The smell makes everyone step back. The mother takes her daughter’s hand and whispers, “Let’s just get something from the vending machine.”
Yasmin’s glaring at me, but my eyes search for Henry. Him returning now is a complication I’m desperate to avoid. But when I find him, he’s already hanging back, watching Hana bound down the ramp of the women’s bathhouse. I haven’t told him the true identity of my “cousins,” but from the way he nods slightly, I’m guessing he’s figured it out.
Hand over her mouth, Hana zigzags through the picnic tables and stops directly across from me. The wide brim of her sun hat flops up and down as she addresses Yasmin. “I told you I’d meet you on the beach.”
Yasmin flicks her wrist in my direction. “But it would’ve been rude not to say hello to Azra.”
With a wince, Hana faces me. “I didn’t ask if she wanted to come help with the you-know-what. I … I just figured why not make a beach day out of the trip here? Since you’d be working and she was over when you called…”
Yasmin waves both hands and a different set of colored bangles clanks against one another. “She’s still right here.”
“It’s fine,” I say to Hana brusquely, even though it’s so not. But the sooner they leave, the sooner I can get Henry back here. “Besides, I’m already done.”
“Oh, am I that late? I knew—”
“No. Zoe wasn’t feeling well. She was leaving early so I just went for it.”
Hana lays a hand on my forearm. “It went well, then?”
The warmth of her voice pulls me to forgive her for bringing Yasmin. The same way the feel of her skin against mine makes me consider asking for her help with Henry. But she’s only been doing this a couple of months longer than I have.
My peripheral vision catches a yawn from a bored-looking Yasmin, who’s been granting wishes for a year but who also slammed the door in Henry’s face and stole Lisa’s cat. No, I refuse to ask for Yasmin’s help. But maybe if I can get Hana alone …
At the edge of the facilities area, Mina and Farrah emerge from the dune-lined path. The physical linking of their arms as they stroll toward us speaks to how close they are. That they’re here too with Hana and Yasmin speaks to how close all of them are. Much more than I realized.
That weight from my head settles smack in the middle of my chest. My birthday party may have brought us closer, but that doesn’t change the fact that if we were in school together, they would all be on Chelsea’s cheerleading squad and I wouldn’t even know there was a game.
There’s no way Hana would keep this a secret from our Zar sisters. She’s too loyal to them. Unlike Henry, who’s patiently waiting, hands folded in front of his stomach, mouth shut tight, knowing without me having to tell him that he should keep his distance.
With a hop in her final step, Farrah lands in front of me. “You look super cute in your uniform, Azra.”
Mina slides her cat-eyed sunglasses to the top of her head. Today’s eyeliner is a subtler blue, a perfect match for the ocean. As she picks a leaf out of Farrah’s long bangs, she says, “Woods. Good for concealing our arrival—”
“But swarming with mosquitos,” Farrah finishes, scratching her ankles. She then gets a whiff of my mock green tea soy latte. “What’s this?” She brings it to her lips.
“Don’t!” I say, but she’s already licking green goo off the corner of her mouth.
“Oh, soup. Not bad.” She passes it to Mina, who wrinkles her nose and pushes it away.
Farrah shrugs and is about to take another sip when Yasmin plucks it out of her hand and sets it on the far end of the counter. “I assume we’re all set up on the beach?”
The sun glints off of the crystal headband in Farrah’s hair as she nods. “Should be by now. I promised this albino boy he could rub suntan lotion on Mina’s back if he carried our stuff to a less busy spot.”
Rolling her eyes, Mina says, “What she thought was an albino boy. I had to point out four more just like him to convince her it’s just that your Massachusetts boys are a pale lot.”
“Like porcelain dolls,” Farrah says. “Ooh, like that cute one over there.” She points to Henry.
“Mmm,” Mina says, “but not like that tanned Adonis over there.” She points to Nate.
Hana lifts the brim of her hat. “Wait, that’s your boyfriend, isn’t it, Azra?”
My head feels like the ball in a tennis match. “No. Which? No, no, neither.”
Just when I think nothing can fluster me more, Yasmin’s face looks weird. It’s not until I hear what, if coming out of anyone else’s lips, I’d call sincerity that I realize it’s just her face without its coating of smug.
“Be careful, Azra,” she says. “Don’t forget they’re humans. Don’t forget what that means.” She then conjures a small piece of paper and places it on the counter. “My new number.” She morphs back into herself. “You know, when, I mean if, you ever need tips.”
Great. Another jinx.
Yasmin then claps her hands together. “Come on, Sisters, let’s get on the beach before the sand erodes. Azra doesn’t need us.”
Like on my birthday, this hovers between a threat and a statement.
“Wait,” Farrah says, pulling something out of her beach bag. She places a homemade CD on the counter with the words “Drunken Toad” written in her rounded, swirly handwriting. “This way you can learn the lyrics before tonight.”
“Tonight?” I ask.
Hana’s high cheekbones flush. “I didn’t get a chance to ask yet.” She side eyes Yasmin. “I … I got distracted.” Her red hair spills out around her freckled shoulders as she removes her hat and meets my eye. “But we’d love for you to come with us tonight.”
Mina nods with her usual enthusiasm. “Yeah, for sure. It’s a last-minute surprise show thing. I’m making us VIP passes.”
I hold the CD in one hand. Were they really planning to invite me?
Doesn’t matter, because I can’t go. Tonight … I have other plans.