Page 27 of Bend

“Don’t disappear on us, okay?” she says. “We literally just adopted you.”

“Wow,” I mutter, glancing up at her. “That seems legally questionable.”

“Too late,” she shoots back with a grin. “You’re family now.”

Then the two of them head down the deck together, their voices fading into the background as they keep talking and laughing about something I can’t quite hear.

The table feels quieter once they’re gone, but not in an awkward way. Just calmer.

Bexley leans back in her chair and takes a slow sip of her drink, her gaze drifting toward the ocean for a moment before she looks back at me. The sunlight catches in her hair as she tucks a strand behind her ear, studying me with that same calm, observant expression she’s had since I sat down.

“You want to ask,” she says.

I don’t even bother pretending I don’t know what she means.

“How does it work?” I ask, resting my forearms on the table. “Dating both of them,”

Her mouth curves slightly, like she’s had this conversation before.

“I know what the boys and I have is unconventional,” she says. “But honestly, for us, it just works. It’s natural.”

“Well, I mean I’m not here to judge, ” I add. “Besides, different can be a good thing,"

She nods easily. “Yeah.”

There’s no embarrassment or defensiveness in her voice. If anything, she sounds comfortable with it in a way that makes it clear she’s already made peace with whatever opinions people might have.

“But I wouldn’t change it,” she says. She turns her glass slowly between her hands while she speaks, her voice steady. “I love them,” she says simply. “And they love me.”

There’s no hesitation when she says it. No second guessing. Her eyes lift to mine again.

“We’re a family.”

That word sits in my chest for a second longer than I expect it to. Then her expression softens slightly.

“And now,” she adds, “you’re part of that family too.”

I let that sink in while I stare out toward the water for a moment.

“Wow,” I say finally. “No pressure or anything.”

Bex laughs softly.

After a moment she leans forward again, resting her forearms on the table.

“There’s a party tomorrow night,” she says. “One of the team's sponsors is hosting it to celebrate the opening of the season. You should come, if you’re up for it. It’s at this massive beach house. The whole team will be there.”

I hesitate for a second, tapping my fingers lightly against the table as I think about it.

A day ago I didn’t know any of these people. I didn’t even know if I was going to stay here long enough to unpack half my bags.

Now I’m sitting on a café deck by the ocean with someone who just casually told me I’m part of their family.

Life’s weird like that.

“Okay,” I say finally.

Bex smiles like she knew that’s what I’d say.