“This calls for a toast,” I said.
Luke got down some mugs, and I poured out the sweet, steaming beverage.
“To thwarting evil,” Cori declared, lifting her cup.
“To a good plan,” Anya added.
“To a better execution,” Kendall said.
“To victory,” Luke added, with a smile.
“To us,” I said. “To friendship.”
We all drank deep and I soaked in the peaceful moment with these wonderful people. They were all so new to me, and yet I had no doubt they would always be in my heart.
The adventures ahead might be challenging, but as long as we worked together, I knew the endings would always be as sweet as this moment.