After dinner,ughter still lingering in the air, Sabrina piped up, "How about we hit a bar? Drinks are on me!"

George shook his head. "Tracey doesn''t drink, and her dorm''s got a curfew. It''s gettingte-I should take her back to campus."

Sabrina waved them off with a grin. "Alright, you two go on ahead."

"Bye, George! Bye, Tracey!" Olivia called, waving as they got up.

Then George turned back with a teasing smile. "Why are you calling her Tracey? That''s way too formal. Olivia, she''s your future sister-inw-call her ''sis-inw."" Olivia blinked in surprise, and the whole group went silent for a second.

But Olivia yed along, grinning. "Okay-sis-inw."

Tracey''s face went bright red, her embarrassment impossible to miss. She bit her lip, shyly mumbling, "It''s fine, really, you can call me whatever."

"Nope, not happening," George said, pulling her gently into his arms. "Let''s go, babe. I''ll walk you back."

Tracey nodded, cheeks still burning.

Once they were gone, Sabrina let out a dramatic sigh. "Olivia, your brother''s serious this time, isn''t he?"

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, Tracey''s definitely not like those other girls he used to date."

Sabrina''s eyes sparkled as she grabbed Allison''s hand. "Let''s go! I know a great bar, and my friend''s working tonighte party with me!"

Olivia shook her head, smiling. "You guys have fun. I''m heading home."

Olivia was the good girl in the group, never touching alcohol. Sabrina didn''t push her. "Alright, see you next time."

"Allie, Joshua—are you twoing?" Sabrina asked, turning to them.

Joshua nced at Allison, clearly leaving the decision up to her.

If she went, so would he. If not, he''d stay behind too.

1.n

Allison caught the look and hesitated. She really wanted to spend more time with Joshua, but her drinking was a disasterst time-she''d gotten totally smashed, started rambling nonsense, and basically threw herself at him. It was mortifying.

Back then, they were dating, so being carried home by him wasn''t so bad. But now? Things were different.

She couldn''t let herself get wasted and embarrass herself in front of him again. So she smiled apologetically. "I''m pretty tired tonight. Think I''ll sit this one out." Sabrina pouted. "Seriously? If nobody''sing, what''s the point? Guess I''ll just head home too."

...

The next evening, Allison went back to the Owens'' ce for dinner.

Partway through the meal, Javier nced at her, trying to sound casual. "So, Allie, how''s it going with that Watson guytely?"

Allison paused, chopsticks in midair. "What do you mean? We''re just friends."

Linda smiled knowingly. "Oh, honey, can''t you see how Luke looks at you?"

Javier chimed in, his voice mild. “Honestly, I''ve got a good impression of him.”

Allison couldn''t help butugh.

"Come on, Dad, Linda-you''re both overthinking it. There''s nothing

going on with me and Watson.

Whatever you think is happening, I''m

definitely not seeing it."

Javier took a sip of soup and said, almost gently, "Allie, you''re twenty-seven.

Maybe it''s time to start thinking about your future."

Here we go, Allison thought, stifling

a smile, "Dad, right now I just want

s on building myw. Wan

e isn''t really on my radar."

Linda looked like she wanted to say something, but she hesitated. As a stepmom, she didn''t want to push too hard.

Javier''s tone stayed calm. "Career and marriage don''t have to sh. You could get married first, then think about kidster."

"No, thanks," Allison said, a little more firmly. "I''ve got my own ns. Dating isn''t part of them right now."

Javier studied her for a moment, then nodded with a small smile. "As long as you know what you want, that''s all that matters. Let''s eat."