“That’s… vague,” Sandy said. “What do you mean, baby doll?”
I didn’t know exactly, but I followed the thread as best I could. “That we’re where we are now and all still together. How many people can say that?”
“We do have it pretty good,” Paul agreed. “Charlie reminded me the other day about when we met him and Vaguyna the first time. Lulu Deerdancer.”
Sandy laughed. “Holy shit. I forgot about that! What the hell were we thinking?”
“I was thinking it was a bad idea,” Paul snapped. “But you made me wear that goddamn mustache.”
“Oh Christ! And then you sneezed it on his face.” Sandy wiped the tears from his eyes. “God, I thought he was going to murder you right then and there.”
“I don’t know how we survived this long,” Paul muttered.
“Why the introspection, baby doll?” Sandy asked me. He was watching Paul with a fond expression on his face.
I shrugged. “Just… I don’t know. We’ve been through so much shit, and yet we’re happy, you know? It doesn’t feel real, sometimes.”
“I get it,” Paul said. “I think that sometimes too. But Vince tells me that it is, and then I remember that I deserve this. We all do. We get to be happy just like everyone else. Some people might not agree, but they can fuck off. I’m not here for them. I’m here for Vince. And for all of you.”
“You think we’re always going to be together?” I asked.
“Come here, Kori.”
I went. I didn’t even try and fight it when Sandy pulled me down on his lap, wrapping his arms around my waist. He pressed his nose against the side of my head and breathed in. Paul came to stand behind us, putting his hands on our shoulders. “This,” Sandy said as the music thrummed on the dance floor, “this is always going to be real. Us. And Vince. And Darren and Jeremy. Nana and Charlie and Robert and Matty and Larry. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, this is always going to be real.”
“It’s not like we can go make friends with other people,” Paul said. “I hate most everyone and am too lazy to try and change that now.”
I laughed as I tilted my head back, resting it on Sandy’s shoulder. “I love you guys.”
“And we love you,” Sandy said. “Always. And I can’t wait to see what our future brings. I have a feeling that there’s going to be a whole shitload to celebrate in the coming months. I can’t wait.”
I hadn’t told them yet about my plans for Jeremy, but I thought they already knew.
This life… it wasn’t one I expected to have. It wasn’t one that I’d gone looking for. It’d found me in a thrift store when I’d least expected it. And while there had been ups and downs, those peaks and valleys that felt almost manic, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
I wished I could go back and talk to that seventeen-year-old kid. To tell them that one day, everything would be okay. That they would figure everything out, and the world could be such a bright and wonderful place if you surrounded yourself with the right people.
And I’d done just that.
I had my best friends.
I had my family.
I had the love of my life.
I fought for this. Every piece. Every part.
I thought seventeen-year-old me would be proud of the person I’d become.
WE STOOD out on the sidewalk in front of Jack It. Paul was with Vince, and Sandy was with Darren. Jeremy held my hand. I wondered how it’d feel with a ring on it. I’d find out soon enough.
We lingered for only a little while. Jeremy was talking with Vince and Darren about something sports, so naturally Paul and Sandy and I were ignoring them. I was trying to convince Paul that when we went to Seafare, it was best if he never was left in a room alone with Bear, and Sandy was telling me about the suit he wanted me to wear for the ceremony.
Eventually we went our separate ways.
But it was okay.
It wouldn’t be for long.