Shoutout to Rasmus, Rodrigo, Adam, Jeff, and Curtis. Big thanks to all of you.
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"You seem different," Adina said.
"From what?"
"From what May said about you. Thought you would be quieter. A bit more..." She waved her hand in circles like she was trying to summon a politically correct term. "... reserved. But with what you said, it is understandable."
I didn't say anything. But she continued, "Maybe Lord can help you?"
I bit down the groan before it reached my throat. I didn't enjoy poking holes in people's beliefs unless they were trying to shove them into mine. As long as they were peaceful and not throwing scripture like grenades, I didn't care. Still, I was not about to pander.
"Thank you, Adina, but I will roll my dice on life on Earth."
She gave a small smile. "I figured. Just had to ask. You know how it is. Hope is a stubborn thing."
We reached the towels. Jessica was still buried under her hoodie.
MJB had flipped onto her stomach, bikini bottom climbing just enough to remind half the beach she had genetics working overtime. May raised her sunglasses. Looked at me. Then at Adina. Then at the flamingo.
"Success?" she asked.
"Depends. Is this bird going to haunt me tonight?"
Adina chuckled. "It is inflatable joy. Embrace it."
I dropped the float, grabbed the water bottle, and sat down again. MJB rolled onto her side, shades half-lowered.
"Did you convert him?" she asked Adina.
"Almost," Adina said, dropping the towels and settling down like she just returned from battle.
May handed her a fruit cup. Adina took it without question, poked the plastic lid open, and stabbed a piece of watermelon.
Jessica took her earbuds out. "Can we go home soon?"
Adina turned her head. "It is still early."
"I am done baking. I want shade."
"Then sit under the umbrella."
"I want walls," Jessica said. "And a ceiling. With Wi-Fi."
MJB sat up. "You sound like a shut-in."
Jessica didn't even blink. "Because I am one."
May pointed her fork. "No Wi-Fi here. Just sweat and sand. Embrace it."
Jessica looked at her like May just suggested joining a cult.
MJB leaned forward. "You are such a joy magnet."
Jessica tossed sand toward her. MJB leaned back, pulled her sunglasses down again, and muttered something about antidepressants and personalities.
I grabbed a sandwich and leaned back again. May slapped my thigh.
"Put sunscreen on your legs."
"They have hair. They are protected."
She grabbed the bottle and shoved it into my chest. "Unless you want to walk like bacon, rub it."
I did. Grudgingly. MJB watched. Probably judging my leg hair patterns.
"Do you even tan?" she asked.
"I burn. Like a true child of winter."
"Explains the attitude."
I flipped her off. She grinned.
Adina sighed. "Children."
Jessica poked the umbrella pole. "Is there any actual plan, or are we just here until one of us gets heatstroke?"
"No plan," May said. "Just vibes."
"Vibes suck."
"Try swimming," MJB said. "Might cool off your soul."
Jessica gave her a look. "You first."
MJB stood, wiped sand off her ass, and walked toward the water. Jessica stared after her. Then stood up too, probably just to prove she was not afraid of touching nature. Shedding her T, she was wearing a modest One Piece. They both walked toward the shore. Their pace didn't match. MJB moved like a model at a swimsuit shoot. Jessica walked like she was being dragged there by a therapist.
May threw me a look, "Go with them, honey."
I glared, "I just sit."
She glared harder.
I threw my arms in the air, "For fuck's sake."
I got up and stomped after them, like I had just been grounded in hell. Jessica and MJB were already knee-deep in the water..
"May sent me," I said..
MJB turned around. "Aw. Chaperone mode."
Jessica didn't even look at me. She was busy kicking the water.
I waded in up to my hips, water cold enough to make my nipples clench. MJB dunked her head, came up with hair slicked back, looking like an angry music video. She looked at me, "You swim or just float like bad decisions?"
"Depends. You gonna drown me or flirt again?"
She smirked and swam out, leaving me in thigh-deep shame. Jessica moved slower, arms crossed even in the water. Her lips were tight, eyes hidden under wet lashes.
"You allergic to fun?" I asked her.
"Allergic to people," she replied.
"Fair. This beach is crawling with them."
MJB shouted from farther out, "Peter, stop bothering the emo. Come here."
I swam forward. Wave hit my crotch. Dick retreated like a war veteran. She swam back, splashed water at me. I splashed back. She ducked, came up behind me, and pushed my shoulder. I stumbled forward, caught my balance, turned around, and flicked water at her face.
"You are five," she said.
I grabbed her waist and threw her in the air.
She screamed, arms flailing, legs kicking as she flew up and came crashing back into the water. Splash exploded around us. Her head popped up, curls plastered to her forehead.
"You dick!" she yelled, sputtering water.
"That isn't what you screamed while airborne."
She slapped a wave toward me. I dove under it, came up behind her, and tugged her back by the waist. She twisted, elbowed, missed. Her hand slapped my chest and stayed there.
