The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the backyard as Xander and I stepped outside. Caleb and Rory were attempting to build some sort of obstacle course using lawn furniture and random items they'd dragged out of the garage. Rory balanced precariously on an overturned bucket, shouting directions while Caleb pushed a garden hose across the yard, declaring it "the moat of doom." "You guys are five years old," I called out, shaking my head. "Correction—creative geniuses," Caleb shot back, tossing a cushion onto the ground. "This is art, Maya. "Béatrice was sitting on a patio chair nearby, sipping iced tea she'd somehow managed to make herself. She raised an eyebrow at the chaos, but for once, she seemed content to watch instead of critique. "You should join them," she suggested with a smirk. "It looks… thrilling." "I'll pass," I said, leaning against the railing of the porch. Xander, however, had other ideas. Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the makeshift obstacle course. "Oh, no," I protested, laughing as he pulled me along. "I am not doing this." "Too late," Xander said with a grin, guiding me to the start of the course.
"You're in. "The boys cheered as I reluctantly stood on the "starting line," which was apparently an old yoga mat Caleb had found in the garage. Xander joined me, his enthusiasm contagious. Rory dramatically blew an invisible whistle, signaling the start of the race. It was ridiculous—ducking under lawn chairs, jumping over pool noodles, and navigating the "moat" without stepping on the hose. I stumbled more than once, laughing so hard my sides ached. Xander, ever the competitor, made sure to stay just ahead of me, his laughter echoing with mine. By the time we finished, I was breathless, my hair a mess, and my cheeks sore from smiling. Caleb declared Xander the winner, though Rory insisted it was a tie. "Fine," Xander said, catching his breath. "We'll call it a tie. But only because I'm generous." I rolled my eyes, still grinning. "How noble of you." As we collapsed onto the grass, the others joined us, Béatrice bringing out more iced tea for everyone. For a while, we just lay there, staring up at the sky and basking in the warmth of the afternoon. "You know," Béatrice said after a moment, her voice uncharacteristically soft, "this isn't so bad. Not my usual crowd, but… it's nice." Her words surprised me, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I glanced at Xander, who gave me a knowing smile. Béatrice might have been a storm, but even storms could clear, leaving moments of calm like this. And as we lay there, surrounded by friends and laughter, I realized this was what I'd been anxious about missing—moments that felt fleeting but would stay with me forever.