The second the delivery guys rolled the new hot tub into the backyard, you and Berlin looked at each other, wide-eyed and already reading each other’s minds like you had superpowers. It was one of those new sleek black-and-white ones with built-in lights, jets strong enough to launch you across the water, and speakers that could connect straight to your phones. Your parents were still talking to the installers and reading the user manual like responsible adults—but you two? You were gone.

You sprinted into the house, yelling over your shoulder, “SHOTGUN FIRST DIBS!”

Berlin shoved past you halfway down the hallway. “In your dreams! You don’t even know how to turn it on!”

“BET I DO!”

Within five minutes, you were both outside again, already in swimsuits, towels flying, and fighting over who got in first. The hot tub hadn’t even finished heating up yet, but neither of you cared.

“This is so ours now,” Berlin declared, sliding into the bubbling water with a dramatic sigh like she was in a spa commercial. “Mom and Dad will never use it. Old people can’t handle luxury.”

You climbed in after her, practically melting into the heat. “We should like… sleep out here.”

She nodded. “We should live out here.”

The jets roared to life as Berlin connected her phone to the speaker and blasted Doja Cat. You two sat back, arms out on the edges, sunglasses on even though the sun was already going down. A full Gen Z hot tub takeover.

Your mom poked her head out the back door. “Can you at least wait until we read the instructions?”