It was Via and Matty, chatting with one another and grinning about something. They both looked extremely sweaty and Mary saw that Via had their softball stuff strapped to her back. Via was volunteering for Matty’s summer Coach Pitch league, and their practices took place in a park only a few blocks from Mary’s shop.

“Hi, guys!” Mary called, thrilled to see them.

Via looked up, her eyes taking in the way Mary and John leaned toward one another, the grip of their hands. “Hi.”

“Water,” Matty croaked, dramatically clutching at his throat. “Preferably Gatorade.”

The adults all laughed at his antics. “I have water and lemonade up in my apartment. You’re welcome to it.”

“Let’s get some and bring it down for the girls, Matty,” John suggested, nodding his head toward the stairs up to Mary’s apartment.

“Which girls?” Matty asked. “Them?” He pointed at Mary and Via. “They’re definitely ladies.”

The adults laughed again, and John held the door for Matty, saying something to him with a smile as he followed him up to the apartment.

“Ooooh,” Via teased softly, leaning her petite frame against the counter much the way John just had, her eyes sparkling. “Mary’s got it bad.”

Mary blushed and smiled. “That obvious, huh?”

“You two seriously seem over the moon for each other.”

Mary took a deep breath. “I think we are.”

Mary and John had spent time with her group of friends twice over the last month. Tyler’s skeptical deep freeze of John had lasted about seven seconds once he’d realized how sweet John was to Mary. How lucky he obviously felt. John didn’t fit seamlessly into the group. He didn’t have a ton to talk to Sebastian or Tyler about, and honestly, he’d seemed at his most comfortable tossing a Frisbee with Matty out back. But still, to Mary it had been perfect. Because as compatible as she’d been with each person in her friend group as individuals, for a long time she’d felt like the odd person out. The only single one. The one who’d had more of a connection to Cora than she had with Via or Fin. A relic of the past.