Mila slams both hands on the island. “Yes!”
Gianna throws her head back and laughs. “It was my brilliant idea.”
Lucy says, “It was actually mine, but I was planning on them to win.”
Mila says, “I love that Benson’s your brother because you can get away with trolling him.”
Gianna laughs. “All day.”
They spell out each letter, and then Gianna places the S last, and then she stands back and tilts her head. “Higher.”
Lucy looks at it and asks, “What?”
“The S needs to be higher.”
I look at the S as she puts it a little higher. “There.”
We stand back and admire their work. The cans are spelled. The work is done. We wait.
Two guys walk into the house first. I don’t think I’ve met them before.
Gianna greets them, “Oh, hey, Drew.”
The taller one looks up and waves. So, that’s who Mara’s sleeping with, or was.
“Hi, Walker.”
The other guy waves.
They walk in together in matching team sweatpants and Wolves hoodies, hair a little wet under their hats. They round the corner into the kitchen and stop.
Walker sees the cans and says, “What––”
Drew tilts his head and finishes the sentence on his own, “–– is happening?”
Gianna smiles. “We did good. It’s sick, isn’t it?”
Drew looks at it. “Uh — yes.”
Walker nods. “Inspirational.”
He nods at me on his way past.
Rowan walks in next. His hair is wet too. He has his flask in his hands and a bag on his shoulder. He sees the cans on the counter and hesitates.
He lifts an eyebrow at Gianna. “Really?”
“Really.”
He looks at Lucy. “He is going to lose his mind.”
He walks past the island and stops just past it. He glances at me. “Hi, Melly.”
“Hi, Rowan.”
He nods. He keeps walking.
Percy is right behind him. He’s in a long-sleeve thermal and joggers, and his hair is wet at the back of his neck. He stops at the island and stares at the cans. He doesn’t move.
