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“Watch your mouth around Emmy,” my mom said easily, like she didn’t swear like a sailor herself. “And you haven’t distracted me. Rumi is still going to feel my wrath.”
“Well, at least tell him I tried,” I replied.
“I’m sorry, Emmy,” my mom said, pausing to face Emilia. “I know you probably think we’re lunatics.”
“I think you’re awesome, actually,” Emilia replied sunnily. “Plus, it’s not like I haven’t seen your crazy before.”
Mom laughed. “Amen to that. We can’t keep it a secret around here, that’s for sure.”
“Me and Emilia are going to hang outside,” I said, reaching for her hand.
“Cool,” my mom replied. “Thanks for the help, bud. Could you take the sodas to the outside fridge on your way?”
“No problem.” I dropped Emilia’s hand again so I could grab the boxes of soda. She strode ahead of me and opened the door.
“Oh, I hung up the hammock for you!”
“Sweet,” I said with relish. “Thanks, Ma.”
“I don’t understand why you love the hammock so much,” Emilia said as I put the soda away.
“What’s not to love?” I asked, leading her to the back of the yard. “It’s comfortable and it rocks from side to side. Plus, when you’re in it with me, you have to practically lie on top of me.”
“If I didn’t, you’d squish me to death,” she said reasonably.
“That’s fair,” I said with a huff. “You’re pretty small.”
The sun was behind us, making our shadows stretch out in front. Emilia’s looked like a kid’s.
“Being short is good for gymnastics,” she said, staring at our shadows. “But I’m not going to lie, I’d take a few more inches.”
“That’s what she said.”
“Oh,” she said in mock disgust. “That’s just wrong.”
“What’s wrong, Emilia?” I asked, walking forward to sit down in the hammock that was stretched between two trees. “Wouldn’t you like a couple more inches?”
“Michael,” she hissed like she was scandalized, but her eyes were filled with humor. “A couple more inches would be seriously uncomfortable.”
“You’re good for my ego,” I said, pulling her down with me so we could get situated without flipping the whole thing over.
“I think we fit pretty well, don’t you?” she asked as we settled, her body pressed against the length of mine, her head on my chest.
“In the hammock or in the bed of my truck?” I asked jokingly.
“Well, both I guess.”
“I think we fit in every way possible, sugar,” I said with a sigh, closing my eyes.
“Good, me too.”
We were quiet for a while. It wasn’t getting hot outside yet. Spring was pretty cool in Oregon, but it was a nice day anyway. Between our sweatshirts, body heat, and the sun shining down, it was nice and warm in our little cocoon.
“I’m excited for next year,” Emilia said, tracing patterns on my chest with her finger. “College is going to be so different.”
“You nervous at all?”
“I’m a little nervous about joining the tumbling team. I feel like I need to really earn the scholarship they gave me or they’re going to take it back.”
