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With a tilt of her head, she signaled me to follow her, likely out of earshot of the moms. Once we were a safe distance away on the couch, she leveled with me in a quiet voice. “Bobby and I had a fight. It’s prob over between us. It’s whatever.”

“Oh no. Why? What was the fight about?”

“They got all weird when I mentioned that my feelings were getting stronger.”

“Define weird.”

She huffed. “They didn’t call me that night like usual and when I asked about it said that I stressed them out or whatever. Then I heard Melinda Harbinger say that she was texting Bobby the night before.”

“And what did they say about that?”

“That they were just being stupid and it was me they liked. But that they freaked and didn’t know what to do when things started getting serious.”

I paused. “Do you believe them?”

She sat back against the couch in frustration. “I think so, but it all just makes me mad, so I canceled tonight.”

“And how does that feel?”

She sat back up. “It sucks. I’m going to spend it practicing my tuba and marching band steps alone in my room. My mom will love it.”

“Oh, me, too,” Emory called from the kitchen. “That’s my favorite.”

“You’re eavesdropping?” Grace called back.

“Always!” Sarah answered.

Grace rolled her eyes with a smile. She loved them in spite of it, clearly.

I regrouped us. “Just my two cents. Maybe Bobby handled the situation poorly but is still worth your time.” I shrugged. “But what do I know?”

“Yeah.”

“I tend to believe in second chances when the person meant well.”

“Maybe.” She didn’t seem fully convinced.

“Come eat these burgers,” Emory called.

As we gathered around the less formal dining table in the kitchen for fantastic comfort food, Sarah smiled at me pointedly. “Sometimes those that handle things poorly are still worth your time, huh?”

I frowned at her until the larger meaning settled. I blew her off. “Yeah, yeah. Okay.”

“I’m serious,” she said quietly in a private moment, while Emory and Grace chatted about the fry seasoning. “Maybe listen to some of your own advice, and see where it gets you.”

“My situation is a little different.”

“Yeah, the two of you are grown-ass adults and should have a much easier time sorting your whole thing out. You both screwed up. Forgive each other and be in love already.”

“Since when do you saygrown-ass?”

“I know.” She sighed. “I have a teenager now. Can you believe it?”

I grappled. “No, because life will not stop surprising me. I keep begging it to.”

She handed me the bowl of glorious fresh Parmesan for my fries. “Figure out how to be the llama or whatever.”

“The moose. Why would I be a llama? They don’t even have antlers, Sarah.”