“Creep,” I choke out, laughing through my own tears before pulling her into another hug. Maybe I’ve been underestimating what we went through but clearly, our friends haven’t.
Justin gives Allie time to hug me before it’s his turn. We don’t really hug anymore since he’s grown too big for that but in this one, I feel every emotion he’s holding. His relief, his happiness at seeing me safe, the lingering fear from almost losing me… and, of course, the scolding that’s coming in the next few days. Justin isn’t exactly reasonable so he’ll find a way to pin some blame on me, I just know it.
When he steps aside, everyone else comes for their hugs. Lucy, confessing she cried when she heard. Ngozi, swearing she couldn’t eat for a day. And all the rest, letting me know in their own ways that they w
