Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Author:Sarah Grunder Ruiz [Ruiz, Sarah Grunder]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Two weeks later, Mia, Kitty, and Greyson piled into my car, and the four of us watched seagulls fight over a piece of bread in the condo parking lot as we waited for Nina to arrive. Alex had already left for Miami to get a drink with a friend (the flirty event planner?), so our mini road trip down to Coral Castle was to be a girls-only affair. Kitty and Greyson narrated the seagull fight as if they were sports announcers, making Mia and me laugh so hard we were wheezing.

When Nina finally appeared, she yanked open the passenger door and hurled herself into the seat. “You’re not allowed to have fun without me,” she said.

“Only ten minutes late. That’s pretty good for you,” I said.

Nina sighed. “I am so ready to have you back at work, Josephine. I’m tired of cleaning toilets all by myself.”

I’d enjoyed the time off with Mia and Kitty, and Greyson too. The girls and I had spent our days traipsing around South Florida. Interspersed between beach days, we’d gone window-shopping on Worth Avenue, visited the turtles at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and taken an airboat ride through the Everglades. Alex joined us on his days off. But when he had to work, he’d find us as soon as he returned home and listen to the girls describe whatever adventure we’d had that day. The five of us—six if Nina dropped by—ate dinner together every night, sometimes at my place and sometimes at Alex’s. Our evenings were loud, messy, and filled with laughter. I tried not to think about how this was temporary. How it would all go away once the girls were gone.

Nina rolled down her window and slapped the roof of my car. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

“You’re the one who was late, and besides, we’re eager to find out which of those seagulls will become the featherweight champion of the condo.” My gaze dropped to Nina’s waist, where something shiny caught my eye. “What is that?”

Nina grinned at me, looking even more hyped than she’d been a moment ago. “What, this?” She pointed to the pink-sequined fanny pack strapped around her waist. “It’s my fun bag.”

“Your fun bag.”

“Yes, my fun bag.”

“Do I even want to know what’s in there?”

Nina rattled the contents of the fanny pack. “Tampons and Dramamine. In case you can’t fall asleep. The Dramamine, not the tampons.”

Mia poked her head up beside Nina. “Did you bring it?”

I glanced at Mia as I backed out of the parking space. “Bring what?”

“Did I bring it? Psh. What kind of question is that?” Nina dug through her duffel bag and passed a shirt to Mia.

Mia squealed, a sound I hadn’t heard her make all summer, and put the shirt on over her tank top. “This is epic. Thanks, Nina.”

“I’m wearing one too.” Nina turned to me. “Don’t worry, Jo, I have a special shirt for you. And two extras for Kitty and Greyson. I even brought one for Alex.”

“What

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