Everly's eyes widened and then she treated me to my favorite laugh. "Oh my."

I smiled at her. "Oh my indeed."

"Italian tempers." She tutted and then laughed again.

"Don't blame the Italians when the outspoken Georgia Peach brought on the ire."

"I wasn't trying to," she said.

I looked over at her, reaching for my Coke. "Yes you were."

She hid her eyes by looking at her food.

"And you know what?" I continued. She looked up at me. "I like that about you." I took a sip and offered her my glass. Everly took a small sip and passed it back. My mouth touched where she drank from, and I took a long drink of something so much sweeter than a cold glass of Coke, on a smoldering summer day.

"She's just angry you're not paying her attention. Anyone could be sitting where I am, Callum."

"So we are clear," I said, "While I enjoy you standing up to Amelia, I wasn't talking about what you said to her. I meant she is jealous of you. You."

"Amelia and her life-saving silicone could put a super model to shame. She has no need to be jealous of anyone."

I leaned closer. "Spell amnesia for me, Everly Anne."

"And she doesn't know me, so she doesn't know if I'm dumb or smart," she replied.

"But you're here. Demure and shining. Sober and sweet. Knees to mine and knowing how much I fuckin' detest the ruthlessness of the word just."

She stared at me for a moment and then said, "A M N E S I A."

And I gave her my reserved Italian word that Amelia had interrupted. "Farfalla."

Her eyes remained locked with mine. "I pray it's not a farm animal with ill-equipped sexual offerings."

I pressed my thumb to her chin. "It's a creature destined to live for a short amount of time, but in that time they live so beautiful, so delicate, so ethereal, that even though you want to touch and revel in such a wondrous little thing, it would be a crime to do so, because all beautiful things should live wild and free, even if just for one day."

Everly stared at me, her eyes searching mine. "All of that fits into one little Italian word?"

"No," I said, "All of that fits into one little mouse."

Her foot was tucked behind her head. "You see?" Amelia said, as we all sat around one of the shaded patio tables. "Flexibility is my special gift. Pay up."

Noelle laughed. "Anyone who has ever been to Club 447 knows that. I'm not paying jack."

Amelia untucked her leg, but not before looking at me. "People from Uptown know it too."

Noelle looked at Everly. "What about you? What's your special gift?"

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

Noelle laughed way too loud, taking another sip from her wine glass. "No but really. Do it. Blow our minds. Beat Amelia's lame attempt to get my brother upstairs."

"I can't share the gifts of my body with Callum," Everly replied, glancing to me once. "He's being graded on them. It would be cheating."

"I would very much like to cheat in this moment," I smiled. "Please, share at will, Everly Anne."

"No cheating, Callum Andrew," she reminded with a laugh.

"Then show us another gift," Amelia chimed in, her voice bitter. "What makes you so special?"

"I haven't figured that out yet," she said softly.

"Someone has," Amelia mumbled.

Tatum leaned in and shoved her whole fist into her mouth.