Page 34 of Something Spontaneous

Sly freezes, and his brows fly up because that seems to hit a little too close to home, considering I didn’t tell her anything about our particular history. I’m sure my reaction isn’t any different than his, but Grace doesn’t seem to notice. She simply smiles at Meredith, pleased with her comment.

Bolstered by the approval, Meredith finally turns her attention away from Sly and toward Grace. “Well, I need to get back to the bar. If you need anything, just flag me down.”

“Actually, since you’re heading back to the bar…” I smirk at Meredith, swirling my suddenly empty glass. “I think some of the tequila shots we were doing the other night might be in order.”

I can’t believe it. It’s really true.” Grace looks down at Sisi’s phone on the table in quiet disbelief. “I still don’t get what all the hype is about. Kelsey’s been trying to get me to watch it. Maybe I’ll have to finally take her up on it when I’m back in Jackson.”

I didn’t believe Sisi the other night either when she said that both Sutton and Sly also watch her favorite reality show. That was until she pulled out her phone and opened the group chat. Sure enough, there is an endless stream of messages about fan theories. Apparently, they even had to add Sutton’s girlfriend, Kelsey, to that chat because she’s a huge HHR fan too.

Sly folds his burly arms over his chest and grumbles. “I don’t know why it’s that funny.” He sighs, grumbling again quietly. “It’s a good show.”

It’s probably the tequila, but my eyes are drawn to the tattoos on his forearm. Part of me wants to ask him why he chose that spot on the mountain because when I see that place—our place—permanently etched onto him, the only thing I can think about are the moments we shared there. It’s where we would talk about the life we imagined for ourselves. I also think about how it would feel to trace my fingertips over the veins and ridges of those forearms.

Then again, I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off him all night. From the way his lips parted when he’d sucked a lime or the way those beautiful blue eyes pierce right through me, he’s impossible not to notice, asshole or not. And thanks to seeing him shirtless at the pool, I can no longer think straight when I see those forearms because I know they lead past those veiny biceps and right up to his filled-out shoulders and chest.

Shit. Okay, yeah—it’s definitely the tequila.

Sisi’s phone pings, and Grace slides it back across the table. “You got a message.”

“Oh.” Sisi recoils in surprise and laughs. “Cat’s here apparently. She’s already out back on the patio. I don’t know about you, but some fresh air sounds great.”

“I could use some fresh air.” Grace turns to me. “That cool with you?”

I catch the same deferential look in her eyes that Sly and Sisi gave me earlier in the night. For the most part, I appreciate that Grace hasn’t tried to pry more about my past. She hasn’t held it against me that I kept something so big from her for so long. Outside of a couple of jokes about my asshole ex, who’s largely kept quiet tonight, she’s taken this all in stride like only she can.

I nod. “Yeah, totally. You’re in for a treat. The Sterling cousin drama never gets old. I’m just going to go out front first, where it’s a little quieter, and check this message from work.” I hold up my phone and wiggle it in my fingers.

I need to check the OnlyVans app, and I do not need them looking over my shoulder when I do that.

I saw there was a new custom request from one of my best subs earlier tonight. Those always pay well, and I need to reply sooner than later. I don’t like to open that app with a crowd of people around, even with my privacy screen protector. While most of my subs are completely respectful and sometimes even sweet—asking me genuine questions in a seemingly heartfelt way—some do send unhinged requests. I’d rather be safe and open this request in private than risk anyone at this table possibly seeing it.

“I’ll be out in a bit,” Sly chimes in. “Just need to grab a drink first.”

“Cool.” Sisi gets up and pushes her barstool under the table with a grating sound. “Grace, do you want to come with me? I don’t think you met Cat the last time you were here.”

“Sure!” Grace follows her, and suddenly I find myself sitting in The Hatch—alone with Sly. This is weirdly something we always thought would happen growing up, but never did because in a small town, sneaking in with a fake ID would never work.

I might as well be at this table alone, because without the buffer of Grace and Sisi, Sly clearly doesn’t know what to do. His eyes drift from the beer in his hands, to the pool table, to the floor—basically anywhere but me. Even then, with Grace around, he’s still been on his best behavior for the most part and almost been nice to be around—almost. When our eyes finally meet, I don’t know why, but I want nothing more than the awkward expression on his face to go away. It’s painful to watch someone I only know as supremely confident be so unsure.

I think that’s why I blurt something unexpected. “Thanks.”

Or maybe it is the tequila talking. Either way, I don’t know why I said it.

Apparently, neither does he, based on how he cocks his head and narrows his gaze at me. “For what?”

I shrug and manage to come up with an answer that’s more sensical than I was expecting. “I don’t know. Not commenting on the asshole ex joke. Being less of a raging dick and not making the night a total drag. And of course, finding a transmission for my van. Do I need to write you a list?”

“The van was my dad, not me,” he corrects, holding up a finger. “I’ll just be the one installing it when it arrives.”

I toss my head back in exasperation before looking back at him. “Just take the win, Sly.”

He sighs. “Fine. You’re welcome.”

“I’m welcome?” I snicker to myself. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

He shakes his head. “For fuck’s sake, fine. I’m going to the bar. You need anything? I’ll get this round since you’ve been flashing that black card all night. If you keep that up, strangers are going to start asking you to pay their tabs.”

I smirk at him because I’m almost flattered that he paid that much attention to me—my card, not me. My nomadic life might not seem like it would require the amount of spending to get offered a black card, but people would be surprised. Diesel fuel, van maintenance, campground fees, and the never-ending amount of daily social media ads and sponsored content for my cam girl business really do add up.