I’m so glad to be home,” Megan said, “where it’s warm, and I don’t have to wear a puffy coat, and there aren’t a billion people blocking my way on the sidewalk, and I don’t have to ride in an underground hole where rats are.”

We all looked at her.

“You didn’t like New York?” Riley looked at her. “Does that mean we’re not going to be roommates in a penthouse overlooking Central Park?”

“Let’s just say I’m glad I got picked for Memphis,” Megan said. “No subways.”

It did feel good to be back in Florida—and I was not going to complain about the sunshine warming me up. I did like pom-pom hats, though. Maybe I could make them a thing down here. I felt like I had the best of both worlds—summer in New York City and then Florida the rest of the time.

Life was good!

“That’s weird,” Lily said, looking out the window of the passenger van that shuttled us from the airport. We had just pulled up to the palm-tree-lined plaza where Sugar Plums, Lily’s parents’ fro-yo shop, and DanceStarz Academy were located.

“Weren’t our parents supposed to be picking us up out front of the dance studio?” asked Lily.

“Oh, yeah. Where is everyone?” I asked, concerned at how deserted the parking lot was.

“Was this weekend daylight savings or something?” Trina asked. “I never get that right.”

“No,” Megan said.

“Maybe when we changed time zones from east to west, it messed up their hours?” Trina suggested.

“Trina, we didn’t change time zones.” Megan shook her head. “Mom! Where are the other parents? I don’t want all these people coming home with us. I’m tired of them.”

“Hey!” Riley swatted her.

“It is weird,” I said. I fired off texts to my parents. This wasn’t like my mom to not be somewhere at the assigned time.

“Did they forget?” Lily asked the unthinkable question everyone was afraid to utter.

“Let’s just go inside and I’ll start making calls,” said Vanessa.

“Don’t worry, girls,” said Riley’s mom. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

We followed Vanessa inside the dark studio. What an anticlimactic return to Florida. The air was heavier, not only because of the humidity, but now because of the swirling emotions weighing us down. Vanessa reached behind the front desk and switched on the lights, and . . .

“SURPRISE!”

We all nearly jumped out of our skin. Well, all of us except Vanessa and the moms, who were clearly in on this. CONGRATULATIONS, DANCESTARZ SQUAD! read a banner overhead with balloons dangling from it.

All of our families were here! Mom, Dad, and Hailey rushed at me, congratulating and hugging me at the same time. Congratu-hugging? I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of their loving, welcoming arms around me. And the feeling of . . . wet slobber?