“Did you race Aiden?” I ask.
“Absolutely. And I destroyed him.”
I bite back a laugh because she says it with such complete seriousness.
We make it to the Salty Sand ice cream shop, which smells of vanilla and fresh paint. After getting our free cones, we wander onto the boardwalk.
I haven’t really experienced this part of town yet because it’s been cold, but now the ocean breeze feels perfect. The mix of teal and deep blue water is beautiful, and I still can’t believe we live this close to the beach.
“It’s so beautiful,” I say quietly.
“Yes, it is,” Max says. “Not everyone gets to walk a few steps and end up at the beach.”
I laugh. “Maybe not you, but this is my life now, and I definitely can’t complain.”
“That’s fair.”
Lila finishes her cone first and studies the weekend pamphlet.
“What’s next?” I ask.
“There’s supposed to be a cookout. It says potluck, so we should probably bring something, right?”
I immediately start mentally inventorying my fridge.
“Why don’t we just go to the store and grab something?” Max suggests. “That’ll be easier.”
“True,” I admit. “But also, not free.”
He laughs. “You know you originally paid for the food already in your house, right?”
I laugh harder. “It’s girl math, Max. If it’s already in my house, it’s basically free.”
“Okay,” he says, raising his hands in surrender. “I’ll leave that logic alone.”
I sigh dramatically. “Actually, the grocery store does sound easier.”
“Lead the way.”
“You’ve been here a week and still don’t know where the grocery store is?” Lila asks him.
Max chuckles. “Hey, I’ve been there, but I’m surviving off diners, restaurants, and cafés. People have been making my food for me here.”
Lila sighs wistfully. “I wish I had your life. Not that Avery’s a terrible cook, but sometimes I get tired of eating at home.”
I laugh and let it slide.
“Not exactly what I imagined when I pictured life at twenty-eight,” I say.
Lila thinks for a second. “Oh yeah. I forgot you were almost a teenager when I was born.”
“That is not true. I had been a teenager for six months when you came along.” Lila and I stare at each other for several seconds before we break into smiles.
“So…grocery store?” Aiden asks uncertainly.
We all nod.
Something about this strange little group makes me smile. We don’t exactly make sense together, but somehow, it works.
