Page 115 of Sunset Catchers

“For the hundredth time, my breasts are not fake. You’ve literally seen them come out of me.”

“All I know is that we spent one summer apart, and when I got back, they seemed bigger.”

I sigh, shaking my head. Her boobs stopped growing way before mine, so that was her accusation of the so-called injustice of it all.

“You’re here.” I hold her hands in mine.

“I’m here. Okay, show me everything first, then tell me everything.”

I’m a coy damsel batting her lashes. “Sorry, I don’t kiss and tell.”

“But do you fuck and spill?”

“You know I do.”

“This place is beautiful,” Junie utters with admiration.

I brought her to the beach so we could talk freely and dip our toes in the slightly warm sand—the water was still freezing. Especially with how the sun was dim today, the clouds shielding us from its warmth.

“I know. It’s crazy to think that we’re still in Canada.” She agrees, bobbing her head. I turn my attention toward my best friend. We are both wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants to fight off the chill in the air, then socks and crocs; mine pink to her beige.

Junie and I, we were cut from the same cloth, even if we were bred from two completely different women and raised in vastly different ways. Yet, we’re still on the same side of the coin, holding on to each other while it gets tossed and turned. Twin disasters cut loose into the world.

She gets me, and I get her. On an intrinsic level.

And that’s really all that matters, but also what makes me nervous today.

Because although I know I love Levi—I am most certainly in love with him, it feels sort of weird to confess my feelings to my best friend. We’ve shared our every thought with each other since we were twelve. But these are new thoughts for me. Daunting ones. It’s embarrassing, in a way, to admit that a guy holds my heart in his hands when I’ve been handling it by myself, pretty much my whole life.

I’m shying away from fully submitting to the concept.

“How was the meeting with Kit?” That is the main reason why my best friend is in town, to talk about social media strategy with Kit regarding the cottages.

“It went really well. She was open with whatever I thought was best and pretty much gave me free rein.”

“That’s great, Junie. I’m glad this panned out.”

“Me too. I’m so excited to take pictures of everything. I should probably also meet up with your boyfriend to see exactly what he needs for the website.”

Even now, there is a camera at her side on the blanket we are sitting on. She never goes anywhere without it. Never wanting to miss an opportunity to collect precious proofs of lives well lived.

“Not my boyfriend,” I say, shaking my head.

“But do you want him to be?”

I guess we’re really doing this. Junie shifts so she’s sitting crossed legs facing me. I match her position.

“Maybe?” Her lips roll together. “Yes?” She snorts.

“You tell me, babe.”

“I don’t know, Junie,” I whine.

“What’s the hold-up here? Lay it on me.”

“Don’t you think it’s embarrassing to fall in love? To be vulnerable to someone else?”

“What’s embarrassing about it?” she asks me.