She hadn’t slept a wink. She was in her bed with Shamia on her left and Gabby on her right, Alvin, and Simon at their feet and while they all slept with ease, she was wide awake.
They stayed up until nearly two, the girls doing everything they could to distract her from the appointment she was going to attend today. At one point, they’d all been giggling as hysterically as Gabby did and she half-expected her mother to come knock on her door the way she used to when they were in middle school to remind them to sleep.
She tried to crawl over Gabby to get to the bathroom and her friend grabbed her in a bear hug locking in her place.
She felt fresh tears rising when Gabby whispered, “it’s going to be okay, Hadlee. I promise.”
Kissing Gabby’s cheek, she whispered, “I really need to pee and
