“Shite,” Cullen mutters. “Now I have to go off and do something equally impressive or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Let’s go, Greenly!” Zack yells from below.

“I hate you, you impossibly handsome man-child!” Cullen yells back before executing a near-perfect swan dive off the cliff.

Vada whistles low, teasing. “Wow, Luke. Can you do that?”

If possible, Luke goes even paler.

Duke takes pity on him. “I thought Charlie taught you swimming in the Greek islands off Tommy Ramone’s yacht?”

Vada snickers, and Luke rolls his eyes. “Duke. Mate. I’ve told you. Charlie’s full of shit. Tommy Ramone wouldn’t be caught dead floating a yacht.”

Duke shrugs good-naturedly, grinning ear to ear, and lopes right off the cliff, relaxed in a way I haven’t seen in years. Charlie and Iris Greenly have done wonders for my friend. His hair is as vibrant as ever, his clothes maybe more so. He’s mentioned a few girls to me since I dropped him off in Ann Arbor seven months ago. And one guy. But when Meg and I invited everyone to come stay with us for a few weeks, Duke came alone. Which is fine. He knows where we stand. We’ll take him however he comes.

Meg pretends to tap her foot, glancing at her imaginary watch. “I don’t mean to pressure you, but we have a wedding to attend this evening. Think you can manage in that time, Lukas?”

Vada rubs her boyfriend’s back sympathetically. She flicks a long red braid over her shoulder and pretends to read the sun as it tracks the sky. “Yeah, I’m guessing you have about four hours. Micah’s got groomsman duties.”

“Eh.” Meg waves a hand. “James is in good hands.”

“Brian’s there.”

Meg grins. “I meant Dani’s hands. The two can barely keep from kissing each other’s faces off. I’ve started knocking every time I enter the kitchen.”

“Ten bucks says they have a honeymoon baby,” says Vada.

“Twenty says they name it after Meg,” I counter.

She grins conspiratorially. “You’re on.”

“I’m just relieved to be moving out,” Meg says. “I’ll miss the clawfoot tub James has at his house, but at least I won’t have to wear a bra every time I leave my room anymore.”

Luke chokes on air, sputtering.

I grin at Meg, looking her up and down in her two-piece suit. She’s still Meg. Still modest and reserved, mostly. But not with me, and I love that.

Not with Luke either, though I suspect that’s her subtle retaliation for being woken up early due to thin walls.

“Okay,” Vada says, reaching out her hand. “Let’s do this, Greenly. I’m with you, remember?” Her eyes are lit with meaning, and Luke immediately reaches for her. “On three. One … two…”