May sat with Harmione, deep in conversation, while I stood in the corner on a call with Sherry. The house was hot even with the air conditioners humming, the living room air thick with the scent of spilled drinks and warm bodies.
Most of the crowd had drifted outside, leaving the space quieter but still alive with distant bass thumping through the walls and occasional bursts of laughter drifting in from the yard.
"You don't need to worry," I told Sherry. "I'm fine. We'll link up later."
"Okay." She lingered on the line, reluctant, her voice soft in my ear.
I disconnected. May and Harmione were still going, all gestures and laughter. I crossed over and joined them, dropping into a plastic chair that creaked under my weight. We'd made a small circle of our own in the corner of the living room.
"So that's how you all are," May said, grinning as she leaned back in her chair, one leg crossed over the other.
