“We’ve noticed,” Dax says dryly.
An hour later, we have something that’s... well, it’s definitely sand-based. Whether it qualifies as a castle is up for debate.
Malik stands back to admire his creation. “It’s magnificent.”
“It’s lopsided,” Sierra points out.
“It has character.”
“It’s going to collapse in about ten minutes.”
“You have no vision.”
They’re standing close enough that her shoulder bumps against his arm, and I notice neither of them moves away. There’s an ease between them now that wasn’t there before.
Good. They deserve that.
We all do.
“Swim?” I suggest, already moving toward the water.
“Race you!” Sierra calls, taking off before I’ve fully processed her words.
Oh, it’s on.
I sprint after her, my longer legs giving me an advantage, but she’s fast and has a head start. We hit the water at almost the same time, splashing and laughing like kids.
The water is shockingly cold after days of being inside, and I let out a very undignified yelp.
“Not so tough now!” Sierra crows, already diving under a wave.
I dive after her, and we surface together, both of us breathing hard and grinning like idiots.
“This was a great idea,” she says, treading water beside me.
“I have them occasionally.”
“Very occasionally.”
“Hey!”
She laughs and splashes me, which of course means war.
Sierra’s surprisingly competitive, dunking me at every opportunity. I retaliate by picking her up and threatening to throw her, which makes her shriek with laughter.
The others join in eventually, and it becomes absolute chaos. Dax lifts Malik onto his shoulders and challenges Jalen to do the same with Sierra. What follows is a very aggressive, very stupid game of chicken that ends with everyone in the water and Sierra laughing so hard she can barely breathe.
“I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much,” she gasps, floating on her back.
“Then we need to make you laugh more,” Jalen says, floating nearby.
“Agreed,” Malik adds.
“It’s now an official pack goal,” Dax declares. “Make Sierra laugh at least once a day.”
“You guys,” she says, but she’s smiling so wide I can see it even with her eyes closed against the sun.
We stay in the water for a while longer, just floating and talking about nothing important. Favorite foods, worst vacations, embarrassing childhood stories. The kind of getting-to-know-you conversation that should have happened months ago, if we hadn’t all been too stubborn and competitive to allow it.
