“Apparently, I haven’t had any significant events in my life.”

Neil places his hand on my forearm, and I feel a jolt. “Same. All I could think of was that one time I forgot my phone on our way to Green Bay. I had to go an entire day without it. I’m still scarred.”

“I’m so glad you brought up phones,” Rob says with that cocky smile he has, and I already know what he’s going to say before it comes out of his mouth. “I found some string the other day and have a metal can, so I was wondering if you want it, Ally. It would probably get better reception than that antique brick you call a cell phone.”

“My phone works just fine,” I say, but then I can’t resist it. “I like that I can’t access social media twenty-four-seven. Less opportunity to see your face, the better.”

“Burn!” Neil says as he holds up his hand for me to high-five. I happily oblige. Then I give Rob a taste of his own medicine and steal a cookie that he has left on the table. He should know better with this company.

“Just ignore him,” Marian tells me with her lips curved ever so slightly. She’ll tease Rob with the rest of us (because it’s so easy to do), but he makes her happy. I guess every group needs to have a well-intentioned-yet-oftentimes-annoying goofball. Plus, I mentioned he has his own car, right?

Rob puts his arm around her. “As if you could ignore me.”

Marian raises her eyebrow at him. “Is that a dare?”

Rob pulls his arm away and holds his hands up in surrender.

Here’s one thing everybody knows about a Gleason: you never dare them. Ever. I’ve witnessed the grossest things being eaten or drunk all in the name of pride. Jan and her older brother, Don, once did a push-up contest that got so competitive neither of them could move their arms the next day. For the record, Jan won—never letting a boy beat her at anything.

“Let’s get back to something more pleasant,” Jan offers. “Getting out of town.”

The table starts talking about colleges in Madison or Milwaukee.

Unlike most of my classmates, I’m not that eager to escape. I don’t want to be too far from Dad. Green Bay is less than an hour away. I could technically still live at home, even though that would require a car, but Dad keeps telling me that isn’t “part of the college experience.” Not like he knows. I’ll be the first person in my family to go to college.