Chapter Text
“Ann, I can’t imagine what would make you think I’d be interested in this idea. Have you met me?! What about ‘introverted, taciturn homebody’ makes you think I’d be interested in flying across the country to spend a week in a house full of people I’ve never met?”
“Oh come on, Mary! I know you’ll enjoy yourself. And did I mention that it’s FREE? A beautiful FREE beach house, Mary. How often does an opportunity like this come around on a grad school budget? All you have to pay for is airfare. Everyone is the best, and you’ve met me and John! That’s two whole people out of seven. And you know me well enough that I should count as two, so that’s three out of seven. That's basically half!”
“That math is absolutely not mathing.”
“Look, I know the idea makes you nervous, but please at least consider it. I haven’t seen you in so long, and I miss you so much. It would mean a lot to me if you could come.”
“Deploying the verbal equivalent of puppy dog eyes is really unfair. But fine…I will consider it.”
“YES! I knew you would agree to come!”
“Wait, what? That’s not at all–”
“Okay, I’ve gotta go. I’ll add you to the group chat! Love you!”
Mary stared down at her phone in disbelief. What the hell had just happened? Twenty minutes ago her summer break plans had consisted entirely of sitting on this deck with copious amounts of takeout from Bamboo Sushi and putting a huge dent in the TBR pile of books that had been neglected since she’d started grad school the previous fall. Then she’d made the mistake of answering a phone call from her alleged best friend, Ann Baxter, who’d invited her to spend a week at a beach house in North Carolina. A beach house full of people that she didn’t know. For an entire week. And she'd then pretended to believe that Mary had agreed to this plan.
Tossing the phone on the cushion of the chair with a sigh of consternation, Mary made her way to the edge of the deck and leaned against the railing, taking in the stunning panorama of the city skyline along the Willamette River and snow-capped Mount Hood rising majestically in the distance. She’d been in Portland for ten months and had still not grown used to waking up to this view.
She heard the door sliding open behind her and smiled as her Aunt Madeline joined her at the rail. She had her aunt and uncle to thank for her good fortune in views, as they’d insisted on hosting her while she worked toward a masters degree in geology at Portland State University. Their beautiful home in the West Hills had turned into a much-needed respite throughout the rigorous program.
“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes, Mary,” her aunt said as she closed her eyes and breathed in the blooming spring trees that surrounded the deck, “Did I hear you on the phone out here?”
Mary sighed, “Yes, Ann called. She invited me to join her group of friends in the Outer Banks for a week in June.”
Her aunt turned to her, immediately laughing at the expression she found on Mary’s face, “Well, I was going to say that sounds like a wonderful idea, but I see that you have reservations. Don’t you want to go? You know that we’ll be happy to help you if costs are an issue.”
“No, it’s not that…the house is actually free. Apparently it’s owned by the aunt of one of her friends. But I only have a few weeks of break before my field experience begins and I don’t really know that I want to spend an entire one of those weeks trapped with a bunch of strangers.”
“I suppose that’s one way to think of it,” Madeleine said with another laugh, “But I’ve spent enough time with Ann over the years to believe that she likely has very good taste in friends. Take you, for example! And it’s only one week. You’d get to see a new part of the country, and you can read just as well on the beach, or by the pool, or in a hot tub, as you can on this deck.”
“Maybe.” Mary remained unconvinced. They both turned as Mary’s phone suddenly began chiming incessantly, disturbing the quiet peace of their chat and possibly the entire surrounding neighborhood.
“Oh god, I think Ann mentioned something about a group chat before she hung up on me,” Mary looked at the offending phone in horror, “I haven’t even agreed to this yet!”
“I’ll leave you to it…pretty sure George needs a third reminder to set the table, unless he’s decided to pleasantly surprise me for the first time since the concept of ‘chores’ has been introduced to him. We’ll see you upstairs soon!”
Mary gingerly picked up the phone, navigating to the messages app with an air of martyrdom that was entirely earned.
