Chapter 38

When I was younger, I used to get so upset that Cadence always got to sit in the front seat of Mom’s van. Once she headed off to college, the front seat had finally become mine. Now, I gleefully climbed into the back and scooted all the way over to make room for Liam, and my heart was beating through my chest.

He’d come over a few times before to study, but the other times, his mom had brought him or he’d ridden his bike. He only lived about a mile away. Everyone in Shenandoah lives relatively close by; it’s a really small town.

Liam climbed in and shut the door behind him. “Cool van, Mrs. F,” he said, buckling his seat belt. I had mine on already and smiled over at him, not sure what to say.

“Why thank you, William,” my mom said, pulling out of the parent pick-up lane. There were not a lot of vehicles in line since most of the kids at my high school could either drive or caught rides with their friends who could d