Axel snorts. Nik shrugs one shoulder. “He started it.”
Axel raises a brow. “Did not.”
“Did too.”
“Oh my God, you’rechildren,” I say, pushing off the wall.
Axel sticks his tongue out at me.
“I’m going to get a drink,” Nik says, climbing out.
Axel moves to climb out too. “Bring me a soda, will you?”
“Get your own,” Nik tosses over his shoulder, but there’s playfulness in it.
The two of them disappear into the house, towels slung low on their hips, still bickering. I can’t help the way my gaze lingers on both their backs.
I turn to find Johnny watching me, eyebrow cocked.
“What?” I ask, floating backward.
“Nothing,” he says with a smirk. “Just enjoying the show.”
I swim over and lean my arms on the pool ledge beside him. “What show?”
“You. Them. That whole… situation.” He takes a sip of his drink, eyes crinkling. “You’re good for them, you know.”
“Them?”
He shrugs. “All of us.”
My first instinct is to brush it off, but I don’t. It feels good to be wanted. Needed.
I roll my eyes, but my voice softens. “Thanks, I think.”
There’s a beat of quiet, the kind that feels easy. Comfortable.
“You’ve had a hell of a week.”
“That obvious, huh?”
“Only to someone who’s been through it.” He glances over, eyes soft. “You’ve been holding your breath since you got here.”
I don’t answer right away. The sun beams down on us, soaking into my skin.
“I’m trying to move on,” I admit. “I don’t want to be the broken girl in this house. Everyone’s already gone out of their way to make space for me. If I take up too much of it, I’ll ruin everything.”
Living with Joe taught me to be small, quiet, easy. Invisible.
“You know what I think?” Johnny leans back, arms lazily pumping to keep him afloat. “You haven’t taken upnearlyenough space.”
I swallow around the sudden lump in my throat. I snort. “Tell that to Axel.”
“I’d rather not.” He smiles crookedly. “He’s sensitive.”
I laugh, but it fades quickly. “It’s weird, being seen. You and Ben, Maryanne… Axel. Even Nik. I’m not used to it.”
Johnny hums. “Sometimes being seen is scarier thanbeing ignored.”
