Both men are in their bathing suits, Sam with a T-shirt and Charlie bare-chested. Sam is slightly taller, his wavy hair is longer on top, and his eyes are blue, but there’s no mistaking them as siblings. Charlie casts him a hard look, but it dissolves when he looks at me. I think of the way he looked at me last night, glittering under the fireworks, and my heart beats faster.
After I got home, I checked off numbers four (throw myself a birthday party), fourteen (glittery makeup), and fifteen (put on the green dress) from my bucket list, and I stared at number five (kiss a cute guy). I felt invigorated, bright, like Charlie said.
This morning, I sent Harrison a message, telling him I wasn’t available for dinner right now. And then I emailed Willa. I toldher I wouldn’t edit the photos as requested. I quoted the original brief (“a refreshingly real swimwear shoot”) and explained that I wouldn’t have taken the assignment if I’d known she wanted me to retouch the images so dramatically. There’s a chance I’ve permanently damaged our relationship, but for once, the thought of someone being unhappy with me doesn’t feel cataclysmic.
“You must be very brave to throw yourself to the lions like this,” Charlie says to me now, nodding at Sam and Percy.
“There’s a special place in hell for anyone who denies a pregnant woman chocolate cake,” I tell him. “I brought Percy a slice.”
I stare into the branches of tall neighboring hemlock and maple trees, where the frame of a large tree house sits. “So, this is it?”
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Charlie says.
“Your ego?” I ask, still gazing upward. “Very. It’simmense.”
Charlie chuckles, and I hand him his coffee. I catch Percy and Sam looking at us. She’s gaping, and he’s wearing a lopsided grin.
“How do you put up with him?” Sam asks.
“I don’t. I just haven’t been able to get rid of him yet.”
Sam glances at Charlie, who shrugs. “I told you she was ferocious.”
“That’s perfect for you,” Percy tells him.
“We’re just friends, Pers,” he says.
For a few seconds, it feels like I’ve been shaken from a nice dream. Charlie’s flirting doesn’t mean anything.
Charlie looks to me. “Right, Alice?”
“Right.” And it’s for the best, I remind myself. Because this summer I’m focusing on me—and Nan. I’m not about to develop feelings for the heartbreaker across the bay. “Just friends.”
“I doubt that,” Sam mutters, and Percy elbows him in the side.
“Screw off,” Charlie says.
Percy’s stomach grumbles loudly, and she laughs. “This little guy must have heard about the cake.”
“This littlegirl,” Sam says.
Percy is shaking her head, but they’re gazing at each other like there’s no one else in the world who matters. In our four years together, Trevor never once looked at me like that.
I glance at Charlie. He’s watching them with an expression that’s almost sad. He sees me staring and smiles—but it’s not his boyish grin, and there’s nothing smug about it. It’s a smile I haven’t seen before.
“You have to sleep here when you finish it,” I say, looking at the tree house again.
“Ifhe finishes it,” Sam quips.
Charlie cuffs him on the back of the head. “I told you I’d have it done in time for the party.”
Percy looks skeptical. “The party is in three weeks.” She turns to me. “You should join us, Alice. A bunch of our friends are coming for the weekend.”
A house full of people I don’t know. My eyes drift to Charlie.
“Come,” he says. “I could use the backup.”
“I doubt that, but I’ll be there.” I look at Percy. “I’ll bring my camera.”
