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“There’s enough of them,” a woman said dryly.
“He’ll be running through here with a pack of them in no time,” Heather said, squeezing my hand. “Okay, I know you know some of these people, but I’ll introduce everyone anyway. That’s Trix on the couch, then Lily, Brenna, Molly and Rose you already remember, of course, and Kara.”
“Hey,” I said, awkwardly waving.
“Welcome, honey,” Brenna said kindly. “Don’t worry, you’ll keep us all straight eventually.”
“Hey youworks too,” Lily joked.
“Emilia,” a voice boomed behind me. I didn’t have time to turn before strong arms picked wrapped around my waist and lifted me off my feet.
“Rumi,” Heather said in exasperation as Rumi carried me away. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”
“She’s my friend,” he argued, not even pausing. “She doesn’t wanna hang with a bunch ofgirls.”
I snorted as he continued to carry me toward the front door.
“You’re welcome,” he said, dropping me to my feet as I reached it. He didn’t let me go, his arm heavy on my shoulders as we walked outside.
“For what?” I asked dryly. “Your mom had just introduced me to everyone.”
“Those are the nosiest women on the face of the planet,” he said, dragging me toward a picnic table. “I saved you.”
“If you say so.” I scanned the yard for Michael and found him talking with a group of men over by the barbecues.
“Emmy Lou,” Rumi said, pulling my attention back. “This is Nova—”
“We’ve met,” Nova said with a smile. My stomach lurched with guilt even as I smiled back.
“Gray and Olive,” Rumi continued. “Charlie, you must know, since you’re wearing her jacket.”
The speed at which my face flamed a deep red only increased my embarrassment.
“You’re an ass,” Charlie said, rolling her eyes. “Jesus, Rumi.”
“Huh,” Rumi joked, throwing his leg over the bench so he could sit down. “Mom just said the same thing.”
“It looks better on you than it ever did on me,” Charlie said generously. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled. “Nice to meet you Olive and Gray.”
“Hey,” Gray returned, lighting a cigarette.
“You too,” Olive said with a grin. “and Don’t worry, clothes get passed around like crazy around here. It’s no big deal.”
“Barely anyone wants my shit, though,” Charlie said with a laugh.
“That’s because it won’t fit any of us,” Nova pointed out. She looked at me. “You’re lucky. Charlie always has the best stuff and none of us can fit our asses into it.”
“It’s not the ass you have to worry about,” Olive argued. “Everything is too short.”
“Can we stop talking about clothes?” Rumi asked, scooting over so I could sit next to him.
“You brought it up, Einstein,” I said, elbowing him in the side.
“The only reason you even recognized that coat is because you’re the one that dropped a lit joint on the sleeve and left that mark,” Charlie said, pointing at my arm.
I hadn’t even noticed the small hole with blackened edges on the shoulder.
