“Right. Everyone knows what’s best for me. I didn’t get to choose if I wanted to grow up with my real dad or my real brother. Maybe that would have been best for me. You know, Leo’s really cool, Jo.”

“He is.” Joey considered reminding her sister that Leo had known about the secret for far longer, but she wanted to protect their very new bond. And Joey understood that she was an easier target right now.

“I have a nephew too! He’s such a cutie. Arthur. Can you believe that? I’m an aunt.”

“You talked to Leo?”

“We went for lunch.”

“Oh, wow. Okay, that’s—”

“It’s weird. It’s crazy and weird. I’m a little mad at Leo too, that he didn’t tell me the truth a long time ago. You know?”

“Yeah.” Joey nodded.

Lily frowned. “By the way, you didn’t invite me with a plus-one to your wedding. That’s pretty messed up.”

“Huh?” Joey searched in her purse for her sunglasses. “You don’t have a boyfriend.”

“But maids of honor get plus-ones. It’s, like, etiquette.”

“You can have a plus-one, Lil. What, you want to take Leo? I’m gonna invite him. There’s no reason now to keep him away.”

“No, I don’t want to take Leo. I invited my father.”

Joey’s hands froze around her aviators. “You invited…Rand?”

“Leo gave me his number. I called him. Leo already told him what happened so I asked if he’d come down to meet me. And technically he’s not even a plus-one because apparently you guys originally invited him. His reason for declining doesn’t really apply anymore.”

A wave that looked like it was going to break farther off ended up barreling to their waists. Joey leaped up. Lily just reclined fully in the sand as the water swept up to her head.

A little red-haired girl ran over to them. She tapped Lily’s arm. “I know you!”

“Oh.” Lily sat up, drenched hair matted with sand. “Do you want my autograph? Or a photo together?” She turned to Joey. “It’s really sweet. Moms and daughters read my blog together as their first dabbles in feminism. Lots of teachable moments.”

“I know you fwom the movies!”

“She thinks you’re the Little Mermaid,” said a woman juggling a baby and a litany of plastic beach toys.

“Oh.” Lily smiled brightly at the girl. “But I am the Little Mermaid!” She lay back down again and arranged her hair to stream behind her. The little girl clapped her hands. “Look at this stuff,” Lily belted.

The girl darted off mid-song.

Joey smiled. “Fickle audience.”

Lily slowly sat up. “She was cute.”

“That’s how old you were when Leo found out about everything, Lil.”

“Oh.” They watched the girl hop up and down in a dance whose rhythm was evident only to her. “Was I that cute?”