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It flew over the net, and Lola’s heart soared. That was until it rocketed square into Lauren’s stomach with force, sprawling her on her back.

Laurie and Colette looked on in shock from both sides.

“Oh fuck,” Lola cried. “Fuck, shit. Oh my god.”

“Lola, what the fuck did you do?” Colette said as Laurie knelt down beside her wife.

Lola and Jess ran to the other side of the net, apologies spilling incoherently from Lola’s mouth. That was when she saw Lauren bent in half, clutching her stomach, laughter racking her body. The knot in Lola’s stomach loosened.

“I’m so sorry,” Lola said, kneeling next to her. “Are you okay?”

Lauren wiped tears from her face, her infectious belly laugh catching as she burst out, “And to think, I’ve been so nice to you!”

Lola let out a groan. “You really have. I can’t believe my aim was that off. I swear I was once good at this.”

“It’s okay. I’m fine. It mostly just surprised me!”

Laurie pulled Lauren up and then tossed the ball back to Lola.

“Try again,” she said easily, a grin across her face. “And this time, try not to kill my wife.”

Lola eyed Colette, her perfect lips twisted like she didn’t want to smile. Lola gave Laurie a thumbs-up in return. “Right, aim for Colette next time. Got it.”

Lola heard a loud laugh sound from the sidelines and turned herhead, seeing Aly watching gleefully from her spot on the beach. Laurie and Lauren looked at each other in surprise before bursting into laughter again.

“Exactly, Lola. Exactly.” Laurie nodded, stifling her glee as she patted Colette’s shoulder.

They went back to their places, and Lola tried again.

On the next serve, she nailed it—a perfect volley. Lauren lobbed it back over the net to Jess, who set it over to Lola.

Okay, Fine, she said to herself.You got this. This is just a normal game of beach volleyball. Do not overthink it. In fact, do not think anything. No thoughts. Just ball.

Her mantra worked as she hit the ball clear over the net once again. For the rest of the game, she and Jess found a rhythm. The Laurs and Colette, on the other side, struggled to make three players work. They ran into each other; they missed easy passes. Jess and Lola were beating them so severely that, soon enough, they stopped counting points.

Lola felt, as they played, like she wanted more of this: trips to the beach and volleyball games and wine-soaked dinners under the stars—with these people, with Aly. Even if Colette was there, it held appeal. It was kind of dreamy to imagine how life might stretch out if she and Aly continued doing what they were doing. She was fitting in, despite her trepidation. She was even having a great time.

It was getting hotter out now, the sun high overhead, and eventually everyone drifted away from the net and into the sand, exhausted and starting to burn.

“Good game,” Colette said to Lola.

Lola raised her brow, waiting for thebutto drop.

“I’m serious,” Colette said, stretching out on a towel. “I’m impressed. And ashamed. I suck at anything involving a ball.”

“Or balls,” Laurie said, smirking.

“Thank you,” Lola said, accepting the compliment. “It’s the only sport I’ve ever been able to play.”

“That can’t be right. I mean you’re just so tall,” Jess said.

“I bet you’d be good in our basketball game,” Lauren added. “You should consider it when we all get back to the city.”

Lola’s stomach did a happy flip. Lauren thought she’d be around long enough to hang out with them in Brooklyn, to play basketball at the famous pickup games.

Aly passed Clancy back to his moms and then grabbed Lola by the hand and ran down to the water’s edge, where the frothy Atlantic washed over their toes.

“How are you?” Aly asked. “Is this all okay?”