COASTAL CUTIES
Ann: Everyone, meet Mary! Mary, meet everyone! She’s coming to the beach with us, and is NOT going to back out now that she has explicitly promised to me that she will be there!
Ryder: MARYYYYYYYYYY
Caroline: Mary, we’ve all heard so much about you from Ann over the years and can’t wait to meet you in person!
Charlotte: YAY 🎉🎉🎉
Hursty: Oh good, an even number is going to make games way easier
Charlotte: Very welcoming Hursty 🙄
Hursty: Sorry
Hursty: Mary, I welcome you
John: Hey Mary, looking forward to seeing you again! How’s Portland treating you?
Ryder: Which Portland?
Ann: Oregon. I’ve mentioned this multiple times
Ryder: Oooh, a token west coaster
Tom: I really need to remember to silence my phone before meetings. Welcome, Mary–we’re happy to have you. But Ann, why do I feel skeptical about this explicit promise? 😅
Ann: 😇
Ryder: It’s 9pm Tom. Sorry the rest of us have lives outside of work
Tom: Clearly
Caroline: He’s not wrong! As much as it pains me to admit
Ryder: 🤯 I’m never going to forget this moment
Charlotte: Please take it back Caro
Tom: Are we sold on this group name btw?
Group renamed to “Coastal Chaos” by Tom
Group renamed to “Coastal Cuties” by Ryder
Ryder: YES. We’re cuties on the coast
Mary: Hey everyone, thanks for the welcome. Sorry to be a downer, but I’m actually still deciding, despite rumors (/specific lies) to the contrary
Ann: 😇
Ryder: 😭
Charlotte: 😭
Caroline: 😭
Caroline: How can we convince you?
Ann: PLEASE MARY!!!!
Hursty: 😭
Hursty: Charlotte told me I had to send that
Charlotte: 🔪🔪🔪
Mary: I’m in school, so not currently working…I’d have to see what airfare costs look like, and I guess car rentals
Ann: Definitely do NOT pay for a car rental. Tom can just pick you up on his way from Charlottesville
Mary: Oh no, I couldn’t ask anyone to do that! If I go I can figure out my own way
Tom: It’s literally right on my way, if you can fly into Richmond. It’ll barely add any time onto my trip. No problem at all–happy to do it
Charlotte: Mary, you must come. We cannot be outnumbered by men
Tom: Is that somehow related to what I wrote, or just a complete non-sequitur?
Ryder: 💪
Caroline: You do know that Charlotte is absolutely stronger than you are, right?
Charlotte: Non-sequitur, you’re an angel Tom
Ann: MARY PLEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!
Mary: Let me sleep on it and I’ll let you know tomorrow
Ann: Just like I already said! She’s coming!
She silenced her phone and stuffed it into her pocket. The group seemed friendly enough, if somewhat high energy, and a week in the sun was tempting. While Oregon did have beautiful days like today, she had lived most of the past year under its more typical gray, rainy skies. She didn’t actually mind the weather, it had a certain coziness, but a short break wouldn’t be unwelcome. Was she really considering this? The city lights now twinkled below as evening began to fall over the valley, and she gave the view one last long, appreciative look before heading inside.
****
Mary woke the next morning before her alarm, happy to remember that it was a Saturday and that she had no plans. She rolled over, pulling the duvet more closely around her, and reached for her phone. Caroline, Charlotte, and Ryder had all added her on Instagram since the night before, and she clicked through to each of their profiles, curious to get a better idea of what they were like. She vaguely recognized them from various photos that Ann had posted over the years, though she’d never taken the time to put names to faces.
It was immediately evident that Caroline and Charlotte were a couple, based on the PDA-filled photos that Caroline appeared to favor. They apparently traveled regularly together, as both had feeds full of gorgeous scenery from all over the world. She figured out that Charlotte was a Pilates instructor, but Caroline’s account didn’t seem to hold any references to what her job might be. Clicking over to Ryder’s profile, she noticed that his first name was actually Will. His collection of travel photos was even more impressive, and he appeared to be having an incredible time in all of them.
