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"It doesn’t It sounds like … fun" An Ava s, but Hallie scored one A few short irl at the table Now she was taking the initiative to draw Ava out

Kaleb cleared his throat, redirecting the conversation, probably to spare Ava "My dad says hello, and ‘sends his regrets’ for the Hawaii trip Mo to risk the re one Neither a walks on the beach without supervision"

Lily rolled her eyes, but followed up with a kiss to Kaleb’s cheek

"Doo chaperones" Nate gave a fist pump "I like it"

"No," Em said "Down four Dru’s doctor doesn’t want her to travel, so she and Tho home so she can rest up before her due date next ed a look that wasn’t hard to decode Endless, unelectrified nature in Hawaii meant a lot of opportunities for two people who couldn’t touch without setting off sparks

"I think as long as we avoid ard tiki idols and hungry sharks, we’ll be fine" Michael swiped the last beignet from the paper plate on the table "Noe just have to talk plane tickets"

"I have a solution for that, but it comes with a complication" Hallie said "Dad wants to pay for all of the for a few seconds Then Nate let out a whoop

"Please and thank you, yes!" He stood up and did some sort of hip move that looked painful and obscene at the same time "I’m an orphan, you know Please, please let Daddy Warbucks know that if he needs a son, I’row into a strapping young man"

"You’d have to eat a cow a day to co" I held up my hands when Nate used the empty paper plate as a frisbee and aiar headed for Ava

Poe jumped out of his seat and took most of it in the chest

"Did I stop it?" he asked her "I tried"

"I’rabbed a couple of napkins and tried to help hi it worse

"Believe it or not, the er on the inside Kind of like the TARDIS"

When Ava laughed, Poe stared at her as if he’d been struck dumb

There was a moment My suspicions were confirmed when Hallie’s elbow slanets" I pulled Hallie out of her seat "This round’s on ed to wait until ere out of earshot Probably "Did you see that? With Ava and Poe?"

"I can barely breathe froave me, so yes"

"I can’t believe this is my life," she said "It’s like one of those teen shoith superpowers and pretty people And kissing Lots of kissing"

"Happy?" I asked

"You don’t even know" Joy lit her eyes "I have everything I’ve ever wanted Al about herforward to the future To our future"

I took stock as the bells of the Saint Louis Cathedral pealed through the spring air

My friends sat at the table, still laughing over the powdered sugar explosion

Less than asecrets and sorrows, buried for eternity Gone, but not forgotten, like so many people I’d loved

Hallie stood by , and the answer to every question I’d ever have

"I couldn’t be happier," I said

And this was only the beginning

Epilogue

Emerson, Late April

"Are you okay now?"