Colton shrugs. “She wasn’t that bad.”
“Are you serious?” Ji gives a short laugh. “She gave you a list of girls she wanted you to unfollow from Instagram because they were ‘prettier’ than her.”
Missy nods. “Ick, that was so cringy.”
“I didn’t see you guys complaining when she deemed you the ‘pretty ones,’” Colton says.
I chuckle. “Yeah, that was nice of her.”
“Seriously, she wasn’t that bad,” Colton says. “But do you know who was? Langdon Briggs.”
Ji gasps and smacks the back of Colton’s head. “I liked him for all of two seconds,” she says.
“Was that before or after you kissed him by the dumpsters at prom?” Colton asks.
Paige starts laughing, and I can’t help but join her as everyone jumps on thewhose high school relationship was worsebandwagon.
“Maybe it’s a good thing we didn’t date in high school,” Paige says, tilting her head up to mine. “Nobody has anything on us.”
I tighten my hold on Paige. “I would give a lot more than an embarrassing story over a campfire if it meant I got to date you in high school.”
Paige smiles a full-dimple smile, and I press a kiss to the crown of her head, reminding myself that she’s here. That somehow, after all these years, we’re together.
This has, hands down, been the best week of my life. You would think after knowing Paige for so long, I would know the extent of what it was like to be surrounded by her. She’s always been a calming force in my life, but ever since I opened up to her about my worries and fears, she’s stepped beside me in all her strength, letting me lean into her. She is strong, and brilliant, and pure sunlight.
Paige lifts our entwined fingers to her lips and places a kiss on the back of my hand. I revel in the warmth of her perfect lips on my skin, just one more thing I love about our new relationship. Paige doesn’t hold back her love and affection, and I can’t believe I’m the guy who is the recipient of that.
“Jordan, I saw your mom and Dan at Hobby Lobby yesterday,” Ji says, changing the group topic to something more benign. “Dan was helping her pick out quilting material for her next project. It was the cutest thing.”
“The way he was looking at your mama when they were dancing at the gala,” Missy says. “And the way he’s so sweet and attentive toward her.”
Paige chimes in, and all three of them gush about Mom and Dan. They’re talking about them like they’re the newitcouple. If I’m being honest, theyarepretty good together. And by pretty good, I mean they’re like two lovesick teenagers. These days, I feel like Mom’s out with Dan more than she’s at home. But I can’t complain because Mom’s not just happy these days—she’s giddy. Knowing that Dan takes such good care of her has eased up some of the tightness in my chest that’s been building over the course of several years.
“Should we play some music?” Paige asks.
“Hmm? What song would be perfect for Colton right at this moment? Something that says ‘brooding Yale man,’” I say loud enough for Colton to hear us over the snapping fire.
Colton looks over and scowls at us.
Paige and I chuckle.
“I think some Billy Joel would do him some good,” Paige says.
“‘Piano Man’?” I ask, trying to guess the song she’s thinking.
“Ding-ding.”
“Perfect.” I grin. “Colton can wallow in misery with the best of them.”
“I’m not wallowing.” Colton readjusts himself in his chair so he doesn’t look so defeated. “I’m contemplating the delicate nature of life.”
“Spoken like a true politician,” I say.
That earns me another glare.
“I think he needs that song, stat.” Ji laughs.
I walk the few yards to where all of our cars are parked, and when I’ve got “Piano Man” pouring from my car speakers, I look back to our group and find a smile spreading on Colton’s face. Sometimes hearing a song about how miserable life can be is just the thing to make you realize your own isn’t so bad. Once again, music works its magic.
