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“At least she can still run,” Sienna mutters.

“That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be.” She lets out a long breath and reaches for the door handle. “Come on. Let’s go. I’m starving.”

By the time we step inside the diner, Betty is already back behind the counter, wearing the same warm smile I remember so fondly from my youth. There’s no sign of the heartbroken woman we watched hand her daughter money only minutes earlier. And neither Sienna nor I give any indication that we saw a thing.

If Betty wants to pretend everything is fine, then for tonight, we’ll pretend right along with her.

Just like I expected, neither Betty nor Bill gives me a hard time for missing dinner the night before. And showing up with Sienna in tow earns me enough brownie points that my apology is waved away almost as soon as I offer it.

They’ve always had a soft spot for Sienna, especially since they went to high school with her mom. They knew about the hardships she faced growing up and always made it clear that their door was open if she ever needed anything.

Apparently, that hasn’t changed just because Sienna left Fairhope.

“It’s nice that you kept in touch with the Cushmans. I feel kind of bad that I didn’t,” I say, picking at the ice cream sundae Sienna and I are sharing for dessert.

“They’re family.” She shrugs as though that’s answer enough.

“Even more shitty of me not to keep in touch.” I frown.

“Stop beating yourself up about it. They know you had a good reason not to come back here. Though a phone call every once in a while would’ve been nice.”

“Are you talking about the Cushmans or you?”

“Both.” She takes a huge spoonful of ice cream.

“I’m a shitty friend, aren’t I?”

“Pretty much. You’re just lucky I’m not.” She winks, making me laugh.

“I’m sorry about how I treated you that first day at the B&B. It wasn’t fair of me to insinuate that we weren’t friends.” I let out a sigh. “You were my best friend, Sienna. I wouldn’t have survived high school without you.”

“Don’t get all mushy on me, please. This ice cream is sweet enough without you laying it on thick.”

I laugh again.

“I’m serious, Sienna. You were my saving grace. You never let me down. Not once. I could always depend on you.”

“We’re really doing this, huh?” she asks, letting her spoon clink against the glass dish.

“Yes, we really are.” I reach across the table and hold out my hands.

She stares at them for a second before reluctantly placing hers in mine.

“I love you, Sienna. I know I haven’t said that in a long time, and maybe I fucked up our friendship by barely checking in over the last decade, but you never stopped being my best friend.”

“Jesus.” She grimaces. “You’re not going to let this go until I say it back, are you?”

“Oh, come on.” I smile widely, teasingly shaking her hands. “You know you’re dying to.”

“Ugh. Fine. I love you too. Happy?”

“Ecstatic!”

Sienna groans dramatically, but I can tell she’s fighting back a smile.

“You’re lucky I do love you. Otherwise, you’d be here all on your own dealing with this shit.”