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“Happy Fourth,” I repeat.
“Any plans for today?”
I shift my weight to my other foot, feeling the sand move beneath me. “Not sure yet. Just been doing whatever Parker plans.”
Audrey smiles. “Yeah, he loves being social director around here.”
“Yep, I noticed. He always had multiple things planned on campus, but I was too busy with football to do most of it.”
“Right. Natalie mentioned you play.”
“She did?”
Audrey bites her lower lip, but it doesn’t totally curb the way the corners of her mouth curl up. “You know, for two people who ‘hate’ each other, you guys sure pay close attention whenever the other person is mentioned.”
I roll my eyes at the air quotes. “We’re collecting intel. This weekend is like a reconnaissance mission.”
She gives up on not smiling. “I’m glad Parker and Tessa invited you and Natalie. It’s usually way more boring around here.”
I’d probably think the same thing about the Alleghany-Glenmont rivalry—that it’samusing—if it didn’t keep finding new ways to upend parts of my life. “Yeah. Right.”
Audrey laughs, then leans over to pat her dog. “I’ll let you get back to your run. See you later.”
“See you.”
I start running again, my steps laborious until I get back into the zone and pick up the pace, ignoring my screaming muscles.
When I spot Parker’s cottage, I ignore the strong temptation to pass out in the sand and head for the ocean instead. The beach is mostly empty at this hour. I kick off my sneakers, pull off my shirt, and walk straight into the surf, diving under the first wave I encounter. Immediately, I feel cleansed. Refreshed.
I bodysurf a few waves and then walk back onto shore, stopping to pick up my shoes and shirt. I’m sandy and salty by the time I reach the stairs and climb them to the deck. My sneakers get dropped and I toss my sweaty shirt over the railing.
“It looked like you were drowning out there.”
My eyes fly to the couch pressed against the side of the house, just past the sliding door. Natalie is sitting there. Her legs are propped up on the table in front of it and she’s holding a mug. Blonde hair flies around her face, loose and wavy.
“Thanks for the concern.”
She snorts and sips.
I stand awkwardly for a moment while she stares out at the water. After some more hesitation, I finally walk over and take a seat next to her.
“You never came back downstairs.”
“I was tired.”
A couple of kids run past on the beach, their shouts carrying in the wind.
“Are we good?” I ask quietly. “I don’t want things to be…weird.”
“Us being goodisweird,” she replies. “But yeah. We’re good.”
“Okay.” I glance over at her lap. A pad of paper is resting on her thighs, the color stark against her tanned skin. There’s an orange pencil case tucked against her thigh.
“What are you doing?” I nod toward the pencils and the paper. “Drawing?”
Natalie’s elbow shifts, so she’s partially blocking my view with her arm. “Yeah. I was just bored.”
But I feel convinced there’s more to it than that. “You do that a lot?”
