Page 77 of Something Spontaneous

“Wow, she’s really excited for drinks,” Josie says, snorting a laugh.

“She’d be excited to do anything with you.” I look over at her and catch her watching me out of the corner of her eye. “I don’t think you realize how much she missed you.” I angle myself in the seat to face her. “These last few weeks are certainly the happiest she’s been since—well, shit—probably since she got engaged and certainly since the non-wedding.”

“Well, damn. Now you’re making me feel bad for cancelling my original plans with her to hike with you today.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay? Selfishly, I’m glad you did because she’s not the only one who missed you.” I reach across the space between us, thankful for my long arm span because she’s further away than I’d like. Her eyes drop down to my hand, and pride swells in my chest when the corner of her mouth tugs up into a little smile. She looks back at the road in front of us and snorts a laugh.

“That sign.” She shakes her head. “I will always laugh when I see it.”

I look up as we reach the outskirts of town, and we pass the historic sign.

Welcome to Sterling Springs

We might be known for silver, but we’re second to no one

I’ve driven past that sign so many times in my life. That sign is supposed to be a funny nod to both my family’s and the town’s history, but it has become one I’ve almost resented over the years because I knew this place was part of the reason I lost her. As Josie would say, I don’t know what karmic gods I pleased, because I can’t believe we’re making plans to do things as simple as going out for drinks together, or as implausible as going to a music festival.

“I know my opinion probably doesn’t mean much, but the town doesn’t hate you—at least not any of the people whose opinions you actually care about.”

“Maribel and your family? Yeah, I know.”

“Not just them. Others too.”

“Well, certainly not Meredith.” She scoffs. “Pretty sure she hates me more than ever.”

“Yeah, maybe let’s try to avoid her at The Hatch tonight.”

“You mean, you don’t want me climbing into your lap and making out with you for the whole bar to see again?”

“Didn’t say that.” My thumb traces over the bare skin of her thigh, revealed by her shorts that are going to live rent-free in my mind for the foreseeable future.

I’ve seen her naked—in person and in videos—countless times. But there’s something about the way those tight workout shorts and the hemline that hugs the curve of her ass, leaves me wanting more. That’s why my fingers have a mind of their own, playing with the fabric I desperately wish I could rip off her. When the pad of my finger dances along the crease down to her inner thigh, I don’t miss the way she sucks in a breath before her teeth dig into her full bottom lip. She drops one hand from the wheel and holds onto mine.

“But you were right. I need a shower if we’re going out,” she says.

The way she says we—like there is one even if we clearly haven’t figured out what’s going on between us. Still, it gives me a sense of hope that I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel again.

“Come to my place. My shower’s nicer than the motel’s anyway.”

“I’m telling Sisi you said that about her motel.”

My hand doesn’t move from her thigh, and my eyes stay fixed on the wolf tattoo under my fingers. The sudden realization that I might see Josie in my shower makes the erection I’ve been battling all day that much worse. I’ve unknowingly pictured her in my shower so many times, and jerked off thinking abo⁠—

“You’re picturing me in the shower, aren’t you?”

My eyes fly up to see her looking at me with a playful smirk.

Yeah, Josie Hare still owns me—mind, body, and soul.

“Wow, you were right.” Josie drops her tote bag she grabbed from the motel before we walked back to my apartment. I follow as she walks into my bathroom and looks around. She did come over the other night, but we were occupied with each other’s bodies, and she didn’t stick around long enough to see the whole place. Now, I can tell that she’s noticing that nothing about my apartment is like it was when we were kids. Back then, it was a boring vacation rental we would rent out in the busy summer climbing seasons.

“Right? About what?” I ask, watching her eyes land on the sleek mid-century inspired double vanity, and then the oversized walk-in shower on the other side of the room.

“This is definitely nicer than the motel.”

“Thanks. Sisi helped me design it so it didn’t look too much like a nursing home bathroom.”

“Nursing home?” She gives me a funny look before scanning the room again. This time she spots the grab bars around the room. Sisi picked them out to blend seamlessly with the decor.