Page 107 of Make It Last

“You’re not the problem child,” Tanner cut in, curling his arm around Sophie’s shoulders and squeezing.

She looked up at him. “Oh, but I am, and you know it. Someone has to be, right?”

Tanner chuckled. “Love you, sis. Where are you staying? I knew you were coming, but you didn’t tell me what day or what time, and now you’re just here.”

Janet’s voice floated over to us. “Hey, Sophie!” She bustled around the counter and pulled Tanner’s sister into a hug. You could practically see Sophie soaking it in.

“Hey, Janet.” She stepped back, smiling. “Good to be here.”

“What can I get you?” Casey asked from behind the counter.

“Well, I’ve heard about these donuts,” Sophie said.

At that moment, Luna came through the swinging door in the back. “Luna!” Sophie exclaimed.

“Oh, you know each other?” I asked.

“Of course we do,” she replied. “Luna and I were in the same grade. And then, she went off on her RV journeys,” she added with a dramatic brow waggle.

Luna rolled her eyes at that. I had heard the story at a card night. Luna’s parents had been RV influencers, and Luna had been a prime subject for many of the videos. She hated it and was happy staying in one place now. “We all have our stories,” Luna said. Her tone wasn’t bitter, just thoughtful.

“We do, don’t we?” Sophie agreed.

Casey glanced between them. “I’m Casey, by the way.”

Sophie turned toward her. “I’m Sophie. So, so good to meet you.” She pivoted back toward the counter. “I’ll take the special sandwich. The secret one.”

Janet chuckled. “It’s not really a secret. Beck tells everyone about it. It’s just not on the chalkboard.”

“I want that with extra cheese,” she said decisively. “And at least one of Luna’s donuts. What do you recommend?”

Casey tapped her fingertips against the counter thoughtfully.

“How sweet do you like?” Luna asked.

“Well, I mean, they’re donuts,” Sophie replied.

“But some are sweeter than others. Like icing and all,” Luna explained.

“I don’t like icing on donuts.”

“I would recommend the blackberry,” Luna said. “It’s my current favorite. It’s got a little punch to the sweetness.”

“I’ll take two of those with my sandwich.” Not missing a beat, Sophie turned back to him. “I’m staying with Mom.”

Tanner blinked. “Okay.”

“Don’t look so surprised, Brother,” she teased. “We have unfinished business. It’s going to be plenty awkward, and we’ll get through it.”

Tanner’s brow furrowed. She reached up and patted his shoulder. “I’ve got it. You don’t need to worry about Mom or me. You set the stage nicely for us.”

“God help me,” Tanner muttered under his breath.

“But I definitely want to spend time with you two,” she added. Her gaze sharpened slightly. “Is Laney still in town? Am I going to have to give her some hell for that shit she pulled?”

“Nope,” Tanner said quickly. “I don’t love what happened, but she apologized. She went back to Seattle.”

“And you changed all the passwords and everything?” she pressed.