I rise up on my elbows and squint toward where she’s looking. Noah, Emmett, Harrison, and Gray are all standing about twenty feet away, each holding a surfboard. Two girls have stopped next to them, talking animatedly. Sure enough, I recognize them both from our year.

“Yep. Looks like them.”

“Great,” Sloane drawls. “They’re all coming over here. Get ready for lots of giggling.”

I sit up, then stand, not wanting to be at a height disadvantage. I tower over Miranda, who’s a petite blonde. The top of her head barely reaches my chin when she gives me a hug. We were friendly in high school. Most of our interaction stemmed from a shared biology class. I wouldn’t have any issue with her—if not for the fact that I’m pretty sure she slept with Gray the last time I saw the two of them together, and based on the way she’s eyeing him, she’d like a repeat.

“It’s so good to see you, Evie! I didn’t realize you were in town.”

“Yep.” I smile. “Just moved back.”

“We should go out sometime! Get a drink at least.”

“Um, yeah, sure. My schedule is a little crazy, but that sounds nice.”

“What have you been up to?”

“I just graduated medical school. I’m working at Charleston General now.”

Miranda’s eyes widen. “Wow. Guess biology actually paid off for you.”

This time, my smile is genuine. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Tanya approaches me and gives me a hug as well. “Evie!”

“Hi, Tanya. How are you?”

She shrugs a slim shoulder. “Can’t complain.”

There’s an awkward moment as they both greet Sloane, who was selectively friendly in high school, whereas I felt the compulsion to be constantly cheery. After some fake pleasantries, Tanya and Miranda both turn back to the real reason they came over—the boys. Sloane rolls her eyes at me once they do. I smirk in response, but my amusement fades when I see Miranda’s hand on Gray’s arm.

Sloane sits back down on her towel. I follow her lead and decide to spread more sunscreen on my arms, simply for something to do.

“I’m running to the bathroom,” Sloane tells me. “I’ll be right back.”

I nod, still focusing on rubbing in the sunscreen and not on eavesdropping on the conversation taking place a few feet away.

Noah leaves the huddle and sits down beside me a couple of minutes later. “Hey, sis.”

“Hey.”

He tweaks my ponytail, the same way he always did when we were kids. “Glad you came.”

“I’m glad you invited me.” I am.

Noah has always been great when it comes to including me. He never ignored me at parties or made me feel unwelcome around his friends. He’s a good brother, and I’m probably a shitty sister for getting involved with his best friend.