me as. And I truly hope she breaks free, too.
“It’s good to see you, Ginny. I hope you’ll be at the birthday bash tomorrow.”
She swallows. “I?—”
“You’re always invited, and you should really come. We’ve replaced clowns and bouncy houses with karaokeand a coffee bar.”
“What time?” she asks.
“Five,” I answer.
Then I step back into the heat of Dusty Hollow, music moving back through my body, and dance my way to the house that’s no longer home.
55
SADIE
Myparents’backyard has been turned into a grown-up version of the infamous Summers Sisters birthday parties we had as kids. There’s still cake—cupcakes in our three favorite flavors: lemon, strawberry, and chocolate. Balloons, but muted colors instead of the bright ones from our childhood. And instead of a giant bounce house, which Sophie had her first kiss in—that was an interesting birthday party—Grant built a stage for karaoke.
This was my mom’s idea. She thinks I’m in the middle of a premature midlife crisis and that maybe a party will magically fix everything. I can’t convince her that there’s nothing to fix, but I’m happy to hang out with my sisters and eat lemon cupcakes.
I absentmindedly move some white folding chairs around, my hands still trying to catch up to the fact that I’m not in charge of this party.
“Sadie!” Sophie’s squeal is loud and warm before she hugs me from behind and then quickly withdraws, her finger tracing my tattoo. “This is beautiful on you.”
I turn, grinning at the sister who looks most like me. “Thanks, Soph. I’m glad you’re a little early. Surprised, but glad.”
Sophie giggles. “Yeah, I’m usually late to the party, but I have some news I wanted to share with Mom and Dad before.”
I tilt my head. “What’s that?”
Her face scrunches up in excitement before she reveals, “I bought a van!”
“That’s amazing!”
Her green eyes roll up toward her brows. “They won’t think so.”
“Who cares? Is it something you want to do?” I ask.
Her purple lips stretch into a grin. “More than anything.”
“I’m happy for you, Soph. Really.” I pull her in for a long hug, her scent of motor oil and bubblegum strong.
“I can’t believe Mom is making us have a party,” Emma complains with a smile as she steps out of the sliding door from the house into the backyard.
“Emma! Check out Sadie’s new tat!” Sophie runs over, grabbing Emma’s hand, and brings her over to where I’m standing.
Emma shakes her head playfully. “Did it hurt?”
I think back to the needle pressed against my shoulder and don’t feel any pain for my skin, but for the words Milo said about his dad.
“Not really,” I answer. “Not like I expected it to.”
Emma smiles at me before she turns back to Sophie. “Is that your piece of junk parked out front?”
