Despite what he said to Roan, Nicholas did harbor some reservations about joining their little beach trip. The last time he found himself surrounded by this many girls was during his childhood, when gender didn't carry much significance because all kids simply wanted to play.
To them, he might appear indifferent, but the truth was, he just didn't know how to act around them. Despite this, Wendy's friends seemed to gravitate toward him, consistently including him in their conversations and games, his reticence only serving to amuse them.
Around Roan, however, they were more cautious. Although Roan always wore a smile and eagerly embraced any task, whether it was carrying heavy items or manning the grill, Wendy's friends acted friendly but remained somewhat reserved around him. Between the
