“It wasn’t that big a deal,” I said.

“You made a fully developed proposal with appendices,” said Touchstone.

“And gave a presentation,” said Ros. “That you practiced.”

“Which was ultimately unnecessary. They just sort of said yes.”

“Yeah, because they were saying yes to you,” Ros said. “You think they would have let me and Touchstone come out here on our own? You’re the whole reason we’re here. You’re the whole reason we’re friends in the first place. So—yeah. We’re definitely lucky to be here. I mean that in every sense of the word. But we also have something that’s better than luck, and that thing is Celia.”

I felt it in my body, like the sun rising in my rib cage. Better than luck. Had there ever been a better compliment?

“Whose house is it?” said Oliver.

The question hit like a chime, like the opening note of a song I knew by heart and had belted out a thousand times. Across the table, Ros’s eyes caught mine.

“Well,” said Touchstone slowly, carefully, like any wrong step would set off a bomb. “It’s my uncle’s.”

I wasn’t going to say my line. I really wasn’t. It didn’t matter, the particulars of the arrangement. What mattered was that we were here, eating (or not eating, as stuffed as we were with artichoke dip), all together, and frankly it was sort of a pain—and maybe even kind of rude—to get all mired in the details of property just for our own amusement.

But then Ros smiled at me, and I remembered our old game, and I couldn’t resist.

“Technically,” I said, “he’s not your uncle.”

“Technically,” Ros said, that wry smile spreading across their face, “he’s Touchstone’s cousin.”

“Oh, Jesus,” Touchstone said, putting his face in his hands. “Do we really have to do this now?”

“Wait, what? What’s going on? He’s not actually your uncle?” said Phoebe.

“For all intents and purposes, he’s my uncle,” said Touch.

“Isn’t it intensive purposes?” Audrey said.

“Okay,” said Ros. “Let us explain it. The cabin belongs to Henry.”

“Henry is the one who Touchstone calls uncle,” I said.

“Good start,” said Touch.

“What is happening?” said Oliver.

“Henry is married to Vish, but he used to be married to a guy named Freddie.”

“We don’t like Freddie,” said Ros.

“Freddie’s a dick,” I agreed. “But he is Touchstone’s… cousin…?”

“Stepcousin!” said Ros.

“Yes! Freddie’s mom was married to Touchstone’s uncle. But that was her second marriage. So Freddie is Touchstone’s uncle’s stepkid, and he was married to Henry, but then they got divorced.”

“Right, because Freddie is a dick. But Touchstone’s family hung out with Henry a lot.”

“Henry is the best!”

“And so now they just call him uncle because it’s easier.”