She was grateful for sunglasses. “Thank you, Erick.”
“Thank you for defending my brother.” Her eyes went wide. “I never would have expected you to take such a…hands-on approach but I’m impressed.”
Clearing her throat, she said, “No-No always says some people won’t understand if they don’t get an ass-kicking.”
He grinned and soon enough, the three of them were laughing and talking together. Sterling leaned against her and for the first time, he looked sleepy. She pulled him up on her lap and he was out against her shoulder in seconds.
With an evil laugh, she told the males softly, “I win!”
“You really do,” Davis said with respect. “Holy shit.”
“Dakota is going to be so jealous and then she’ll grill you for two hours about every minute so she can mimic it exactly.”
They were in rapid debate over comic book movies when the three couples came home. Gunner and Dakota stared at a sleeping Sterling for almost a minute.
Then Gunner asked, “What witchcraft is this?”
“Whiskey,” Mandy replied deadpan.
“Girl, if it worked,” Dakota whispered.
More food and drinks appeared, more talking happened, and Sterling woke up to hug Mandy hard before climbing down and walking inside to use the bathroom.
Davis and Erick invited Mandy to take a walk down the beach. She collected shells for her sister in one of Sterling’s buckets. They sang beach songs and played stupid games.
Theirs was a dynamic that, while sometimes uncomfortable, she greatly needed and appreciated in her life.
She couldn’t imagine her summers without it anymore.