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“That’s really sad,” Eva said, her lips pressed into a thin, pitying smile. “I can’t imagine what it would be like not to see myabuelafor that long.”
“Are you really close with her?” I asked.
Eva nodded and chuckled. “Some days it feels a littletooclose. I’ve lived in the same house with her since I was born. And I work at the cafe. She can drive me nuts sometimes, but I’d be lost without her.”
I couldn’t decide if I was relieved that I’d escaped that kind of pain in losing Asteria or jealous of it. “I’m just sad we won’t get a chance to get to know each other,” I finally said.
“But I heard you were staying,” Eva said, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“How did you hear that?” I asked.
Eva smiled. “I know you’re not used to it yet, but everyone kind of knows everything about everyone in Sedgwick Cove. Word gets around, almost like magic.” She winked.
“Right.” I sipped my drink, then narrowed my eyes at her. “Almost like magic, or like… actual magic?”
She chuckled. “A little of both, probably. But my point is, what better way to get to know your grandmother than by spending time here? Sedgwick Cove and the name Vesper are practically synonymous. Nothing will bring you closer to your grandmother than hanging around this place, as long as you can cope with a bit of staring and unwanted attention, and that will pass.”
“I guess I wouldn’t mind so much that people knew all about me if I knew literally anything about anyone here.”
Eva sat up straight, looking eager. “Okay, so ask me some questions, then.”
I nearly choked. “Wait, really? I…didn’t mean I want to interrogate you!”
“I know that. Ask me anyway.”
“I… I don’t know what to ask,” I spluttered, noticing that Zale and Nova were walking towards us.
Zale dropped into the sand at our feet, exhausted and damp from dancing to the music blasting from a nearby bluetooth speaker. Nova perched herself on the driftwood log on my other side, hair and makeup somehow flawless despite the wind and the heat. At least it was some consolation to tell myself it was probably a result of magic rather than personal perfection on her part.
“Looks like Nova owes me money!” Zale crowed. “Pay up, princess! I bet her ten bucks you’d show tonight,” he added for my benefit.
Nova sighed, barely looking up from her phone. “Zale, I don’t know how else to explain this to you, but just announcing that you bet someone money doesn’t mean they have to pay you. For example,” she turned and looked at me. “I bet you $20 that you’re drinking soda because you’re a goody-two-shoes who doesn’t drink alcohol.” Then she held out her hand expectantly.
“Uh…”
Nova dropped her hand and turned to smile at Zale. “See? Just because you’re right doesn’t mean other people have to pay you for it.”
“Whatever, you’re just a sore loser. I’ll put it on your tab,” Zale said.
“Sure, babe, you do that,” Nova replied.
“So, come on, girls, what are we gossiping about?” Zale asked, putting his elbows on his knees and cupping his face in his hands.
“You sucking face with Penny Willis. What’s that about?” Eva said, waggling her eyebrows.
Zale’s mouth dropped open in mock horror. “Excuse me, that is a lie. Everyone knows I only suck face with girls when I am very, very drunk.”
“And are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Very, very drunk.”
Zale promptly jumped up and began reciting the alphabet backwards while walking the driftwood log like a tightrope. He finished with a flourishy bow and hopped back down again. “Does that answer your question? Now what were you really gossiping about?”
“I just told Wren to ask me some questions. You know, to help her get acclimated,” Eva explained.
“No parameters? Just… open interrogation?” Nova asked skeptically.
