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But after a moment or two, we both laugh awkwardly and stumble away from one another.
As we continue to bowl and encourage and challenge each other, it dawns on me that he hasn’t taken a picture or posted on social media in a while. As though neither of us cares about showing off to everyone because all that matters is that we’re having a good time.
***
“Tell us all about it!” Lily demands after Colt drops me off at Ava’s house. I plop down next to Chloe on the sofa and try to hide my smile as I replay the events over and over in my head.
I always have fun with my Musketeers, but this was a different kind of fun.
Lily bends close. “You’re smiling!”
It drops. “No I’m not.”
Chloe narrows her eyes at me. “It was there for a second, but now it’s gone.”
Ava reaches over Chloe to poke her finger into my arm. “Logically, we can conclude that you had a good time with Colton.”
Grabbing a couch cushion, I hug it to my chest. “We went bowling, so yeah it was fun. You guys know I love bowling, and I hadn’t gone in a while, so…”
They exchange a glance, Lily wearing a bright smile.
I shoot her a look. “Don’t read into it. I had fun with myfriend.”
Even though he didn’t feel like a friend when he hugged me, but I’m not thinking about that right now.
They demand to know details, and I give them as much as I can. Lily, thankfully, drops her insistence that something’s going on between Colt and me. We spend the rest of the afternoon watching movies, eating too much junk food, and chatting.
A few hours later, Evie comes to pick up Lily, and Chloe’s dad fetches her. Mom and Dad texted me earlier that they landed and will collect me soon.
I smile at Ava as we lie down side by side on her bed. “This weekend was the best. Thanks so much for having us.”
“Of course. You Musketeers are my life.” She rests her head on mine. “Whatever happens, we’ll be friends forever. Us girls, Liam, the guys. Doesn’t matter where we end up in life, we’ll always have each other.”
“I hope Chloe’s right and we’ll all end up back here in Edenbury.”
“Me, too.”
It’s crazy to think we’ll be graduating next year.
Ava and I just lie here talking. Until the doorbell rings.
I sit up. “Must be my parents.” I wrap my arm around her. “See you tomorrow.”
She walks me to the door, where Dad’s waiting in the foyer. He smiles brightly. “Hey, sweetheart.” He encloses me in his arms and kisses my forehead. “Did you have a good time?”
“Of course. I’d sleep over at Ava’s every weekend if I could,” I joke.
He falls to his knees overdramatically and grabs my hands. “You stabbed me right through the heart, my daughter!”
“Get up, Ji-Ho,” Mom says from the doorway, a smile on her face. She pretends to roll her eyes at his dramatic display, but we all know she secretly loves it. She wraps her arms around me. “Hey, sweetie.”
“Hi. Where’s Mia?”
“Talking to Dani and Easton outside. I think she’s showing them her audition.”
“How was it?”
“I’m sure Mia wants to tell you all about it.” She turns to Ava. “Hi, honey.” She hugs her. “Thanks so much for having Willow.”
