in his son’s direction. “I said most of the time.”
“It’s true,” I corroborated, laughing. “He did say that.”
A wet hand clapped against my shoulder. “And I didn’t even have to bribe you to back me up.” Sebastian shook me gently as I continued to laugh. “I knew I liked you.”
“Stop encouraging him,” Greyson’s aunt and Sebastian’s wife, Tabitha, groaned, walking past the pool with Greyson’s little sister, Izzy, on her heels. “You’ll be his best friend and he’ll harass you for the rest of your life.”
“Nah, Thumbelina,” Sebastian said, reaching out of the water to wrap a hand around her ankle. “That’s just you.”
We all laughed together, the five of us in Zach’s starlit backyard. The scent of the grill still lingered in the air, reminding me of dinner, as it blended pleasantly with citronella from the candles bordering the fence. The humidity was minimal and for the first time in weeks, I could breathe, pulling in nothing but the lazy comfort of summer. But despite being surrounded by people I cared for and loved, my heart was hollow, and I missed Andy. I stared across the pool at my brother and the man he’d committed his life to, watching with a jealous glint in my eye as they cuddled close and shared a sweet kiss when they thought nobody was looking. I wondered if I could bring Andy up here soon. I wondered what her wet skin would feel like, and if she’d be daring enough to do more than just kiss in the deep end. I bit the inside of my cheek and turned toward the house, trying to think about anything but her wet, warm body against mine.
“So, Vinnie,” Tabitha said, sitting at the end of a lounge chair.
“Yeah,” I blurted, quickly looking from the house to her.
“When are we going to meet your girlfriend?”
I smiled. “I was just thinking about that.”
“Oh, I’m sure you were,” Zach chided, splashing me from across the pool.
I splashed him back. “Shut up, dick.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll soundproof the guest room before you guys come up,” he jabbed playfully, winking.
“Good,” I fired back. “‘Cause the last thing I want is to listen to you guys goin’ at it all night.”
“Vin, if you’re jealous, all you gotta do is say somethin’. I’m sure Greyson wouldn’t mind if you wanted to join—”
“Yo, man, knock it off.” I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head.
“Too far?” Zach laughed.
“Way too far.” I opened my eyes and addressed Greyson, smiling apologetically. “I mean, I love you, man, but not enough to experiment like that.”
“It’s all good,” he answered, chuckling.
“Anyway,” I said, looking back to Tabitha, “I dunno. Her hours are kinda crazy at the hospital, but I’m sure we can come up for a couple days soon.”
“Let us know,” she replied, pulling the sleepy Izzy into her lap. “Sebastian will make his ribs and I’ll throw together my macaroni salad.”
“Oh, man, you know Aunt Tabs means business when she starts throwing around Dad’s ribs,” Grey commented. Then, he groaned, laying a hand over his stomach. “You better bring Andy up here soon, Vin. I wanna eat those damn things now.”
I promised I’d talk to her and set aside time to visit. Zach, Greyson, and I climbed out of the pool, blew out the candles, and said goodnight to Greyson’s family, before retiring inside to lay out on their plush living room furniture. The air conditioning goose-pimpled my drying skin and I wrapped myself in one of their fluffy throw blankets, sighing at the comfortable warmth.
“Okay, I’m just gonna pass out right here,” I said, closing my eyes and kicking my feet up on a leather ottoman.
“Nice, right?” Zach laughed from beside me on the couch.
“Hell yeah, man. I wish we had the space in the apartment for furniture like this.” The large sectional sofa was too big for Pops’s and my kitchen and living room combined. While I did like our modest couch and recliner set, there was no denying it didn’t hold a candle to this type of luxury.
“You guys gotta get outta the city. You could buy such a bigger, nicer place if you did.”
I shook my head. “Pops would never go for it, and you know that.”
“I don’t wanna say it, but Pops isn’t gonna be in the picture much longer—”
“Stop, Z.”
Zach sighed. “I know you don’t wanna talk about it, but man, you gotta start thinkin’ about what you’re gonna—”
“Cut it out,” I interrupted, raising my voice. “I know what I gotta do,