_We all leave the house, not saying a word, Avery and I are both trying to keep smiles on our faces to make this easier for Charlie, but nothing about this is going to be easy. The entire drive is silent, no music or joking around, I can’t even look at either of them. I grip Avery’s hand tightly as we drive, to help keep the tears at bay.

I see the bridge coming up over the horizon as we get closer to Coronado Island, my chest begins to constrict making it hard to breathe. Avery slides closer, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

“We got this, you and me,” she whispers as she lifts my chin to look at her, I notice the unshed tears in her eyes.

“You and me,” I respond with a forced smile before leaning my head on her shoulder.

We managed to live before Charlie was around, but I don’t even remember what life was like without him, nor do I want to think about it. I feel the car come to a stop, I grip tighter onto Avery.

The car door opens, “Alright, it’s time.” Charlie steps back offering me his hand. I grab it, pulling Avery along with me as I exit the car.

We follow Charlie, not breaking the connection toward a group of people waiting for their men to depart. There are groups everywhere, I notice Katie and Logan off to the side, lost in their own little world. Katie’s face is streaked with tears, we’re all going to need each other more than ever this time around.

I feel a set of arms wrap around me, and then another. We are now all wrapped around each other, no one says a word. The tears begin to run down my face, I’m no longer able to hold them back.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Soon enough, you’ll be leaving nasty ass socks on the floor,” Avery chimes in.

I chuckle even though I want to break down into a puddle of tears.

“Ten minutes to take off, time to load up!” LT yells.

“Alright, I have to go. I love you both, so much. I’ll talk to you soon.” Charlie kisses both of our foreheads before turning to leave. My chest constricts from the pain, Avery wraps an arm around me for fear that I’m going to collapse.

“I can’t do this.”

I unwrap Avery’s arm before turning to head back to the car. I don’t make it far before I turn around, pointing a finger at Charlie.

“Don’t get shot, mother fucker.”

“I’ve gotten pretty good at ducking for cover.” He smirks at me.

“Make sure Logan comes home in one piece. I don’t have time to be putting Katie back together if something happens to him.”

“I’ll do my best.” He still has that damn smirk in place, I’m not sure if I want to kiss him or slap the shit out of him.

“I fucking love you. Don’t die, you hear me?”

“You got it. I fucking love you too.”

Nodding at him, I turn toward the car to wait. I can’t watch him get on the plane and leave, I just can’t.

My heart cracks as the door to the plane closes. I want nothing more than to collapse on the ground into a crying mess, but no one has time for that. I have Katie and Amber to take care of. He promised he would come back, I have to believe him. He’s not my dad; if I repeat that enough, maybe, just maybe, my head and my heart will get on the same page.

He’s been gone for a week with no word. No clue as to where he went. Daddy went to work like normal, but never arrived. Of course, Momma called all the local hospitals, police station, jail, and even the morgue. Nothing.

I can tell she’s worried. She’s not eating or sleeping, not going to work, but she still makes me go to school. She says that my classes are important and I need something positive to focus on. Little does she know that I can’t focus on school, on what my teachers are saying, or even my friends. I’m fifteen, I know more than what my Mother wishes I did, in all aspects of life. Yet now I’m the adult, taking care of her since she no longer knows how to function.

“How are you doing, tiger?” Katie says as she wraps her arm around my waist.

“Me, meh I’m fine. Nothing I can’t handle.” I force a smile on my face, no need for her to worry about me on top of everything else.

“Shut it, bitch, you love that man, and we all know it. You can have a day, okay?”

By the look in her eye, I know she’s serious, she won’t let this shit go until I tell her exactly what I am feeling. “Kit Kat, it hurts. I can’t breath.”

The tears that I have fought so hard to hold back begin to fall freely. The release feels good, almost like the weight of the world is being lifted from my shoulders. Katie grips me in a tight hug, well as much as she can being shorter than me, rubbing my back as I cry. I can feel Katie’s tears soaking through my shirt as well.

“What, we are having a crying session, and no one invited me?” Amber snarks from beside us, both of us laugh. Lifting my head from Katie’s shoulder, Amber is smiling the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

“You’re so beautiful, you know that?” I tell her.

“Girl, you need glasses. Mascara is running down my face and I probably have snot in places it shouldn’t be,” Amber responds. Katie and I both laugh.

“Alright bitches, we had our cries. Let's go watch some movies and eat our weight in ice cream. I’m sure my nephew would like some of the sugary goodness right about now, right Kit Kat?” I say as I reach out to rub Katie’s non-existent baby bump.

“You mean niece, Avery. Stop rubbing her like a damn crystal ball! She’s not going to give you a million dollars if you rub it the right way. Katie just smack her next time, if she calls the cops, I’ll come get you.”

Katie is laughing so hard she’s crying, the smile on her face is contagious because I can’t help but smile as well. “You two make everything better, you know that?” Linking her arms through each of ours, she pulls us toward our cars.

“You never know, it could be a niece and a nephew. Twins do run in Logan’s family.”

We start cackling as we continue our trek.