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I step back and out of the way with the others. Eli and Caden join me. None of us have parents here who want pictures of just us and Harper. Jack goes first. They look in love as the cameras flash. Cathy practically coos over them.

Nico steps in next, and his mother takes at least twenty pictures. When she’s done, Jack steps in to fix something in Harper’s hair. Pretty sure it’s just an excuse to talk to her and touch her.

Jennifer walks over to us. “Which one of you wants to go next?”

Her dark eyes take us in, and she arches an eyebrow.

I glance at Nico’s mom and Jack’s mom comparing pictures. Would my mom have done the same? Would she have accepted us with open arms?

Caden clears his throat. “Our parents won’t even look at the pictures.”

“I will.” Jennifer straightens. “Harper will. You guys all will. This isn’t about your parents. Though maybe someday they will want to see them. This is about you and Harper and whatever it is you guys are trying to build with her. So give her this memory.”

I release my breath.

“Besides a girl needs a photo she can tear in half or burn when you’ve done something wrong.” Jennifer grins wickedly. “Just be glad they’re digital so when you come crawling back all apologies and she forgives you, she can print out a new one.”

Eli shakes his head and covers up his smirk. “Fine. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

Jennifer’s smile softens. “Go on, get in the picture so we can get you guys on your way. I need some sleep.”

Eli walks over to Harper, and she smiles at him. She reaches up and smooths his hair. Her fingertips brush down his lapels. Jennifer returns to take their picture.

“We did get lucky.” Caden runs a hand over his hair. “She could have made this so much harder on us.”

“Jennifer?” I ask, since the last girl on my mind was Harper.

“Yeah.” Caden smirks. “She didn’t make a huge fuss over us dating Harper. Or put restrictions on us, even knowing the whole truth of what happened.”

“It’s weird.” I scratch the back of my neck. She’s been a champion for me even before I knew it. She graciously gave me a soft place to land, even knowing I was probably fucking her daughter.

“What’s weird?” Caden asks.

“Having a parent who looks out for you more than your own blood.” I don’t know why Jennifer gives us her trust when it comes to Harper, but I never want to let her down. Either of them.

Caden nods.

“Caden, your turn.” Jennifer gestures for him to come join her.

Robert moves to stand next to me. “How’s your year going?”

“Better than usual.” I drag in a breath and watch Harper pose with Caden. Jennifer coos over them almost as much as the other moms did.

Robert smiles. “You know if you need somewhere to stay...”

I turn to look at Jack’s dad. He’s always been nice and accepting of us.

“Why didn’t you cut us out of your life? It would have been easier if Jack had made different friends.” I drag in a breath. “Being friends with me puts him in my father’s crosshairs.”

Robert places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “You aren’t your father. If I thought for one minute you were following in his footsteps, I would have done what I could to keep Jack away from you.”

I give him a questioning look. Part of me is my father. It would have been easier to give in to him if I didn’t have friends I needed to protect from him. There are reasons I stuck with only these guys. My father at least somewhat respects their fathers.

They know the deal. My father was friends with theirs. They may not be powerful enough to take down my father. They may never have wanted to. But they would have fought for their sons.

“Thank you.” I turn to meet Robert’s eyes, so like Jack’s. “You made life easier when he’d go too far.”

My friends’ doors were always open to me. Did I sometimes get jealous of the lives they had? The parents that were everything mine wasn’t? Even Caden’s silent neglect was preferable to my father’s ire.