I snickered. “But also kinda hilarious,” I added, standing up to grab one of his shirts and tug it over my head. “Four adults playing it cool after a full-blown group sex debut.”
“Nothing cool about the way you screamed earlier,” he muttered, grinning as he pulled on his jeans.
I shook my head, but I was smiling too.
We moved around the room in quiet tandem—dressing, fixing our hair, washing our hands like it was just any other day. It felt bizarrely normal.
A while later, the scent of garlic drifted through the air, and we walked into the kitchen together.
Jackie and Elliott were already at the island, setting bowls and glasses on the counter, their eyes catching ours the moment we walked in.
And for a beat, the four of us just stood there, undeniably changed, but nobody said anything yet.
Instead, Jackie smiled, holding up a large bowl. “Food’s hot.”
Jack laughed under his breath. “Exactly like our day.”
That earned a smirk from her.
Elliott and Jackie passed bowls around the island, both of them suspiciously focused on the soup, as if eye contact might make it even more awkward. Jack, naturally, leaned into the awkwardness like he was born for it, tossing in casual little comments that earned snorts, eye rolls, and a shake of the head.
Elliott poured himself and Jack each a glass of whiskey after the second course, while Jackie and I sipped on our iced tea.
As dinner went on, things started returning to normal. Talk turned to the storm, to how long we might be snowed in, to some show we all agreed to start bingeing the next day. But every now and then, there’d be a look—Jackie glancing at me while biting her lip, or Elliott’s gaze lingering a second too long on my neck. I even noticed Jack watching Jackie, licking his lips and smiling whenever she laughed at some joke he made.
Something had shifted. The air between us was looser, but not entirely sorted out.
Jack poured himself another glass. Elliott followed.
By the time we finished clearing the dishes, both men were definitely buzzed, sprawled out on opposite couches like they hadn’t just had the night of their lives.
I wondered if it would feel the same in the morning. If we’d still be this loose, this comfortable, when the excitement of it all wore off.
Jackie stood, tugging Elliott’s hand as she did. He stumbled a little, laughing under his breath. She glanced at me with a soft smile.
“I need to get him to bed,” she said gently.
I nodded, glancing over at Jack. His eyes were half-closed, a smirk stretched across his face. “Yeah, I should probably get this one in bed too.”
As Jackie passed, still holding Elliott’s hand, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
“Goodnight,” she said, her eyes flicking between me and Jack.
“’Night, love,” Jack slurred, waving vaguely in their direction.
We watched them disappear down the hall and into their room.
Jack sighed, pointing toward the hallway. “I really wantthatto happen again.”
I smiled, curling up beside him. “Yeah. Me too.”
“Hot tub next time?” he asked, draping an arm around me.
I laughed softly. “Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
* * *
Jack was snoring by the time I walked down the hallway to grab a glass of water and Tylenol for him, knowing he’d be feeling it in the morning. I was still wide awake, adrenaline rushing through me, my thoughts racing with everything that had happened. All the possibilities for the four of us. For me and Jackie.