She accepted each of their requests and followed them back, while feeling a little self-conscious about her own modest selection of photos. Most were nature shots from around Portland or from where she’d grown up near the Oregon coast. She rarely posted selfies.
Clicking over to Ann’s profile, she scrolled down in search of a group photo that included everyone. It didn’t take long to find one, and she zoomed in for a closer look. They seemed to be at a birthday party–likely Caroline’s, based on the paper crown she was wearing. The three women sat in the middle, arms around each other and faces full of laughter. To Ann’s right was her boyfriend, John Powell. Mary had met him several times and fully approved. His easy steadiness was a well-matched balance to Ann’s vivacious energy, and he also absolutely adored her. Another man sat to Charlotte’s left, looking mostly resigned to being in the photo, though still attempting a smile and a somewhat endearing thumbs up. When Mary tapped on the ID tag it just said “Hursty” and his profile was private with no mention of a first name, so he would remain a mystery for now. The final two men huddled above the group from behind, each with their arms stretched wide to gather everybody in. She recognized Ryder immediately, and the other man was identified as Tom Hayward. She clicked on the ID tag, but his profile was also private. Returning to the group photo she zoomed in again. He had curly brown hair and friendly eyes, but his most striking feature was a brilliantly wide smile that etched his entire face with rows of laugh lines when fully unleashed, as it was in that moment. Mary felt a tiny twinge in her chest as she imagined the full force of a smile like that being directed toward her.
Rolling her eyes at herself, she allowed the photo to return to its un-zoomed state and considered the group for a few minutes. The vibes were clearly good between them and nobody had given any indication that they felt like she’d be intruding. Despite Ann’s shenanigans the previous night, Mary did trust that she wouldn’t put her in a situation that would make her truly upset or uncomfortable. Her aunt and uncle had also insisted on covering her airfare, which removed her most effective excuse. Mary sank her face deeply into a pillow and let out a long groan before reluctantly pulling up the group chat.
COASTAL CUTIES
Mary: Okay, I’m coming
Ann: MARYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 😍😍😍😍 ILYSM!!!
Ryder: COASTAL CUTIES COMPLETE
Caroline: Fantastic news, Mary! Charlotte’s in a class right now, but I know she agrees 🥂
Ryder: Let’s goooooooooo
John: You’ve made Ann’s day! See you soon!
Ann: She’s made my LIFE!!!
Hurst: 👍
Tom: 🎉🎉
Tom: Just send me your flight info once you have it
Ann: This is going to be the BEST WEEK EVER
Mary threw back the covers, feeling jittery with nervous energy now that the decision was made and she was officially committed. She decided a walk was in order, hoping that the steep hills around the house would help to expend some of those nerves, and thirty minutes later she was ambling down a favorite trail in the large wooded park that abutted their home. Her phone chimed as she exited the heavily forested trail into a small open area with a scenic overlook, and she took a moment to appreciate another spectacular view of Mount Hood before checking the message. She was surprised to find that it was from Tom and only to her.
Tom: Hey Mary, in the absolute chaos of that group chat, nobody ever actually confirmed that you’re comfortable being picked up alone from the airport and then driven a somewhat significant distance away from it by a man you’ve never met. I totally understand if you’re not, and I’m sure we can figure something else out in that case
Mary: No, I haven’t worried about that at all! Not sure what that says about my self-preservation instincts. But I appreciate you checking. And I especially appreciate your willingness to pick me up
Tom: Okay, great! And like I said, happy to do it. We can work out the details once your flight is booked. Looking forward to meeting you soon!
Mary: Sounds good ☺️
She read through this exchange a few more times, convincing herself that she had sounded sufficiently breezy, then switched over to Instagram. Before she could talk herself out of it, she pulled up Tom’s account and clicked the follow button before hastily shoving the phone back into her pocket and continuing along the trail. The nervous energy excursion would definitely need to be prolonged by a few extra miles now.