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“Doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see them.” Phia shakes her head with a humph. “Lyndell, how’s my hydration gear? Are you keeping it safe for me?”

“Yes.” Lyndell shoves a bite of cookie cake into his mouth, then slides another plate toward me. Yummy! “Are your green apples still splattering?”

Phia stares silent and unmoving for so long I think the call has frozen. “What?”

By some unspoken agreement, none of us offer an explanation, not wanting to revisit that horrible day when she was attacked. She’s healing and that’s what we need to focus on.

“I’ll be right back.” Phia gets up and wanders off screen.

“She’s been pissing non-stop.”

“Because you keep forcing her to drink?”

Prib shrugs, looking at Ty. “She will never be dehydrated again.” His eyes dart to the side, then he leans closer to the phone andwhispers, “Edee, I can never thank you enough for your photos. They helped the police and the university immensely.”

I’m uncomfortable with the praise, so I reply, “Happy to help.”

“I mean it, Edee, the photos you supplied were invaluable. Those fucking morons high-fiving each other outside the stadium while Phia was being placed in the ambulance—” Prib cuts himself off, his voice and anger rising with every word. “You managed to tie Yanok and Chester to Coach, and they turned on him real quick.”

I get a little thrill knowing my instincts were right. “How fucking dumb, right? Coach talked to them and hit them upside their heads…in plain view.” I feel Ty’s heated eyes on me, but I can’t look at him right now. It would be inappropriate to mount him in the middle of the commons dining hall.

“Hey, Edee?” Phia enters the frame, her head sideways like she’s leaning over the phone. “This guy won’t tell me all the details, but I know enough to realize how grateful I am for your help. And Ty? Thank you for being there for Prib and I, for looking for me. I owe every one of you who took the time to search a debt I can never repay.”

Ty clears his throat and grins, “You don’t owe me a damn thing, Lady Hydration.” His gaze shifts to Prib. “But you do.” Prib smiles, and Phia practically hip checks Prib to sit in front of the phone.

“Oh, how will you make him pay?”

“Dude.” We stare at Prib waiting for him to continue, when he shifts his focus to Phia.

“Did you just call me ‘dude’?”

“Uh…yeah. How you gonna sit there excited for my debt while he lets you off with a cutesy nickname?”

Phia’s expression has Lyn, Ty and me laughing. She’s unimpressed. “Because of the cutesy nickname.”

“Whatever.” He puts his hand on her forehead and pushes her back. “I owe you, man, you name it, I’ll do it.”

Ty steeples his fingers and maniacally laughs like a movie villain. “Excellent.”

“Phia? When you return to campus, we’re hanging out. We’re friends.”

Phia’s eyes light up. “Yeah? Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“I’m warning you, I don’t like sappy rom-coms, popcorn, or pillow fights.”

“Woah! Woah! Woah!” Prib and Ty exclaim. Ty continues, “Pillow fights are a staple in any female friendship.”

“Ty, we have pillow fights,” Lyn offers.

“Yes, but our clothes are still on because we are literally fighting with pillows.” I bite my bottom lip so hard I draw blood to keep from laughing out loud at Lyndell’s confusion.

“Why wouldn’t we wear clothes? Our hot dogs and beans would be flopping everywhere!”

I’m still chuckling a little later, on our walk back to my dorm. It’s easy being with Tyrone and Lyndell. They are a package deal, and I feel like I’m getting a two-for-one special. They love each other, that’s obvious. I’ve met people before who cared for a family member, and several have behaved as if it’s an obligation, rather than a privilege. But Tyrone is truly honored to be with his big brother. He takes pride in providing him with a safe space to learn and grow and be himself. We haven’t spoken about our upbringings, but I can’t imagine they had a good one if Lyndellis with Tyrone here at college rather than at home with their parents. I hope Tyrone will feel comfortable sharing that with me someday. Until then, I’m just so damn happy to be here with him. With them.

We stop outside the main doors to my dorm. Ty stares down at me, his expression unreadable as he shifts from foot to foot. My heart races and my palms start to sweat. Every inch of me itches for him to reach out and touch me. I’m not sure how to tell him that though.

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