“Our little sister, all grown up.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Whitt grumbled.
“Anyway, when are you going back?” Harley asked. “Can I come with?”
“I don’t know when I’m going back. I have a standing offer on the table as a producer for the studio. They loved my work with Cosmere and said they could take me on full-time.”
“That sounds like a solid job,” Whitton said.
“Yeah. It would be, but I don’t know. I feel like there’s so much happening right now, and I’m not ready to be tied down to just one thing.”
“What’s the five-year plan? What do you want out of all of this?” Whitt asked.
I knew the answer to that, but it was essentially impossible. I wanted to join Cosmere. But their keyboardist, Michael, had just quit, and he’d been with the band for years. I couldn’t imagine them ever replacing him. Not with how it had all gone down. I was a fill-in, but I wasn’t the real deal. That didn’t stop me from dreaming.
“I can’t think about a five-year plan, Whitt. Jesus, did you think we’d be here five years ago?”
Just then, our food showed up. Whitton had curry while Harley and I had pad thai. Though hers was as hot as they could possibly make it. She was obsessed with spicy food.
“I certainly didn’t think I’d be at Tech,” Harley said. She twirled her food around on her chopsticks.
“Regardless,” Whitton said, “just because we didn’t see Lubbock happening to any of us doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future.”
“Dude, that’s you. Not me,” I told Whitt. “I want to go with the flow.”
Whitton’s eyes twitched at that word.
“In five years, I want to be in law school,” Harley announced. “There, Whitt, you can stop hassling West on the first day home.”
“I’m not hassling. I’m being practical,” Whitt argued.
“Well, stop being practical then,” Harley said with a laugh. “Or I’ll put one of these ghost peppers in your curry.”
Whitton shot her a look. “Harlyn Anne, you wouldn’t dare.”
“We’re throwing a surprise party,” I interjected before they could get started. They could go like this for hours if I let them.
“Party!” Harley said. “Can I come?”
“No,” Whitton said at the same time I said, “Yes.”
“She’s nineteen,” Whitton argued.
“It’s Campbell’s birthday. Everyone is invited, and she doesn’t have to drink.”
“Y’all don’t have to be so ridiculous. I’m in college. I’m at frat parties every weekend. I’ve had alcohol before.”
“I’ll be there,” Whitton said.
“Me too,” Harley agreed.
I laughed at them both and went back to my food. It was good to be home with my siblings. I was used to being out on the road with other bands and away from them for months on end, but it was great, coming back to them. And I couldn’t wait to be with all my friends at the party.