Page 32 of Better Than the Beach
“Me too,” Bailey says, then throws herself at me and Ivy, so we all three sway on our feet in our tight embrace.
“Thanks, guys,” I mumble, careful not to get a mouthful of Ivy’s blonde curls.
“Anytime, Cass,” Bailey says, and as we release each other, there’s a knock on the door.
“I’ll let them in,” Ivy says, and she skips to the front door while Bailey and I grab the cookies and wine to bring into the living room.
I’ve already got the furniture rearranged into a circle with the coffee table sitting in the middle, and we’re setting plates down as Ivy enters the living room with three tall guys trailing behind her. Kelley is Ivy’s boyfriend, Riggs is Bailey’s boyfriend, and Jesse is Kelley’s roommate. The first two take turns giving me a hug and plopping down on furniture, then Jesse picks me up and spins me in a circle, making me giggle, before setting me back on my feet with a little pat on my head.
“Looking like a regular beach bum, C,” Jesse says with a grin.
“Thank you,” I say back.
“I brought the good stuff to the party,” he says with a waggle of his brows, then he swings a bag off his shoulder and digs through it, pulling out a familiar looking box.
It’s a card game that Jesse loves, but the last time we played, I got my ass handed to me. I groan, but Jesse chuckles and drops to his knees by the coffee table, pulling the lid off the box and grabbing the deck of cards.
“I suck at that game, Jesse,” I grumble and throw myself onto the couch dramatically. “Can’t we play something else? I think I have Scrabble or something.”
“I tried to talk him out of bringing it,” Riggs says with a shrug.
“It’s his newestthing,” Kelley adds apologetically, and I roll my eyes.
Jesse just ignores them, then turns to me.
“You don’t suck at this game, C. You just had shitty cards last time.”
He winks and hands the card deck to me. I look from the cards to his face and back at the cards.
“Okay?” I say and he barks out a laugh.
“You had shitty cards and lost last time, so this time you get to be dealer.”
I blink at him, and he blinks back, then rolls his eyes.
“Go on, Cass,” he urges. “Shuffle the deck.”
My smile is instant, and suddenly, I get it.
I get toshuffle the deck.
EIGHT
cassie
AUGUST
“Are you nervous?”Ivy asks over our video chat as I check myself out in the mirror.
“Don’t be nervous, C,” Bailey chimes in. “You look hot, very professional, and you’re going to love it.”
“She’s right, Cass,” Ivy agrees. “This is what you’ve wanted. This is what you’re meant to do. It’s a brand-new adventure and it’s going to be great.”
I smile at my phone where it’s propped on my counter.
“Thanks, guys.” I breathe out a sigh, visualizing exhaling my nerves. “It’s just weird. A new state. A new program. Essentially an entirely newfuture, and I’m doing it all without knowing a single person.”
“You’ve got us,” Ivy reassures. “We’re just a video chat away.”
