6
EMILY
The following night
I’m confused as to why Taylor is still here.
She spent the night in the guest room after we swam, took up my entire day by showing me around town, and now… we’re back in the pool.
It’s almost like she lives here whenever she wants, and no one else cares to tell her otherwise.
“I’m inviting your new besties over to join us,” she says. “You’re going to love them, and they’ll love you.”
Right. “I need to work on writing at some point today.”
“What college do you go to?”
“I start at Pitt in the fall.”
“And they already are asking you to do work?” She scoffs. “That’s B.S.”
I bite my tongue before I can explain. I’ve learned in our short time together that she’s not a good listener—but she’s not trying to be rude. She just lives in her own orbit.
“AHHHH!” “Taylorrr!” “I brought beer!”
Her three friends step out onto the concrete like they’re on a catwalk—each of them in a different neon bikini, sleek topknot buns glinting under the pool lights. They’re not clones, not exactly, but they talk and move like girls who’ve been growing up in each other’s shadows their whole lives.
“This is our new friend, Emily,” Taylor announces. “She’s the daughter of Mr. Aidan’s fiancée.”
“Nice to meet you,” they say in unison. Then, like rehearsed roll call:
“I’m Sarah.”
“I’m Ashley.”
“I’m Ashley, too, but you can call me Ash-leigh so we don’t get confused.”
“Nice to meet you all,” I say, stuck on the wordfiancée. “My mom’s not his fiancée, though…”
“Where’s Cole?” one of the Ashleys asks, immediately glancing toward the house. “He’s really living here?”
“He is.” Taylor nods, cracking a beer. “Hopefully he’ll come to his senses and join us.”
“He’s so fucking hot.”
“Sooo hot.”
“What are you wearing to the beach fest?”
“Something cute.”
“Me too.”
“Let me see.”
“Let me see, too.”
I lean back against the jets and let their conversation swirl around me like warm chlorine fog. They’re harmless. Loud, shallow, silly. But this is their world—a safe, glossy bubble of outfits and weekend plans and someone’s cousin Clive in L.A. who once dated a B-lister.
