May grinned. "Peter's friendly. Too friendly sometimes."
I rolled my eyes. MJB didn't let it slide. She pointed right at me, "He is a bit too popular lately."
She scoffed. As if my fame came with free condoms. Which I never use. Raw or nothing.
Adina turned her head, "Popular?"
MJB waved a hand, turned her face away like she was done talking, but dropped the line anyway. "He is a manslut."
Adina gasped. Not dramatically, but offended aunt kind of gasp. Like someone just suggested smoking at a baby shower. "Michelle Johnson! That isn't appropriate thing to say. Apologize now."
MJB didn't even flinch. "Why? Am I wrong?"
May snorted into her juice box. Jessica had both earbuds back in but she was smirking. Definitely heard it.
Adina gave MJB the mom-stare. "Say sorry."
MJB groaned, tilting her sunglasses down. "Fine. Sorry, Peter, for calling you a manslut." She paused. "But I meant it in a feminist way."
"What does that even mean?" I asked.
She stretched her arms behind her head. "Means equal opportunity whoring. Gender equality."
"Then thank you," I said, taking a bite of the sub. "I accept your progressive insult."
May leaned over. "You see why I keep him on a leash."
Adina shook her head. "You all need Jesus."
I pointed at the sea. "He is out there, walking on waves, dodging my calls."
Jessica huffed a laugh but didn't look up.
MJB reached into her beach bag, pulled out gum, and offered it around like she was not the same girl who just called me a sexual biohazard.
"Want one?" she asked.
I took one. Unwrapped it. "Do you always roast people before sharing snacks?"
"Only the slutty ones."
Jessica pulled out one earbud again. "You are loud."
MJB looked at her. "You are grumpy."
"I just don't like beaches."
MJB chewed her gum slow. "Then stay in the shade."
"I like the shade. I don't like people."
"Damn," I muttered. "You two are like summer and seasonal depression had a baby."
Jessica blinked at me. "Don't talk to me."
"Noted."
Adina passed around more food. She was doing that thing aunts do, trying to fix social awkwardness with snacks. As if samosas could patch family tension. Honestly, kind of worked.
I returned to lying down as May and Adina kept chatting.
MJB poked my side with her foot.
"Let's play beach volleyball with them."
She pointed at a group already mid-game. Some mixed circle of teens and adults who looked like they were trying to flirt through sports.
I glared up at her. "Go and play. You were the one advocating gender equality. Do you want me to escort you in a social setting? Should I hold your hand when you ask to join?"
She rolled her eyes, popped her gum, and kicked sand at my leg. "I figured you would want to show off. You give off that 'watch me sweat and moan while I flex' vibe."
I sat up, brushing sand off my chest. "That is just yoga residue. Blame May."
MJB gave me that flat stare. The one girls use when they are deciding if they want to slap you or make you carry their bag. "You coming or not?"
I looked over at May. She raised her sunglasses slightly, like she already knew I was going to cave. She didn't even need to say anything. That was the worst part. Just one eyebrow twitch. I sighed.
I stood, grabbed a bottle of water, and followed MJB. Jessica stayed on the towel like she had been stapled there.
The group playing volleyball was made of two shirtless guys who definitely skipped leg day, three girls who looked like they had an influencer group chat, and one older dude who wore a hat like he was hiding hairline trauma. MJB walked up without asking, just tossed her flip-flops into the sand and called out, "Room for two?"
One of the legless bros grinned like he had just been offered a protein shake combo. "Yeah, totally. You and your boyfriend can join."
"I am not his anything," she said, already grabbing the nearest volleyball. "But thanks for the downgrade."
She handed me the ball and pulled her hair up into a quick bun. The move flashed the nape of her neck and the top curve of her back. One of the influencer girls nudged her friend and whispered something. Probably about MJB's piercings or the fact she looked like she could break hearts and chew your charger cord just to spite you.
This bitch.
I joined the girls' team, left Hairline and Legless Bros to MJB. She looked at me like I had just betrayed her in cold blood. I flipped her a lazy peace sign and took my place next to one of the influencer girls, who immediately smiled like I had a six-pack and a verified check.
The girl beside me whispered something to her friend. I caught "arms" and "he can serve me anytime." I ignored it. The next ten minutes turned into sweaty chaos. Sand in mouths. Sand in bras. Ball flying everywhere. I hit hard. MJB hit harder. She moved like she wanted to humiliate someone. I blocked her once. She glared. Next time, she aimed straight at my head. I caught it anyway.
She smirked. "Lucky."
I tossed it back. "Skill."
She cracked her knuckles. "Keep dreaming."
