“But—”

“NOW!”

I grinned to myself and shook my head. These were now my friends. This was now my family.

Cord poked his head out and held his phone in the air. “We’re going to order pizza. You in?”

I sighed and started towards him. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” And as I stepped through the door, he closed it behind me before moving around me. He and his girl were positioned in the living room. Hannah and Jamie were in the dining room. Tiffany was sitting on the stairs and Jesse had his back turned to me. It was rigid as he continued to yell at Jamie, who had taken the condom bowl from its hiding spot. He’d been throwing condoms at Hannah. They were all over the floors.

I glanced up to the portrait. I felt Ethan laughing down at me. I could only imagine him saying, “And you love your new family. You know it.”

The corners of my lips curved up. He was right.