Page 87
SLY
Still A Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Boy
“Can you stop looking at me like that?” I ask, looking at Josie perched in the passenger seat of her van.
“Like what?” she asks nervously, her eyes flitting back and forth between the road and me.
“Like I’ve never driven an adventure van, or any other automobile, before? We’re almost to Joshua Valley. I’m not going to damage your van before we get there.”
She narrows her eyes at me—seemingly not quite convinced of my driving abilities—but she bobs her head once before slumping back into the seat and curling her knees up to her chest.
“Fine,” she says, staring at the open desert road stretching out in front of us. “But if you hurt my baby, I know where to find you.”
I huff a laugh. “Fair. Maybe I will so I have an excuse to keep you in Sterling Springs longer.” I glance over in time to catch her rolling her eyes.
Dad was surprisingly fine about me taking a few days off. Initially, I was nervous asking, but he was so supportive that he basically shooed me out of the garage and told me to have a great trip. We’ve spent most of the thirteen-plus-hour drive from New Mexico to the Southern Californian desert talking about everything that we’ve missed in each other’s lives for the last ten years. To be fair, she’s been doing most of the talking, with me occasionally asking a question so I can listen to how excited she gets answering it.
Despite how easy things have been, there’s still a nervous energy hanging over us—not because of either of our driving skills—but because of what we’re both clearly avoiding.
Yeah. I have not used the advice my sister gave almost a week ago, and am, in fact, still a stupid, stupid, stupid boy.
We’ve focused on everything that’s happened before now, and not the edge of the cliff that we’re rushing toward when this weekend is over. That’s the way it continues until the voice from the navigation tells us to make the last turn to the vacation home that TJ rented.
“Walk me through this convoluted mess of conversational landmines one more time,” I say, turning into the driveway of the immaculate mid-century modern home that I wish Sisi were here to see. As stunning as it is, I might even send her a few pictures or make one of my incredibly rare posts on social media that won’t get more than three likes.
“Look at you using big words like conversational.” I glare at her as I shift her van into park. She smirks before making a kissy face at me. “Okay, for the last time… Grace and TJ know what I do. TJ only knows vague details, but Grace has pretty much known everything from the beginning.”
“Got it. And, Grace, despite being your bestie for the last decade, only recently found out you’re from Sterling Springs?” I turn a palm up in question.
“Correct.” She grimaces, and after our conversations during today’s drive, I understand it. She hated keeping that secret from Grace, and I can tell she feels better now that it’s off her chest.
“So, it’s out in the open now that you already know Sutton, and Sisi, and, well, me?”
She nods. “Again, correct.”
“But neither Sutton nor Kelsey knows what you do for work?”
She sucks in a deep breath and sighs. “Again, also correct.”
I groan into my palm. “Jesus christ. I think I need a flow chart.”
“Relax, it’ll be an awesome weekend. Concerts, time with your brother and my friends, a heated pool in the desert, and a hot tub. Oh, and killer after-parties. There’s one that Grace and I have wanted to go to for years. It looks like so much fun. I can’t wait to go with you.” She practically bounces in her seat at the mention of the Earth SnaX after-party that Grace’s sister-in-law helped plan. “Remember why you’re here—to have fun with me. I want us to enjoy this weekend.”
She grabs my hand and rubs small, soothing circles on the back. I look to find her smiling softly at me. The purples and oranges of the sun setting behind her make her scarlet hair and freckles stand out even more. I’m instantly lost in the pull she has on me.
Spending a weekend with her, in her van, away from Sterling Springs, wasn’t something that I would’ve ever let creep into my wildest dreams. Now that it’s happening, the only thing that could make it better would be if it were just us. I want every second, every glance, every laugh, every giggle of hers focused on me because I still don’t know what our status will be come Monday morning. That’s why I ask my next question.
“Speaking of us, what are we telling all of them? Are we telling them anything at all?”
It may not be the question we need to talk about, but it’s the safest I’ve felt about asking anything close to it, and it feels like a relief to bring it out into the open.
She drops her chin and narrows her eyes. “Really? We don’t have to tell them anything. They know we’re staying together in my van—the one that’s barely big enough for two adults, much less you and your…” She gestures up and down in front of me. “…hulking frame. Grace knows we were hooking up, Sutton knows enough of our past, and more importantly, we’re all adults. They can figure it out on their own, and if they don’t, then who cares?”
CHAPTER 38
JOSIE
Where Do We Go From Here?
