“Oh my god,” I say slowly. “I just can’t with you.” I blink and turn away, fearing that her stupidity might be contagious. I snap my mouth shut, knowing I won’t be able to stop once I get started. I could argue until I was blue in the face and it wouldn’t change Mindy’s mind. She’s right and the rest of the world is wrong. I’m not wasting my time.
We dock the boat and climb out. Ben and I are the last out. He takes my hand, helping me onto the pier.
“That was pretty fucking awesome,” he says. “And I agree with you. It’s all petty bullshit that’s annoying to listen to.”
I nod and reach into my bag, seeing if Erin has texted me she’s on her way yet. She hasn’t.
“Are we eating now?” Ben asks, linking his fingers with mine as we walk toward the beach. The little section that stretches along my parents’ cabins is a private beach, and shouldn’t be this packed with people. But my parents don’t really care, as long as people aren’t getting crazy. It’s a holiday, after all. The whole point of holidays is to celebrate something and not be a dick, right?
“We can eat all day if we want to hang around here,” I say. “I’m sure my mom has everything out now. The party officially starts at three, but most my relatives show up before then. My dad will start grilling soon too.”
“I like this,” Ben says and we step off the wooden dock into hot sand. “It’s very American.” He chuckles. “This is how you should spend the Fourth.”
“It’s how I always did. What did you guys do?”
“Picnic and fireworks, but not to this extent.”
“Halloween gets my vote for best holiday because of the costumes, but this is a close second just because of the food and the water.”
“I agree. Halloween isn’t as fun as when I was a kid, but I do like watching the Halloween movies on TV,” he admits with a smile. “And Christmas is … too much.”
Oh my fucking God he’s my soulmate. I push my heart back into my chest. “Yes! It’s just too long and too commercial, though I do like presents.”
“Who doesn’t?”
We hurry through the sand, our bare feet not able to take it much longer, and climb up the steps to my parents’ deck. It’s just as hot. Feet: 0. Sun: 1. Shoes are going back on. I slip my dress over my head and lead Ben inside to fill our plates. We take a reprieve from the heat and sit in the living room, enjoying the wonderful modern amenities of ceiling fans and air-conditioning.
I come back with my second hot dog and sit close to Ben. The back door slides open and Jake, Danielle, and her lovely friends come inside to escape the heat for a bit as well. Mindy only eats fruit. I grit my teeth. It’s not worth it … it’s not worth it.
“I hope you like our little family tradition,” I say to Danielle.
“I do,” she says and I know she means it. She links her arm through Jake’s. “This is so cute and I just love the beach. Plus it’s nice having access right outside the house.”
“I always felt bad for the people who had to park and walk, carrying coolers and kids, and all the other crap you bring with you.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that! But you are right.”
“We liked it growing up,” I say. “Had a few parties, lots of good memories.”
“You had parties?” Mindy says to me, raising her eyebrows. “I never heard about them.”
I slowly inhale. “Yeah, I did. It was a lot of fun.”
Jake quickly changes the subject to sports, talking to Ben about how he’s looking forward to football starting up again already. They talk about teams and someone getting banned—things I know nothing about—and I relax against Ben now that my skin isn’t hot to the touch anymore. He puts his arm around me without even thinking, hand resting on the curve of my hip. My phone buzzes; Erin just let me know she’s on her way. Dave was slow, as usual.
I warn her about Mindy fucking Abraham. Erin was shy and quiet. She still is, really. She was able to fade into the background during school and was never the subject of direct bullying.
Unlike me.
She stuck up for me when she could, even though social confrontation was right up there with facing an entire army of Daleks without the Doctor by your side. She really is a good friend, and I can’t wait for her to meet Ben. I set the phone down and rest my head against Ben’s muscular shoulder. I’m not that tired, but a full belly plus a morning spent in the sun makes me want a nap.
“So, Felicity,” Mindy starts. I open my eyes and find her perched on the edge of the couch next to her sister. She’s so fucking pretty it kills me. Then the maliciousness comes out and I can see her true face. “Do you still do that nerdy costume stuff?”