p chat was already arguing about food and whether D

voted n

Damian finally

not be attend

eat. See y

t was not a

rry, Damian. Nob

o wash off her makeup. A new mess

asn't speak

eplied to me. Growth

phone wedged between her cheek and shoulder while

ng this too muc

t that he can't fire

robably buy

ng a bucket an

k you two are going to be the re

use I'm not changing my plans just bec

rcus has already

aging through her d

the confirmation. Apparently, he

dn't he

u muted the

the phone. "That

ttle bit t

l overlooking the ocean. It looked beautiful, which was deeply inconvenient. Serena had been looking forward to a weekend away afte

c, the late-night conversations, and two days where

t want Dam

had never been particularly

lan for the trip. Talia arrived twenty minutes late

ate," Ser

to ch

twelve min

nged t

uggles in

e across the table

r the portable speaker he had promised. Serena had just found a pa

said without

't said

cular smile when

ouble is

na t

holding a small shopping bag and listening to him with the easy familiarity of someone who had known h

d her coffee

oked

satisfying,"

g to behave?"

olut

ren

a way that feels

e. Victoria remained by the

t confirmed what you're

ked. "Hello

at are you

y. Since the group appea

ave to pack so

her hand. Serena leaned bac

ng irritating, or do

a practica

He's the one org

ke sure everyone h

you volunteered? How touching. I d

t. "I care about not spending a

g your own

ere a limited resource and Serena had personally

k giving instructions i

ther spoke. Talia

age still open on Serena's phone. "Th

the screen away. "I didn

nk me when

efoot over hot coals tha

shoes that ca

ria before Serena could come up wi

. "You know, for someone who hates him,

keeps spea

keep an

and took a long sip. "I ho

not ve

her i

rcus had sent a mess

is bringing the supplies. S

d at the scr

hone. He read the message, lifted his eyes towar

had been created, Serena and Damian ag

going to