I think she’d test out her tote bag and blanket method of body disposal on me if I bought Vegemite.
The timer ends, and I head to the checkout. Sofía stands there waiting, bouncing on her toes, a bag in her hand. “I’ve crafted the perfect meal.”
Doing my best to block my haul with my body, I scan my items and pay. “You sound confident.”
“Oh, I am,” she says, strolling out of the store and into the parking lot. “Where to next?”
“Now we eat.” I lift the blanket. “I figured we could head to the beach and enjoy the cool breeze.”
She stops walking. “What do you meannow? Don’t I have time to cook?”
“With what kitchen?”
“I…” Pink colors her cheeks, and she looks down at her bag, then to me. “Can I go back inside?”
“Nope. Can’t break the rules. I’m sure whatever you got is fine.”
I don’t give her an opportunity to argue—she would probably win, and this whole thing would fall apart—and walk to the beach. She jogs to catch up, her bags swinging in each hand. When we reach the lagoon area, we find a spot away from the water, and I lay out the blanket, setting down my bag and then sitting at one corner.
She slowly does the same.
“All right, what did you get?”
“You go first,” she insists, pulling her legs under her.
Shrugging, I pull out the mac and cheese, potato chips, and cake, plus two forks.
“Ta-da!” I wave my hands around. “Try to top that.”
I raise a brow, and Sofía pulls out a box of pizza Shapes, a box of Golden Gaytime ice creams, and one massive frozen pepperoni pizza.
“If you let the pizza sit out, the sun might cook it. If the birds don’t take it first.”
The laugh I valiantly fight breaks free, and I fall into a fit, my sides cramping from the intensity. Her confidence in her win was so genuine.
“I think it’s safe to say I won,” I declare, which is greeted with a huff from Sofía. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you hold on to that secret for now.”
“How kind of you,” she deadpans between bites.
I shrug. “I am nothing if not generous.”
We eat the food in silence, and once it’s gone, Sofía leans back and stares out at the ocean, the waves lapping against the shore.
“You are generous,” she says finally. “It’s one of your greatest qualities.”
Her words mean more to me than I think she’ll ever know.
Chapter 15
sofía
“Try taking a second off the front and back,” Jett advises, leaning closer, his cheek inches from mine.
His cologne—an annoyingly intoxicating scent—wafts through the air as the video I took yesterday on the helicopter plays on repeat. I do as he says, and when I play it again, it flows into the next clip, creating a transition without editing one in.
The vision is impressive.
“That’s great, Sofía,” he murmurs.
