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“We’re your cousins,” one of the twins said.

“I’m your aunt in spirit,” she said. “Does that work for you?”

They both hugged her and then ran off to their friends.

“Monsters,” she said fondly. “Sorry, I should have introduced you.”

“I’ve met them,” I said as we moved closer to the food table and Ryan got me a plate. “They’re good kids.”

“They are. I have the feeling they’re going to be terrors as teenagers, so I’m trying to prepare now.” She loaded up her plate and I took a few things here and there just to be careful. My plan was to nibble and hope my stomach behaved itself.

“They really look up to you,” I said.

“Hopefully they’ll learn from my mistakes,” she said. “Let’s find somewhere to sit. I hate eating standing up.”

We sat at a small table together and Ryan demolished two cheeseburgers and a hot dog and then a massive amount of potato salad.

“I missed out on a lot of their life and I feel bad about that,” Ryan said, looking over at the twins as they splashed in the pool with their friends, having chicken fights and screaming when someone lost.

“That’s not your fault,” I said, “you were living in another state and working.”

“I know, but still,” she said. “Uncle Mark is kind of the black sheep of the family. Let me tell you, family gatherings are more than tense. I avoid them as much as I can.”

“Understandable,” I said. “What was it like working for your family?”

Ryan shuddered. “It was… I hated it.” She sagged in her chair and then shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

That was fair enough. This wasn’t the right venue for having deep conversations about family drama.

Sydney came over with Lark and sat down with us. Mia arrived a few minutes later and also joined our table, which was pretty crowded, but I got shoved right next to Ryan, so I wasn’t complaining.

“You can absolutely have some of our damages and mistakes,” Sydney said to Mia.

“You don’t have to do that,” Mia said. “I can buy my own dishes and coffee mugs.”

“Mia’s moving into the apartment next door to us,” Sydney explained. “So I am probably never going to see my girlfriend ever again.”

Lark rolled her eyes. “That’s not true. I’ll come home for…certain things.”

Sydney raised her eyebrow. “Ohhh, I love certain things.”

“Anyway,” Mia said loudly. “I don’t need any donations.” Her face went red, betraying her lie. “I’m just glad to be getting out of my parent’s house. Excited to walk around in my underwear.”

Ryan leaned over and said in my ear “I’d like to see you in your underwear later. In even less.”

I let out a little squeaking noise and everyone looked at me.

“Sorry,” I said, slapping at my neck. “Bug bite.”

“How are you doing?” Ryan asked me later as we hung on the edge of the pool. The younger kids had gone inside to watch a movie for some reason, even though it was still gorgeous outside.

“I’m good,” I told her, lazily kicking my feet. “Really. I am.”

“Good,” she said. “Whenever you want to go, we can go.”

I closed my eyes and then sunk below the water and came up to find her waiting for me.

“You look like a mermaid,” she said, pushing my hair back.