Page 96 of Bend

This part has somehow become one of my favorite things.

Sitting around with the girls. Talking shit. Laughing too loudly. Listening to gossip that has absolutely nothing to do with me and still being expected to give an opinion.

It’s easy with them.

They don’t ask questions that feel like traps or make me prove I deserve to be here. They just pulled me into the group like they collectively decided I looked unstable enough to fit in.

They weren’t wrong.

Bexley props herself up on one elbow and looks past me toward the water.

“So,” Cece says, dragging the word out. “Are we going to talk about it, or are we pretending all the sexual tension on this beach is coming from the humidity?”

I keep rubbing sunscreen across Lena’s shoulders. “I hate every single one of you.”

“That still isn’t a denial,” Bexley says.

Lena glances back at me. “We’re not judging, by the way.”

Cece lifts her drink toward me. “Judging? Mami, please. Three hot men are collectively losing their minds over you. I’m impressed.”

Bexley bumps her knee against mine. “Same. I mean, I’m sleeping with brothers. Your brothers to be exact. You’re safe here.”

Lena’s smile fades a little, and she looks down at her hands. “And I’m with my dead ex-boyfriend’s best friend.” The words come out quieter, like they still catch on the way up. “So trust me, I know complicated doesn’t mean wrong.”

Cece looks around at all of us. “Honestly, Echo. You might be the least concerning one here.”

“That feels insulting somehow.”

“It was meant with love.”

I laugh despite myself and hand the sunscreen back to Lena.

Bexley’s grin softens. “Seriously, though. You okay?”

I look toward the back deck, where the guys are still scattered around doing their thing, then back at the girls.

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve got some shit to figure out,” I admit. “A lot of it, probably. But I’m okay.”

“That’s fair,” Lena says.

Cece nods. “You don’t have to solve it today.”

“I know.” I pull my knees up and wrap my arms around them. “But thank you. For being so weirdly supportive about all of this.”

Bexley snorts. “Girl, look at our lives. Supportive is the only option we have left.”

“And mildly entertained,” Cece adds.

“Mostly entertained,” Lena says.

I shake my head, smiling. “Assholes.”

“Supportive cabronas,” Cece corrects, lifting her drink.

The girls laugh, and I do too, mostly because they’re ridiculous and partly because it feels good not to have to explain myself any further.

A few minutes later, Cece pushes to her feet and starts tugging off her cover-up. “Okay, enough feelings. I’m getting in the water.”