Jaylan scrutinized her. And me. “That’s pretty vague.”

“For now, it has to be. I hope that’s okay.”

Jaylan nodded. “Maybe you need to find the right person in your life to discuss that guilt you’re feeling? Probably best not to do it in a large group. A single, good friend would do.”

One corner of Kiera’s mouth turned up slightly. “Thank you.”

Kiera’s question brought us near the end of things. Jaylan had a question for us, though. “Do you spend much time listening to each other?”

There was a stirring among us, no one stepping up. Maybe no one knew the answer. I tried anyway. “We talk a lot.”

Jaylan said, “Not exactly the same thing. You all seem like really bright kids. You’ll figure that part out.”

She extended her hand, and I shook on behalf of my friends. “We appreciate you taking the time to speak to us like this.”

She gave my arm a big pump. “It’s not totally altruistic. This sister right here”—she motioned to Cressie—“is buying me the best Thai food in the state, right?”

Cressie said, “That is accurate.”

“I’m determined to earn my keep. So thank her.”

I hugged my sister. “Thanks, Cressie.”

“You’re welcome. Get those kids home safe.”

That was always the plan.

The Pledgers filed past me in a line, like ducklings. When Ralph passed, I heard that strange swishing from his backpack again, and my Spider-Sense tingled.

We made our way back to the parking deck, divided into vehicles. This time, Kiera didn’t angle toward the open van door. “Okay if I ride with you?”

I said, “You’re not worried about your girls anymore?”

“Jameer’s with them.” She cut her eyes to the Burton boys. “I figured you could use a little relief on the ride home. They’re very energetic.”

My heart stuttered. This . . . was what I’d been waiting for, and wanting. Sure, I still had the Burton Brothers with me, but, whatever, I’d endured worse.

Bobby ran to the passenger door. “Shotgun!”

“Get your ass in the backseat,” I snapped, and the entire crew froze for a beat before cracking up.

Bobby slid behind the passenger seat, mumbling, “What kind of world is it when ‘shotgun’ doesn’t mean anything?”

Ralph joined his brother, sounded like a mobile wading pool, and I couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s in your backpack, Ralph?”

The twins exchanged villain grins. Ralph unzipped his bag and pulled out something I mistook for a lunchbox, until I didn’t. “The hell?”

Kiera said, “Have y’all lost your minds?”

Ralph had a box of wine. Black with gold trim and lettering. “We stole this out our mom’s pantry.”

Bobby said, “It’s a Malbec.”

Like any of us knew what that meant.

“Is your mom going to know it’s missing?” I was more worried than when I spotted Sister Vanessa.

“Naw,” said Ralph. “Probably not. Mom’s an extreme couponer and she’s been stockpiling these for a while. There are like twenty in our basement.”