The three of them emerged from the swimsuit store with one bag each, holding them folded shut and pressed against their chests like state secrets. Alex followed a step behind, the rest of the day's shopping dangling off both arms.
"Can I see what you got?" he asked, mostly to break the icy silence between them, though he was curious too.
"No!" Rose and Janeth snapped in the same breath, then whipped their heads toward each other to glare for the crime of agreeing for once.
Rose hugged her bag tighter against her chest, while Janeth angled hers away from his side of the walkway as if she might snatch it.
"You'll see them this summer, honey~" Leila smiled over her shoulder, her heels already clicking ahead toward the escalator. "Be patient."
That left him hoping he'd get a look at the swimsuits himself, eventually. And also a hope for an actual trip to the beach in the upcoming summer.
