Page 85 of Something Spontaneous

I get lost in his embrace, hoping that I can absorb as much of his minty, leathery scent as I can. My eyes start to flutter shut when I feel him take a deep breath.

“I was there.” His voice is a hushed whisper that I think I imagined.

“You were where?” I yawn, loving the way his chest hair rasps over my cheeks as I listen to the beating muscle in his chest.

His arms tighten around me.

“I was there with you. All those nights you fell asleep, wondering if I was seeing the same sky or thinking the same thing. I was there—maybe not beside you—but I was there. I’m sorry I thought letting you be alone was the right thing.”

The pounding sound in my ears gets louder, but I don’t know if it’s his heart or mine anymore. I don’t say anything because there aren’t any words that I can utter right now that will be adequate. They’ll only take away from the peace that he’s brought me.

That’s how I fall asleep—weighted blanket or not—relishing in the soothing warmth of his burly arms, and the hoodie that he will never be getting back.

CHAPTER 36

SLY

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Boy

Sitting in this exact booth is a family tradition that’s older than me. Unlike those early days, my grandparents are no longer with us, my brothers both live hundreds of miles away, and my parents had their own breakfast plans today. That means it’s only Sisi and me.

I chew it so fast I know my grandparents would’ve scolded me. Instead, I’m left with the sound of metal clinking against ceramic. I look up from my food to find my sister eyeing me skeptically, loudly stirring her drink.

“Where’s Josie?”

“What makes you think I know where she is?” I say, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

One of her brows lifts into a sky-high arch, and I sigh in defeat.

Great. Apparently, my sister is more than happy to take up my grandparents’ mantle of familial punishment.

“Fine,” I mutter, knowing that it’s impossible to win an argument with her. “She’s back at my place, working. You know, like she said she had to last night when we met you for drinks?”

Fortunately, I was prepared for this line of questioning. I even tried to get Josie to come with me, but she was tired and needed to do some work, so I made her breakfast before coming to the diner to meet Sisi. She narrows her eyes at me and hums skeptically. My answer is, in fact, correct, even if it’s vague. I don’t know how to say she’s editing the video she—or I guess we—made in the shower last night. I know she’s behind on content and plans to upload it as soon as she’s done editing.

I say nothing else and continue eating, hurriedly taking the last bite of my breakfast. Just like so many mornings as a teenager, I desperately want to finish my breakfast and go see Josie.

Finally, Sisi shrugs and forks a bite of her avocado toast, a recent addition to the menu, thanks to Riley.

“Yeah, I still don’t totally get what she does,” she mumbles between bites. “Whatever she’s doing, it seems like it’s super flexible.”

I nearly choke on my coffee, picturing exactly how flexible Josie was last night.

My sister tilts her head and gives me a funny look. “You okay?”

I nod and dab the coffee from the corner of my mouth. “Yeah, I’m good. Seems like she has a lot of control over what she does.” Just like she controls me, my heart, and every other facet of my consciousness. Last night was a blunt reminder that even when Josie wants to let go and not be in control, she still has me wrapped around her finger. Frankly, I’m more than happy with that.

She points her fork at me before setting it down. “You know, since we’re on the topic of you two star-crossed lovers…” She steeples her fingers under her chin in anticipation.

Great. From her far too pleased grin, I already know she’s going to be like a dog with a bone as long as I’m here in this booth with her. I drop my head and groan.

“Get to the point and stop torturing me. Seriously, you enjoy this far too much.”

“Oh, come on. Where’s the fun in that?” I glare at her, and she blows a puff of air, making a dismissive gesture at me. “Fine, but I wanted to ask what’s going on with you two? I mean, please, no graphic details, but you seem like you’re in a good place? Or, at least, a better one?”

“How so?”

She shrugs with one shoulder. “I mean, she hasn’t bitten your head off, and I haven’t had to break up bickering since those first couple of nights at The Hatch. She hasn’t even climbed over you to get out of the booth here again.”