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My mind is whirling from what just happened and the fact that I’ve officially come out to my first person ever that wasn’t family.
“Is that Sally?” a voice calls behind me. I turn around to find Casey and Piper walking down the street in just bikinis and shorts. They are holding a cooler between them. “Oh my god, it is!”
“Don’t scare her away,” Piper chastises.
“Why aren’t you at the cove, Sal gal?”
I furrow my brow at Casey. That’s a first.
“Why would I be at the cove?” I question.
The girls exchange a look before Piper answers, “Because it’s the Fourth of July, and everyone that’s not an old person is at the cove for the party.”
“Oh.” That’s all I got in me.
“We were just picking some stuff up for the group because they didn’t bring enough.”
“You’re coming, right?” Casey grins at me.
“I’m not sure?—”
“Come on. We haven’t gone to party together since the first cove fire. Oliver always takes you away from us, and we need more girlfriends.” Casey motions between herself and Piper.
“I got a text from Jaxon that your siblings are already there, so you might as well come,” Piper adds, and I lower my head but still nod.
“Yes!” Casey exclaims, grabbing my hand and then her cooler. “This is gonna be the best Cove Bash yet!”
The Cove Bash.
That’s what Casey told me on the way over. It is another tradition here in Alliance. While not as big as the first cove fire, the Cove Bash is an all-day event where everyone who’s not considered a functioning adult shows up, gets drunk, and plays different games.
I’m kind of impressed with how organized it looks. There are pong tables, corn hole, and even a makeshift volleyball court.
According to Piper, this is one of the few times lakefront and riverfront actually work together because everyone loves a good party.
My eyes land on my sister, sending a ball over the net and past her hopeless opponents.
I can’t help the grin on my face as she high-fives one of her partners. His shaggy, dirty-blond hair is a dead giveaway that she’s playing with Jaxon. I hope he can keep up with her.
My sister is normally stoic. But put a volleyball in her hand, and you get to see her competitive side. I wish I had her confidence.
Ella walks over to her second partner since they are playing three-on-three.
My pulse picks up as Ella fist-bumps a shirtless Oliver. His defined, tan skin glows in the sunlight. He wipes the sheen of sweat from his forehead.
I’ve seen him shirtless before, but this is a reminder that I’m not prepared for. I wasn’t ready when he swiped his shirt off at his mom’s, and I’m not ready now.
“You good, girl?” Casey asks.
I force my mouth shut before turning to an amused Casey and Piper.
“Yeah, I’m good.” They don’t look like they believe me at all. “I’m going to relax in the shade. I can take the cooler.”
Casey lets out a low chuckle. “Sure. I have rounds to make. Pipe?”
“Actually, I see Tyler over by the pong table. He’s probably losing without me.”
“Make sure to save a game for me. We can’t have a party where we don’t wipe the floors with these boys.”
