Starfish summer

8

We were chilling in the sunken lounge in the garden, waiting for Iván and his friends to show up. The fire pit was lit, and the snacks were out. The stars were popping, and the vibe was perfect.

My phone buzzed. It was Iván: "We're here."

I got up and went to the door. When I opened it, there was Iván with Miguel, Alejandro, Santiago, Carlos, and Javier.

"Hey guys, come in," I said, stepping aside.

"Hey, Ana" Javier greeted, walking in.

"Thanks for having us," Added Carlos.

We headed back to the garden. Daniela and Tiago were already sprawled on the sofas.

"Everyone, meet my cousins, Daniela and Tiago," I said. "And these are Iván's friends: Miguel, Alejandro, Santiago, Carlos, and Javier."

"Hey!" Daniela waved.

"Sup," Tiago nodded.

Carlos plopped down next to Daniela. "So, Daniela, volleyball pro or what?"

Daniela laughed. "You bet. Think you can keep up?"

Carlos grinned. "We'll see."

Tiago and Santiago started chatting about soccer, and Javier was already cracking jokes, making everyone laugh.

Iván sat down next to me. "Nice setup you've got here."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a bit proud. "Just wanted a chill spot for everyone."

We all settled in, talking and joking. Miguel and Alejandro were hilarious, keeping the laughs going with their playful banter, while Santiago and Tiago bonded over their favorite soccer teams.

"I swear, Madrid has the best lineup this season," Santiago insisted.

Tiago shook his head, grinning. "Nah, Barcelona's got it. Just wait and see."

Carlos was in the middle of a story about a prank he'd pulled at school, making everyone crack up. "So, we replaced the teacher's whiteboard markers with these ones that don't erase. She spent the whole class trying to figure out why nothing was coming off!"

Daniela laughed, shaking her head. "You're such a troublemaker, Carlos."

Iván nudged me, smiling. "Your cousins are pretty cool, Ana."

I smiled back, feeling content. "Yeah, they are."

I looked around at everyone, feeling a warmth that wasn't just from the fire pit. It was amazing how quickly we'd all bonded, how easily the conversation flowed. This was the kind of night that made you forget about everything else, that made you appreciate the simple joys of laughter and good company.

As we passed around snacks and drinks, I couldn't help but think about how good this moment was. The fire pit was warm, and the night was perfect. The stars above were bright, and the sound of the waves crashing in the distance added to the relaxing atmosphere. I felt a sense of peace, a rare and beautiful feeling.

The guys were really blending in with my cousins, and it made me happy. Iván's friends were all funny and kind, and it was great seeing everyone getting along so well. We played a few games, including truth or dare.

"Let's play truth or dare!" Carlos suggested, drunk and with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Sounds good to me," Iván agreed, sitting up straighter. "Who's going first?"

Santiago dared Carlos to do an impression of one of the resort staff, which had everyone in stitches. Iván ended up having to tell an embarrassing story from his childhood, which made us all laugh.