I blocked more. She got annoyed more. The girls on my team started throwing themselves over me every time we scored. One of them tripped over her own foot just to land near me. Another bumped her hip into mine and called it strategy. The third tried high-fiving me but ended up cupping my bicep like it was a stress ball.
MJB narrowed her eyes, deadpan. Ball came flying. I spiked it. Sand exploded. One of the shirtless bros shouted something about steroids.
"Nice hit," said the influencer beside me. She leaned closer. Her perfume smelled like coconut and bad decisions. "Do you model?"
"No."
"You should."
MJB rolled her eyes. I caught it mid-rotation. Next serve, she aimed for my head again. I stepped aside, let it sail past, and raised my hand like I was coaching toddlers.
"Off target."
"Off ego," she muttered.
Next round, we scored again. Girls clapped like I had cured cramps. One wrapped her arms around me in a hug that lasted longer than my last relationship. MJB started muttering something to her team. They shifted formation. Girl meant business now.
She served again. Hard. Fast. I dived, returned it. We scored. My team screamed like we won Olympic gold. Someone shouted, "MVP!" Probably the one who kept checking if I was single by accidentally grazing my back every five seconds.
The game finally ended with a cheer from the shirtless dude who had been adjusting his shorts more than playing. MJB tossed the ball at his chest and called it a day. Her shoulders glistened. The sand stuck to her thighs.
I walked toward the towels. The influencer girls followed. One tapped my arm, smiled too wide.
"You wanna hang under our umbrella?" she asked, biting her lower lip like I was an ice cream cone she wanted to ruin in public.
"I would," I said, wiping sweat off my neck. "But I already got plans."
Another one pouted. "You sure?"
"Positive."
Third one leaned closer. "We're around here a lot. Just saying."
I smiled, pulled my phone out. "Then give me your number."
They grinned. One by one, they typed it in. Three numbers. One volleyball match. Zero regrets. As I walked back toward the towels, MJB was already standing, arms crossed. She looked like she had been staring at me the whole time. Judging. Burning holes.
"You are a slut," she said flatly.
I grinned. "Thanks, bitch. You are queen too."
She clicked her tongue and turned away. I dropped onto my towel. May passed me a bottle of water without a word. I chugged half, wiped my mouth, then leaned back, letting the sun fry me in peace.
Only for May to disturb me again, for fuck's sake.
"Can you go with Adina?" she asked like I was her personal errand runner. I looked over and saw Adina fishing through her bag with one hand, keys in the other, already halfway up from the towel. Probably heading to the car. Maybe forgot something. Maybe brought too much. Either way, May just offered me up like tribute.
I blinked. "Why me?"
"Because I said so," she said, sipping her juice like that settled it.
Adina waved the keys, already walking. "It is just a quick trip. I parked near the edge of the lot. I brought extra towels and maybe a float."
I stood up, brushing sand off my thighs. I followed Adina through the sand, past people building castles they would piss on later, past kids yelling about shells like they were made of gold.
"So how long have you known May?" I asked, just to fill the silence.
She smiled. "We met couple of years ago. We both lost our husband at the same time."
I hummed. She had that MILF look, full-bodied with just the right curve. No excess, just enough to count.
"May never mentioned you," I said.
"She wouldn't. We were friends during a rough patch. Lot of wine. Lot of crying. Some punching. Not each other. Just bad luck."
I glanced at her, eyebrows raised. "You punch bad luck?"
She shrugged, lips curling up. "We tried. Sometimes it helps."
We hit the parking lot. Her car was parked near the edge, silver SUV, windows cracked open. She clicked the key fob and popped the trunk. Inside were beach bags, two rolled towels, and one bright pink float shaped like a flamingo. She pulled it out and handed me the float while she grabbed the towels. She pulled the trunk shut and we started walking back.
She looked at me sideways, "What Michelle said… is it true?"
I turned to her. Her tone was soft, but her eyes had that mom-filter. Disappointed, curious, like she had just found out a lamb walked straight into a wolf's teeth and asked for directions. Not angry, more lije watching with the kind of sadness you save for wasted chances.
I shrugged. "Not really. I was getting bullied every damn day until recently. Then I decided to fight back, stopped giving a shit. Suddenly, everyone thinks I earned a pussy pass."
She coughed. "Language."
I rolled my eyes. "Alright. I earned some love. Not as crazy as it sounds, but the switch-up makes it look more dramatic. I get why it feels slutty from the outside."
She gave a short sigh. "You are still young."
"Exactly. Better to do stupid stuff now while my bones still bounce back."
She gave a little hmm sound, like she was debating slapping me with a Bible or asking me for the rest of the story.
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You can read up to Chapter 85...
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