“Move it, move it! Get out of myway.” Josh shoves Luke and comes to stand in front of me, wrapping me in his own warm embrace.
Josh squeezes me too hard the way I imagine a fun uncle or a silly big brother would.
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Viv not two seconds ago. If you girls don’t text me—and I meanfrequently—then I’m going to throw a fit, and I might have to come to New York City, crash at one of your places, and force you to entertain me with bars and good food. So… actually, maybe don’t text me right away. Then I have an excuse to come visit.”
“Or—and hear me out here because this is a crazy idea—we could justinviteyou to come visit,” I say.
Josh squeezes me again and hums a sound of appreciation. “So weird. Viv said the same thing.”
A laugh tumbles through me. I pat his back and pull myself from his embrace.
I try not to give too much weight to the false promises we’re all making here. Viv and I will go home, everyone will fall back into their routines, becoming busy with everyday life. We’ll text for a little while maybe. And like so many things, the reality is,it’ll probably fade and peter out like a once-roaring flame in the fireplace that’s now nothing but cold embers.
“Now that we’ve all acknowledged how much we’re all going to miss each other,” Viv says, looking around at our little group of friends, “can we please order some food because your girl ishungry.”
Hoisting myself back into the slightly too-tall high-top seat, Luke’s voice brushes against my ear.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to save our goodbyes for later.” Goosebumps erupt on my skin, and my stomach does a funny fluttering thing. The best I can offer is a nod, and then Luke is pulling out the chair next to me, slipping his body effortlessly into it, his arm draped across the back of my chair.
Josh takes the seat at the end of the table between Viv and me. The whole feeling of being at this table, with these people, feels right in a way I can’t explain. I try not to dwell on it too much. It’s been an amazing week, unexpected in all the best ways.
Two pitchers of beer and a handful of appetizers later, we finally call it a night.
“What time tomorrow are you leaving?” Rachel says, the buzz of beer making her eyes glassy—or maybe she’s feeling a little more emotional now that it’s officially time to say goodbye.
“First thing. It’s like—” Viv begins.
“Seven hours. Seven. Count ‘em, Viv.” I hold up seven fingers for her to count, and she rolls her eyes dramatically. “When she booked this trip, she told me it was four hours away.” I explain to Rachel.
“Details. Whatever. Either way, better to leave early so we’re not home too late, you know? In case there’s traffic.”
“Okay, one more hug.” Rachel hugs us each, giving a littleextra squeeze at the end. “I’m so glad you chose our little town to visit. Ugh, I’m gonna miss you two. Text me when you get home, okay?” She looks at both of us, waiting expectantly for our answer.
“You've got it,” I say. “Tell Jim we said it was great to meet him.”
“How ya getting home, Rach?” Josh asks.
“I was gonna walk,” she says, tilting a little to the side.
“How about I walk you, then?” He throws his arm around her shoulder. “Viv, any interest in coming with? One last hurrah with your favorite guy?” Josh’s eyes flit between Luke and me and back to Viv, eyebrows raised.
“Duh. I havesevenhours in the car with this chick tomorrow.” She hooks a thumb in my direction. “Of course I’ll walk with you.” Viv sweeps her gaze to mine, winks, and then gives Luke a hug.
“I’m glad you’re not an asshole.” Then she mumbles to him, “Otherwise I’d have had to kick your ass, and I really didn’t feel like ruining my vacation over some toddler in a crop top.”
“I am glad I didn’t have to get my ass kicked. That would have been embarrassing, and I’m pretty sure Frank would have never let me hear the end of it.” He hugs her back, looks down at my flip-flop clad feet, then tosses Josh his keys.
“Why don’t you guys drive? Liv, are you cool to walk back to the house with me?”
Lanterns placed every thirty feet or so illuminate the otherwise dark sidewalk. Our walk so far has been quiet, but it’s comfortable. Every so often, Luke takes a breath as if ready to speak, but nothing happens. Lost in my own thoughts, I don’t push.
What’s there to say?
It’s been fun.
Thanks for the sex.
I’ll never use my vibrator without thinking of you, are you happy now?
