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There’s a knock on the door and we both look over at it. Jesse wouldn’t be back already.
“I’ll get it,” Dani says. I spin on the couch, watching as she walks through the door. The first voice I hear is Hyla’s, then there’s a train of people walking into the room. Amanda, Chelsea, and Trevor all follow Hyla in.
“What are you doing here?” I sputter in surprise as Dani takes her place on the couch next to me.
Hyla sits down and wraps her arm around me. “We heard… something happened. We didn’t need the details, but we figured we’d divide and conquer. We’re here to take care of you.” She leans in close and whispers. “And to make sure you spiral up.”
I look at her with teary eyes. “Thank you.”
Trevor drops onto the coffee table in front of me and squeezes my arm. “We told you you’re one of us now. That means you’ve always got people in your corner.”
“Everyone else sends their love too,” Amanda says. “And you better clear your schedule for Tuesday night, because we’re having a girls’ night.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Hyla says. “Just know we’ve got you.”
I nod because I can’t get out any words.
“Guess we should’ve ordered more food,” Dani says.
“It’s fine,” Trevor says. “I already texted Jesse. I put in an extra order and he’s picking that one up, too.”
“You guys, this is…” I sniff back tears. “More than I could’ve asked for.”
They all said it. Said they’d be here for me. That I was one of them now. I started seeing them as my friends, too, but I wasn’t expecting this. I wasn’t expecting them to drop everything and show up here, especially when Miles is hurting, too. I assumed they’d choose him if something happened between us. I knew Dani would be here for me no matter what, but this…
“I hope it helps you trust that you have a whole support system now. As someone who has needed to rely on every ounce of that support, I know how much of a difference it makes,” Hyla says. “You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about, but we’re all going to be here, filling this place with so much love and support you won’t know what to do with it.” She gives a determined nod.
I don’t know what to do with it, but I’m grateful to have it nonetheless.
“I’m not… ready to talk.”
“That’s fine,” Amanda says, snatching the remote control off the coffee table and then handing me my tea. “What’s your favorite comfort show?”
“Sweet Magnolias, but I’ve watched it all the way through over the last month.”
“That’s okay. I know what we need.” Amanda navigates through the options until she findsGilmore Girls.“There are very few things in life that good food, good company, andGilmore Girlscan’t help with.”
She starts the first episode, and I smile. I used to watch this with my mom. It is a perfect comfort show.
Dani grabs a blanket and pulls it over us as everyone else gets settled. I sip on my tea, humbled by this group of people surrounding me—the family I never expected to have.
Chapter seventeen
Big Fat Chicken
Miles
“Morning,”Isay,walkinginto Rae and Aaron’s kitchen. The farmhouse was always warm and inviting, but somehow, they’ve cranked it up a notch.
“Hey,” Rae says, turning to me with a smile.
“Where’s A?”
“Work. He tries to be in his office by seven at the latest, so students have time to see him before school starts.”
I smile at that, leaning against the kitchen counter. “He was made for that job.”
