“Okay, I promise.”
Annie grins. “Thanks. Love you, Delaney.” She calls me by my last name, which she’s done since high school when I first asked her to.
“Love you, too.” I sigh and open the car door, dragging my overfilled duffel bag behind me.
The next morning, I toss the same equally overfilled duffel bag into the backseat of my hand-me-down sedan and drive east.
My parents bought my pale-blue clunker fifteen years ago when my oldest sister started driving. Molly passed it down to Nicole, who passed it down to me. A perk of being the youngest is that I get to keep the car, even though it had definitely seen better days by the time I started driving it.
I pat the dashboard. High mileage or no, Cammie has been good to me and is saving me from a car payment in my current era of underemployment.At least the Bluetooth connection still works, I think as my audiobook plays through the car speakers.
The drive to Camp Prairie Star takes about two hours, and when I spot a Buc-ee’s less than an hour from camp, I stop to fill up on gas for the car and snacks for me.
I notice a text notification on my phone. It’s from the group chat with my sisters. Considering Nicole got married less than forty-eight hours ago and is currently on her honeymoon, I hope it’s Molly texting.
Molly:
Headed to camp today?
Olivia:
Yep. Almost there now
Molly:
Have fun!
Olivia:
You know I’m not like going to camp, right? I’ll be working there
Molly:
Of course
Molly:
I know you’re an adult and stuff
Olivia:
Okay, good. Thanks
Molly:
Oh! Did you remember to pack Panda??
I sigh in frustration. Panda is a stuffed animal I’ve had since I was a baby. It’s a panda, obviously. I was not a kid who was very creative with names.
Right after Molly claims to know that I'm an adult, she asks about my old security stuffie. Figures. Of course, Pandaisin my duffel bag, obviously, but still.
Olivia:
I’ll be fine Mol
Molly:
Okay, it’s just I know you can get a little nervous at night by yourself
