Come Friday morning I’m a bundle of nerves and excited at the same time. Tanner decides he’s going to try and help me relax by taking me out to the beach for the day until they arrive. Only problem is we fell asleep and my little Irish ass is now burnt to a crisp.

Tanner and I step out of the shower and he helps rub aloe over my whole body. “Damn it, Tanner, that shit is freezing.”

He rolls his eyes, “I don’t want to hear it, and I told you to put sunscreen on.”

I grab the bottle out of his hand, “I’ll do it.” I squeeze some into my hand and start with my legs cringing as the cold aloe hits my flaming skin. “Do you think they’re here yet?

Tanner sits on the bed and ties his sneakers, “Probably.”

I quickly finish up, get dressed, put a little make-up on and we make our way downstairs. A super cute, short girl is walking up the stairs looking completely uncomfortable. She has beautiful chocolate hair, bright green eyes and her olive skin complexion is sheer perfection and everything I wish for with my own pasty, yet now the color of a lobster skin. I should despise her from looks alone, but I can’t. I’m sure she doesn’t ever have to worry about frying in the sun.

“Hi,” Tanner and I say at the same time.

“Hey,” she says with a smile continuing upstairs.

As soon as my feet hit the bottom step I run full force into Knox’s open arms. “Oh my Lord, I’ve missed you!” This hug can’t be close enough or tight enough when it comes to Knox right now. In this moment, this one defining moment of having him here with us, in this place, I start to see the vague shadow of lights forming at the end of this very long tunnel, a way out, not for just me but for all of us. A sense of normalcy that none of us have had in a very long time. A tear escapes out of the corners of my eyes as I try to contain the overwhelming emotions that are just begging to be set free.

He laughs, “I missed you too, Little One.”

“Get your hands off my girl.” Tanner says with a smile on his face.

They clap each other on the back, “Nice to see you back in town.”

Knox shrugs, “I thought it was about time.”

My stomach growls and they both laugh at me. “What? I’m starving.”

Knox nods and rubs his stomach, “Let me go settle things upstairs and then I’ll cook everyone dinner.”

I hug Tanner’s arm, “Sounds good.”

Knox turns to leave the kitchen but stops and turns around, “Have you seen Jasmine yet?”

I look up to Tanner and then over to Knox, “Yeah. She’s beautiful, Knox.”

“She’s the devil.” He says with a chuckle.

I laugh, “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He nods, “You’re right.”

The rest of the night goes on and Knox officially introduces Jasmine to Tanner and me. I can see why she caught Knox’s eye. She a sassy, no nonsense kind of girl and exactly what Knox needs in his life. I see how different Knox is with Jasmine. My heart swells for him, he deserves to be happy after everything he’s lost.

Saturday night rolls around and we all decide to go to Club Mango. I was a little worried at first since Knox has only been there a handful of times over the last five years but he said he was fine and he wanted to do this.

The guys are all piled in the living room watching TV while waiting for the pizza to arrive. Jasmine, Summer and I are up in my room rooting through my closet trying to find something for Jasmine to wear out tonight since she didn’t pack any clothes to go to a club.

After trying on a few dresses, Jasmine decides on a silver one with a plunging neckline and a back scoop that ends just above her ass. I lent her a pair of black stilettos. Damn, she looks better in this dress than I do when I’m wearing it.

Summer comes out from the bathroom wearing a short, shimmery blue, one shoulder dress that hugs all her curves. She is sure to turn a few heads tonight. She pairs the dress with silver heels and piles her hair high on top of her head in a tight bun.

“Look okay?” Summer asks Jasmine.

“Yup, Rex is going to have to fend the guys off.” She says with a smile. I’ve gathered from last night that Rex and Summer are a couple. “He’s going to have to keep you on a tight leash tonight.”

Huffing and puffing, I’m looking in my closet for something equally as drop dead gorgeous.

“Everything ok?” Jasmine asks.

“Yeah, yeah, just can’t decide on what to wear.” I yell back from way in the back of the closet.

I hold a dress up to me.

Jasmine peeks her head in my closet, “That’s the dress.”

I turn sideways in the mirror, “You think so? White doesn’t make me look too fat?”

Jasmine rolls her eyes at me, “You, fat? Trust me, Tanner’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you tonight.”

The dress is white with a scoop neckline. One shoulder is cutoff while the other is a full see-through sleeve. There are black lace trim strips that wrap around the dress and it’s tight fitted and stops about mid-thigh.

Jasmine bends down and picks up a pair of white heels and hands them to me, “Wear those and it’s stunning.”

I don’t waste any time stripping off my t-shirt and shorts and then slide the dress on. I slip my tiny feet into the heels and do a full turn in the mirror. “Hair up or down?”

Jasmine shakes her head, “That’s Summer’s department,” she laughs and turns to Summer, “Hair up or down?”

Summer leans against the doorway to my closet, “Definitely down but with big waves.”

I nod and kick stuff out of my way to get out of the closet that I buried myself in. When I make it out, Summer takes a seat at the vanity and turns on the curling iron.

“What’s the matter, Jas?” I ask while looking at her through the mirror.

Jasmine sits on the end of my bed and looks down to make sure her girls are still covered. I reach into a drawer in my vanity and throw her some tape. “Thanks,” she says. “I don’t want to sound like I’m prying or anything but how often are you and Tanner here? I got the impression that it was only used for a shore house.”

I pick up a hairbrush and start brushing the knots from my hair. “We used to be here all the time but not so much in the last few years. We haven’t really taken all our things home with us because we’re hoping things will go back to normal eventually.” I stop brushing my hair and look down at the brush in my hands. “This house holds a lot of memories for all of us.” Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.