Clara pours Camila a glass of red, and Camila takes a generous gulp, hoping it’ll take the edge off. Liquid courage, she tells herself, a little something to help coax out the version of her that can talk to anyone about anything.
They all head to the backyard, where a big patio set circles a bonfire. There’s still a bite of early spring in the air, but the fire crackles enough to keep it at bay.
They settle into their seats, and that’s when Camila notices the game sitting in the center of the table. Wavelength. She’s never heard of this one before.
She must look as confused as she feels because Valeria catches her eye and grins. “Have you ever played?”
Camila shakes her head. “Nope. What’s it about?”
“It’s a team guessing game,” Valeria explains, leaning forward. Camila does her damndest to ignore the flutter in her belly at the sudden closeness. “There’s this dial inside that slides between two extremes, hot and cold, boring and exciting, or real and fake. On your turn, you’ll see where the dial is set on the scale, you’ll pick a card between two extremes, and you’ll have to give us a clue that’ll help us guess where that spot is.”
Alejandra jumps in. “So if the dial’s close tocold, youmight say something like ‘ice cream.’ The rest of us will talk about your clue and try to figure it out as a group.”
Camila laughs. “So, basically, it’s a game about reading each other’s minds?”
“Basically.” Clara grins as she spins the dial. “You’ll see. It’s way harder than it sounds. I’ll go first so you get the idea.”
Clara gives the wheel a few spins before she flips over the first card.Reckless or Safe.Clara peeks at the dial, tapping her chin in thought. “Okay, my clue is ... getting a tattoo on a whim.”
Lily laughs immediately. “That’s bold, top of the scale bold.”
Valeria shakes her head. “Depends. If it’s something small, maybe not.”
“Yeah, but she saidon a whim,” Ella points out before leaning back in her chair. “No planning? That’s pretty reckless.”
Camila sips her wine, content to watch them volley opinions back and forth.
“Yeah, but this is Clara,” Alejandra says. “She’s done that at least ten timesthisyear. I can guarantee she set it more toward safe than reckless.”
Ella laughs. “You’re right, you’re right.”
Alejandra adjusts the dial, settling it somewhere between the middle and Safe. “If that doesn’t get us full points, I’ll be shocked.” She flips the cover before anyone can object, clearly confident she doesn’t need their approval.
She’s right. Alejandra turns to Clara and dusts off her shoulders with a playful smirk on her face.
“You know me too well, babe.” Clara kisses Alejandra as everyonelaughs.
In the few minutes Camila has been here, she has decided Clara and Alejandra are nauseatingly cute together, the kind of couple whose orbit is immediately obvious. Within seconds, it’s clear they’re completely wrapped up in each other. Lily and Ella, too, but they’re a little more subtle; everything they do is just for them.
Camila can’t help but wonder what Valeria’s dynamic with her girlfriend is. Valeria is gentle and sweet; she imagines her partner to be the same. Someone as calm and easygoing as she is.
They play a few more rounds, but Camila mostly hangs back, content to sip on her wine and watch them bounce off each other easily. They’ve all clearly known each other for years; the way they tease is effortless.
She laughs along with them, even when she doesn’t quite understand the inside jokes. It doesn’t bother her, though. There’s something comforting about being here among people who clearly love each other.
When it’s Camila’s turn to pull a card, she gets“Perfect pet or Terrible pet.”
She checks the dial, then leans back with a grin. “Okay. My clue is raccoons.”
Alejandra raises a brow. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh?” Camila echoes with a laugh.
Alejandra nods. “Valeria has very strong opinions on raccoons.”
Camila scoffs playfully. “Does she now?” She raises an eyebrow at Valeria. “What will it be?”
Valeria grabs the dial and twists it all the way to one side, but Camila can’t tell which.
