Page 69 of Hotter in the Hamptons

“Never been to a nude queer beach before?” Laurie asked, as though she could sense Lola’s wide eyes.

“You know, I haven’t,” she said. She wished everyone would stop calling her out for being so new to this world.

To Lola’s relief, despite the beach’s clothing policy, all the girls in their group had their bathing suits on; Laurie and Lauren in simple one-pieces, Colette in a witchy Chromat bathing suit that tied into the shape of a pentagram, Jess in board shorts and a UV-safe tank top, and Aly in that black one-piece that showed off her long, pale legs.

Anytime Lola had been in a group of girls in New York, it had been in a work context: going to a fashion event together or agreeing to like and comment on each other’s posts as a pod. She hadn’t ever had a group of friends with such history and intention, and though she knew she wasn’t really one of them, it was nice just to be around them and their fondness for one another.

Laurie produced a volleyball from her tote bag as they assembled themselves around the net, the waves crashing merrily in the background. Aly and Clancy flopped down into the sand and immediately began digging, making Lola’s heart momentarily swell. Even though she wasn’t technically a “kid person,” she could appreciate how endearing it was to see Aly making Clancy giggle on the beach.

Jess and Colette declared themselves team captains, and Lola tried to prepare herself to not get picked for a team.

To her surprise, she was chosen first.

“I pick Lola,” Jess shouted. “Team Bisexual!”

Lola wasn’t sure if it was better to be called straight or bi by these women. Each felt like a potential minefield.

“You’re bi?” Lola said, joining Jess on her side of the net.

“Does that shock you?”

Lola nodded.

“Because I’m masc?”

Lola treaded carefully. “I just don’t think I’ve ever met a bisexual butch before.”

“That you know of,” Jess pointed out. “But the truth is I prefer the termqueer. I feel like it encompasses more. It’s not just that I’m into women and men. It’s that I’m kind of into…everyone.” She flashed Lola a blinding smile. “Transpeople, nonbinary people, just…people.”

“I get that,” Lola said, and she did. She felt it resonate deep in her bones, but she wasn’t ready to go there. “But I don’t think I’m bi. I think I just like Aly.”

Jess shrugged. “Sure,” she said. “Maybe for right now. But what about who you’ll likeafterAly?”

After Aly? Lola swallowed. She had not considered that there wouldbe people after Aly. Despite the summer-fling vibe of whatever was going on between them, it was impossible to see beyond it.

Before Lola could answer, Colette’s voice rose over the beach wind. “Stop flirting and pick your next team member.”

“Flirting?” Lola cried, laughing at how ridiculous it was. “Who the fuck is flirting?”

“Ignore her,” Jess said, laughing too. “She hates when I talk to pretty femmes.”

So maybe theywereflirting? But Lola hadn’t meant to. Jess was just so easy to talk to and… Okay, she was definitely getting in her head now. She wasn’t used to being in a situation where bonding with another girl could be misconstrued as sexual; she didn’t know what to make of the teasing (or tormenting, coming from Colette). She eyed Aly, who seemed engrossed in building Clancy a sandcastle, and vowed to stop laughing so loudly at Jess’s jokes, though she also had a feeling there was nothing she could do, no way she could act that Colette wouldn’t have some sort of problem with.

“We don’t need another team member,” Jess called. “Let’s do three on two. I have a feeling you’re going to want the extra support.”

Everyone agreed that Lola should serve first. She said a silent prayer that her muscle memory would kick in as she threw the ball in the air and then missed it entirely, slamming her fist through empty air as the ball dropped on the ground.

There was a pause before everyone began to laugh.

“Jesus,” she exclaimed, heat rising in her cheeks. “I swear I’ve done this before!”

“You got this,” Jess said from beside her, taking her spot on the sand, as Lauren called a chirpy, “Go Lola!” from across the net.

Lola picked up the ball again, mentally psyching herself up as shespun it in her hand. Across the net, Colette folded her arms, as though she didn’t expect to need to use them.

How annoying.

Lola threw the ball in the air and then slammed down on it with a closed fist.

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