Page 91 of Something Spontaneous

Thankfully, there’s an easy calm that comes with the way this group carries on together, even after we moved from the hot tub to the table out on the patio by the grill. I feel comfortable enough around them to talk about literally almost anything—including the lemon poppyseed pancakes that Sutton is apparently making us tomorrow—like it’s the most exciting development in the world. That comfort—that familiarity—gave me the out I needed to not obsess, freak out, or worse.

But the cocktails made dinner a bit livelier, and to be fair, knowing that Sutton is cooking for us is a noteworthy development because that man has always been a god-tier chef.

“So, Chef Sweet Tooth, will there be whipped cream with these pancakes?” I ask, steepling my fingers because I still remember how he had an insatiable craving for sugary foods growing up. “Maybe some other toppings like—ohhh—” I giddily clap my hands together. “Blueberries!”

Sutton chuckles across the table from us. “Blueberries, yes. Whipped cream… I’m either going to have to make it fresh or go buy some more. I’m sort of…” He glances at his girlfriend for a moment, “…out.”

“Sutton!” she whisper-shouts, turning bright red. “Really?! Do you have any filter?”

He shrugs. “I guess you’re rubbing off on me.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh and rubs her temples. “Again, you’re lucky you’re pretty.”

Grace and I cackle just as TJ and Sly show up at the table after cleaning up the grill.

“What’d we miss?” TJ asks, stepping around our table until he’s behind Grace. He bends down to wrap his arms around her and places a kiss on her cheek, prompting her to lean into him.

I grin at them. “We were just talking about why Sutton needs to get more whipped cream for breakfast tomorrow. Speaking of…” I turn to Sly, who’s leaning against the chair next to mine, and waggle my brows at him. “Do you think we could pick some up on the way to the campground? I’m suddenly in the mood for dessert.”

I stand up from my chair to saunter toward him, but end up stumbling right into his waiting arms.

“Alright, Bunny,” he says, holding me tight to him. “Let’s get you back to the campground and settled in for the night.”

“Yeah, I think it’s about that time too,” TJ adds.

I turn my thumbs down at them and blow a raspberry. “Boo! You two are party poopers.”

“Relax,” Sly teases, pressing a languid kiss to my neck that instantly makes me think that asking me to leave with him might not be such a party-pooper thing to do after all. “It’s going to be a long weekend. Pace yourself.”

“He’s right,” Grace says, standing up from the table. “This whole weekend is a party. We’re only getting started.”

“Fine,” I huff reluctantly. “Back to the campground it is.”

We say our goodbyes to Kelsey and Sutton, who, not so surprisingly, seem very eager to get inside and enjoy the sprawling rental all to themselves.

I spot Grace saying something to TJ before he heads off to her van, leaving the three of us alone. Sly wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his front. I lean into him and sigh contentedly.

Grace watches us with an amused smirk. “I never thought I’d see this side of you, Josie.”

Her gaze drifts up and over me, landing on Sly. Although I can’t see his face, I can tell by her expression that they’re sharing some sort of weird unspoken exchange.

“Sly, can I borrow your ex for a minute?”

He sighs from behind me. “You know we’ll see you in like fifteen minutes at the campground, right?”

She hums skeptically, and suddenly, I feel like I’m caught in the middle of some awkward, possessive contest between my best friend and the love of my life. Cocking a hip out, she doesn’t back down from him. “Well, I’m afraid you might do something stupid before you get to the campground.”

“Well, I don’t think that convenience store carries whipped cream, and I don’t remember seeing any twenty-four-hour wedding chapels on the way there. So, I don’t think we’ll be stopping on our way.” He smirks at Grace until she levels a surprisingly intimidating scowl at him. Finally, he sighs in defeat. “Alright. I’ll wait in the van.”

Sly heads over to the driveway, where the vans are parked, and starts kicking the tires or something with TJ.

I watch them, enamored how Sly has grown into a man who is so much more than I remembered. Seeing him in this moment, casually making jokes with a rockstar—former rockstar—feels so different than the shy boy next door I grew up with. Underneath the layers of jaded angst built up while we were apart, I still see that sweet, considerate Sly.

Grace squeezes my shoulder. “You good?”

I make a confused face. “Um, yeah? I’m fine.”

Judging by her reaction, she doesn’t seem convinced.