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“Mmmm,” Aly said. “Not really. I feel like people always assume I’m more on the masculine spectrum than I am.”

“The masculine spectrum,” Lola repeated, suddenly feeling out of her depth. “Right. Okay. Are they all married?”

“Lauren and Laurie are. Colette says marriage is a tool created by the patriarchy to keep women at home.”

Lola laughed, thinking of how she herself had balked at the idea of marrying Justin. “She’s not wrong. And what do Colette and Jess do?”

“Colette is a literary darling. Her last novel was an international bestseller. And Jess is an associate producer, film and TV.”

“Chic,” Lola said. “Okay, tell me how you know everyone.”

Aly launched into a story about how she met Laurie and Lauren at an all-lesbian pickup basketball game in Fort Greene, even though Aly hated basketball and was only there because her other friend was going through a breakup and needed company. Then she said, “And don’t freak out, because it was a million years ago, but Colette is my ex.”

Lola’s mouth went immediately dry. “Why would I freak out? We all have exes.”

“We sure do,” Aly said in a tone Lola couldn’t read. “But we’re cool. It’s been a really long time. We’ve both been with a lot of other people since then. And she’s really in love with Jess.”

“Great,” Lola said, vowing to be reasonable. “I can’t wait to meet everyone.”

“They’re going to love you,” Aly said, kissing her at a red light.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” Lola said, her stomach twisting. She felt like she was about to take a test she hadn’t studied for. “They know I’m coming, right?”

Aly waited just a beat too long before answering. “They know I’m bringing someone. Did I tell them it wasyouspecifically? I mean, no.”

Lola’s stomach plummeted. “Oh good,” she replied, unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “I love providing the shock value.”

Aly tightened her grip around Lola’s thigh, not taking her eyes off the road. “That’s not what’s happening here, I promise. It’s going to be totally fine. You’ll see.”

Lola sighed. She didn’t want to ruin this perfect day with her nervousness. The sun shone high and hot on the car. The ocean was sparkling. Her bag was packed with ten different dresses and twelve pairs of underwear for forty-eight hours. She could get through this. If they didn’t love her automatically, she’d force them to. She might even have a good time.

***

The rental in Cherry Grove was right on the beach. It was shabbier than the houses Lola and Aly were staying in for the summer but with its own kind of run-down charm; it had salt-weathered wood shingles and a huge porch overlooking the ocean. As they walked up, a toddler came bursting out the door, two gorgeous women with identical light-brown hair chasing after him.

“Clancy, get back here!” one of them yelled, sighing deeply before dragging her eyes up to non-toddler level, where she finally noticed Lola and Aly standing before her, holding hands with their luggage at their feet. “You’re here!” she shrieked, allowing the other woman to retrieve the toddler from the sand.

Aly and the woman embraced tightly. When they pulled away, Aly said, “Lola, this is Laurie.”

“So nice to meet you,” Laurie said, a smile blossoming across her face. She was wearing cut-off shorts, a bikini top, and a trucker hat. Like Aly, she boasted a kind of understated beauty, like she didn’t spendmuch time at the mirror because she didn’t have to. She pulled Lola into a hug and then shot a look at Aly. “Well done,” she said.

Aly smirked.

Lola wondered what Laurie knew of their situation or if the existence of a situation was simply implied.

To Lola, Laurie said, “That’s my wife, Lauren, and the little monster is Clancy.”

Lauren, who was shorter, equally pretty, and wearing an oddly similar outfit, materialized from around the porch, a squirming Clancy in her arms. “Hi, lovey,” Lauren said to Aly and then gave her a one-armed hug, the baby wriggling between them. “And who is this?”

“This is Lola,” Aly said.

“Hi, Lola, welcome.” Lauren shook her hand warmly. Then she glanced at Aly. “You look like you could use some sun, Carter.”

“You know how I feel about sunscreen,” Aly replied peevishly.

Lauren rolled her eyes. “We know, we know. Sun protection is the only true antiaging product. Does she preach to you like this too?” she asked Lola.

Lola put a hand on her hip and assessed Aly keenly. “No, she actually has not, which is surprising, given that I’m a sun worshipper. I feel almost offended.”