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chapter thirty six, TEAR-JERKING MOMENT
"I think you killed the tree" John B stated as he stared at the carving the pogues had made.
"probably" Elaine breathed, her tone light as air. She turned to him, her eyes scanning the side of his face. She looked away, back at the tree before he caught her staring but had to fight the urge to look back.
"I really missed you" She let out, almost too quiet for the boy to hear.
"I missed you too Lane," He told her, his finger pulling her chin to look towards him.
They were still standing apart but she felt like the distance between the two was diminishing. She looked him in the eyes and felt the smile creep onto her face, seeing the world in his eyes.
She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around the boy's neck. The hug didn't last long but it felt like an eternity to her. She welcomed the feeling the hug brought, wanting to bask in it forever.
"tear-jerking moment over here" JJ coughed, stepping towards them. "are you okay?" His tone changed from playful to concerned as he looked at Laney. She furrowed her brows until she realized she had tears falling from her eyes.
"I'm fine, just a bit overwhelmed I guess" She admitted, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of the flannel shirt she was wearing.
"I'm gonna go sit with Sarah now," Laney told the boys, grabbing a beer from the cooler and walking over to the fire. It was burning lower now, most of the wood gone to only embers.
Leaves crunched beneath Elaine's feet and Sarah looked up from the fire. "hey," The blonde smiled. Laney returned the smile before sitting back in her chair, the fire already warming her.
"I know we haven't gotten to know each other that well but I am really glad that you're okay and back," Laney admitted. She picked up a stick and began to play with the fire a bit as she spoke.
"I'm glad that you're okay too, I heard about what my brother did to you. How are you doing?" Laney chuckled a bit at the question, she had almost forgotten all about what happened with Rafe.
"I'm fine" Laney assured the blonde girl, watching as he eyes wandered to her exposed neck.
"is that the boat?" Sarah asked as she finally peeled her eyes away, looking past Laney and out to the water.
"What?" Elaine questioned, turning around and looking too. "oh my god" She let out, standing to get a better view of Pope and Kiara taking off.
"have a good time!" Sarah shouted to them, John B and JJ turning to look now too. Laney whistled loudly again before howling at the pair, she and Sarah breaking out into laughter.
"There he goes, he jacked your boat dude," JJ told the boy next to him, waving at the boat.
"pogues pocking on the pogue" John B let out, sighing before turning back to the fire.
