Dean’s lip started shaking. “Yeah.”
I blinked back tears. “You scared the absolute life out of me.”
“Mom. I’m sorry.”
“I know,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry. I really am.”
I started crying anyway. Simply because my toughest kid had actually done something amazing. Because my most difficult child had put in the effort.
“I really thought you were dead,” I told him, my voice totally breaking.
Dean’s face totally broke down. He stepped right in and hugged me, super gently at first, and then squeezing tight.
“I’m right here,” he mumbled into my hair. “I’m right here.”
From behind us, Brooke’s voice sounded really gentle. “Mom. I’m sorry.”
Mason’s voice cracked. “We all are.”
Carter cleared his throat. “Yeah. We really screwed up.”
Tessa hugged me from the side like she was a little kid again. “We just wanted the night to be perfect.”
“Nothing is ever perfect,” I said, wiping my face. “It’s really just about showing up.”
Dean pulled back and looked right into my eyes. “No more ghosting anyone,” he promised. “Not me. Never again.”
I looked at his face. Same exact kid. But there was a totally different maturity in his eyes.