She smirked, cheeks flushed. "So you like to bully girls?"
"Only when they sass me in sunlight."
She opened her mouth, probably to insult me again, but Jessica interrupted. She was standing with her arms crossed, chest-deep in water, hair soaked, face unimpressed.
"You two done flirting?"
MJB pointed at her. "We are playing. It is called fun. Join or drown."
Jessica just blinked. "Tempting."
I turned and splashed water at her. She stepped aside, still blank-faced.
"Wow," I said. "Emotionally waterproof."
She deadpanned, "It is childish."
MJB flicked water toward her. "You sound eighty."
Jessica stayed still. "Because I don't fake fun for Instagram."
"Wow. Do you have fun or just recite obituaries?"
Jessica didn't deem an answer. Just stood there in the water, watching like we were a low-budget sitcom that didn't deserve her time.
MJB shook her head, water flinging from her curls. "She is so boring sometimes, I swear."
I shrugged. "Better boring than emotionally unstable with a tan."
MJB gave me a shove. I caught her wrist and flicked more water at her face. She sputtered, kicked at my shin under the water, and then let herself float. Her arms spread out, head tilted back.
"You ever see that guy on the news?" she asked, "The vigilante one. Spider something."
"Literally that. Just Spider."
"Yeah. Him. He has been popping up a lot lately. That clip last week where he webbed the guy to a bus stop? That was hilarious. Dude looked like a fly on a windshield."
Jessica perked up. She stopped watching the waves and turned her head a little. That was her version of leaning in.
"Yeah, I saw that one," she said. "He moves fast. Like, really fast. Not just strong or flashy. Tactical. Knows how to use the environment. Smart."
MJB raised an eyebrow. "Look who suddenly cares about the news."
Jessica ignored her. "He caught that guy in under ten seconds. No injuries. Clean takedown. Even the cops looked confused."
MJB treaded water slowly, watching Jessica now. "Someone has a crush."
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Shut up. He is just good at catching villains."
MJB grinned. "Sure. Bet you have a folder of him saved on your phone."
Jessica flicked water toward her but said nothing else.
MJB looked at me again. "What do you think?"
I shrugged. "He is alright."
"Just alright? Come on. He jumps off buildings, swings around the city, punches bad guys in the teeth, and still makes time for jokes. That is peak hero energy."
Jessica added, "Better than half the idiots in the city who pick fights for clout. At least he knows what he is doing."
"True," MJB said, swimming a slow circle. "He even saved that family during the gas leak last week. Pulled them out before the firefighters got there. Carried the grandma out on his back. That was some wholesome anime-level stuff."
Jessica nodded. "He should keep going. People need someone like that."
"Definitely not like you," MJB told her.
Jessica gave her the finger.
MJB looked back at me. "You could learn something from him, you know. Might improve your rep."
I raised an eyebrow. "My rep?"
"Yeah. Less dick jokes, more style."
Jessica agreed. "Seriously. Maybe try doing something useful instead of collecting beach volleyball numbers."
I blinked. "Wow. Group roast. Cute."
MJB splashed me again. "I am just saying. Spider guy does not spend his afternoons flirting with airheads in bikinis."
"Maybe he does. You never know. Mask hides all sins."
[System]: Oh Honey~ Only if they knew.
Jessica gave me a long look. "Doubt it. He is too focused. You can see it in how he moves. He thinks fast, acts faster. You don't get that good without commitment."
MJB crossed her arms over the water. "Commitment? Sounds like you want to date him."
Jessica shrugged. "If he is that good at saving lives, probably good at other things too."
MJB laughed. "Imagine Jessica getting dicked down by Spider. That would make her smile for once."
Jessica stared at her. "I will drown you."
"You will try."
I swam a little farther, away from the splash zone. "You two need hobbies."
Jessica raised her voice. "We need better role models. Spider guy is one of the few decent ones."
MJB swam next to me again. "Though he is probably ugly under that mask."
I looked at her. "You mean like, scars? Burn victim? Or just basic ugly?"
She flicked water at my face. "Like, normal. Boring. White bread energy. Probably has that 'mom says I am special' jawline."
Jessica snorted. "You are so shallow. But I bet he is handsome."
MJB gave her a side-eye. "And that conclusion came from what? His tight suit or the way he throws criminals like dodgeballs?"
Jessica shrugged. "His build. His reflexes. Voice. He doesn't sound stupid. Probably has a jawline. Maybe a smirk. The kind that ruins girls."
I blinked at her. "That is a whole romance novel, Jess. Calm down."
MJB laughed. "Nah, she has thought about this. Probably has fanfic saved somewhere. 'Spider ties me up—'"
Jessica's mood snapped fast. Cold set into her face. Her eyes locked on MJB. Her voice even colder.
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You can read up to Chapter 85...
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