They all echo my toast, and we clink our cans together.
“Fuck, Sade, the sentimentality is off the charts today.” Gemma blows me a kiss and I flip her off.
The rest of the afternoon passes in a haze of canned cocktails and floating on the waves, until we get tired of the beach and head back to the house to kick the drinking up a notch and float in the pool. Nick’s parents invited a bunch of friends over for a barbecue, so the yard fillswith people and chatter and music and the occasional burst of fireworks from neighboring houses.
We stuff our faces with hot dogs and corn on the cob and fresh berries arranged in the shape of an American flag. And when the “adult” company becomes too boring for the likes of us, we grab blankets, s’mores supplies, and a few bottles of wine and head back to the beach.
Nick and Jack get a bonfire going while Harley and Gemma stab marshmallows onto the end of skewers. I open a bottle of wine and divvy it up among five paper cups. I couldn’t even tell you how many drinks I’ve had throughout the day, but despite the constant buzz, I haven’t crossed the line into drunk. At least not yet. Instead my insides feel all warm and squishy, as likely due to the company as to the booze circulating through my veins.
Nick and Harley cuddle up on a blanket, for the first time not bothering to hide their obvious affection. Gemma and I share a long look, mostly a giddy happy one, but one tinged with just the tiniest smidge of worry. Worry about what might happen to our fearsome foursome should things not go how we all want them to. Despite my declaration to Harley last night, I don’t know what would happen to the group should things take a turn for the breakup, and the thought low-key terrifies me. But tonight is not the night for thoughts like that. Tonight is for realizing I’ve never seen two of my best friends happier, and for being happy for them.
Gemma folds herself down next to me on our blanket, linking our arms together, sharing a reassuring squeeze. Jack sits directly across from me on the other side of the fire. I meet his bright green gaze anda wide, genuine smile spreads across his face. It’s been nice to see him loosen up a little bit since being here with the group. He’s looking a little lighter, a little younger, and a lot more content.
It’s a good look on him.
After our second bottle of wine and too many s’mores to count, Nick and Harley throw in the towel and call it a night, walking back to the house hand in hand. Judging by the lights and the noise, the party in the backyard is still going strong. I wonder whether they’ll stroll in intertwined or if they’ll continue to hide their relationship in front of Nick’s family. I squint to try to see what they decide, but the shadows make it too dark to know for sure.
Gemma finishes up her glass of wine, then pushes up off the blanket. “I’m going to pack it in too. I’m beat.”
“Do you need me to walk you back to the house?” Jack starts to rise.
Gemma shoos him off. “I’m good. Just listen for my screams.”
I roll my eyes. “We’ll watch you until you get to the gate.”
She squats down a little so she can look me in the eye. “You good?”
There’s a lot of layers to that question. Do I want to stay here alone with Jack? Am I going to do something I might regret thanks to the copious amount of imbibing throughout the day? Is there a chance I’ll pass out on this blanket?
All valid questions.
But I smile and give her a reassuring hand squeeze. “I’m good.”
Gemma waves good night and treks back to the house. We watch her until she reaches the back gate, as promised.
Flopping on the blanket, I lie flat on my back so I can look up and see the stars. Stars are one of the few things New York City life can’tprovide, but here on the beach, a ton of them are sprinkled in the midnight sky above, like a pot of glitter exploded over a swath of navy velvet.
“Get your ass over here, Jackpot.” I might be tempting fate by inviting my suddenly sexy roommate to share a blanket under the stars, but I don’t much care. I’d like to blame it on the rosé, but really, I just want Jack to be near me.
He chuckles, and a few seconds later lowers himself next to me, sitting with his knees pulled into his chest, a beer bottle dangling from his fingers. “You all right down there?”
“Just looking at the stars.”
He tilts his head up. “It’s one of the few things I miss from growing up in Connecticut.”
“You grew up in Connecticut?” My attention is successfully pulled from the sky and focused on Jack. Who just revealed a truth.
He takes a long drink of his beer, like he didn’t mean to actually tell me that. “Yup.”
I let the quiet sit, wondering if he’s kind of like Harley and needs the space to speak on his own terms. And it’s a quiet I’m willing to endure because I want him to tell me more. Not just to sate my curiosity but because I want to know him.
But he doesn’t say anything, just finishes his beer and lies down next to me. Only a couple of inches separate us, and heat radiates from him, warming my already flushed skin. My heart rate kicks up, and as buzzed as I still am, I’m suddenly aware of every molecule of detail blanketing us in this moment. My eyes return to the stars, the close distance/eye contact combo too overwhelming.
“Sade?” My name rolls off his tongue like a promise.
“Yeah?” My lungs are so fluttery, I barely manage to get the one word out.
He clears his throat. “Thank you.”
