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“And Khalani.” Winnie turned to her. “Turn that frown upside down and eat some beans, for goodness’ sake.”

She nodded, hastily stashing the notebook in her pack.

“What’s that you’ve been writing anyways?” Adan brushed a hand through his ruffled bronze hair.

“Nothing interesting,” she shrugged dismissively.

Poetry was portions of her soul laid out on paper.

She wasn’t ready to share that with anyone.

“Is it a diary or something? Secret crushes and all that?” Adan nudged her shoulder, wiggling his eyebrows.

“You nailed it. I just write ‘Khalani and Adan’ with hearts circling our names over and over again.” She rolled her eyes as they exited the building and stepped into the bright sun.

As they traveled during the day, the number of buildings dwindled. The gas station they’d spent the night in was the only large structure they’d spotted in the desert.

Interestingly enough, nearly all the cars on the highway faced the opposite direction, as if everyone had been trying to flee the very place they were heading.

She rubbed her hand across her forehead as the blazing heat of the sun continued to rain down. To pass the time, she counted her steps.

One…

Two…

Three…

Khalani stopped when she reached one hundred thousand.

She then concentrated on the bright orange rocky hill in front of them, letting that be her next focus. But once they passed it, there was yet another endless expanse of road, desert terrain and distant, jagged hills.

“So,” Serene disrupted the stiff silence, “I have a very important question for you, Khalani.”

“What’s that?”

“If you marry Adan, does that mean we’ll all have roles in the wedding?”

A laugh bubbled out of her. “You know I was just joking about writing our names in a diary, right?”

“Can’t you just let a girl dream about having the best sister in the world?” Serene sighed, a wistful look in her eyes.

Khalani’s heart thumped harder, and she cleared her throat, not knowing how to handle her rising emotion. “If we ever get married, sure. You and Winnie would be my maids of honor.”

Serene made a mini fist pump, and Winnie’s eyes brightened like Khalani just gifted her the world.

“You really would want Winnie to have such a special role?” Winnie’s chin trembled.

“Of course. You could make our dresses too. Otherwise, I might end up at the altar covered in dirt.”

Winnie placed a hand over her heart and bowed her head low. “Winnie would be honored.”

“Who’s going to be Adan’s best man?” Serene pondered.

“Probably Brock.” Khalani’s lips curled up.

“Leave me out of your lovey-dovey crap,” Brock grumbled.

“Nah, Brock’s the ring bearer,” Adan said. “Because he’s so charitable and all.”