Page 64 of Always Been Yours

He stares at me with disbelief clear across his face. “You know you’re a twenty-eight-year-old woman, right? What’s Bonnie going to do? Ground you?”

“You would be surprised,” I huff.

“Come on, Vivi.” He gives me his sad puppy face. He hasn’t used this on me in over a decade, but desperate times call for desperate measures apparently. He sticks out his lower lip just slightly morethan what’s natural, tilts his head to the side, and I can feel myself cracking before his eyes. “We can add it to the list of things we would have done together in high school.”

“Fine. But I’m ordering pizza first.”

He plants a quick kiss on my nose. “Deal.”

After the pizza has been delivered and I change into my comfiest silk pajama set and Grady borrows some of Asher’s sweats and a t-shirt he left here after a movie night, we get comfy in the small sunroom attached to my kitchen. I can keep all of the windows open without having to worry about a lingering smell.

“Viv, we don’t have to do this.” He leans his head back and tilts it toward me. “I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”

I look back at him while I think it over.

Sure, he was the one who suggested it and gave me that goddamn sad puppy face. So, on one hand, I didn’t stand a chance at saying no. On the other hand, thisissomething we would have done in high school. And it’s not like I never thought about the joint that Asher left for me. If I’m being honest, I just didn’t want to smoke with them because they do it fairly often and I always got a little… giggly when I got high.

But with the rain continuing to pour down and Grady here at my house as if we never wasted all those years, it feels right. I feel calm and in a good headspace.

I want to have fun with Grady. I want to be a little irresponsible with him too.

“I know, Grady.” I give him a small nod. “Light it up.”

Grady

“Are you sure you’re okay? I can get some water.” I do my best not to laugh but Vivi’s been coughing for probably five minutes. Every time I think she’s getting better, it gets worse.

She’s going to be stoned, alright.

“No, I’m fine.” She takes a deep breath and holds it. Only to start coughing three seconds later.

“I’m getting you water. If you die, I’ll definitely get firedandgrounded.”

She flips me off when her death glare is undermined by the tears rolling down her cheeks.

God, even like this she’s beautiful. I could stare at her all night, waterworks and all. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of her once, even while trying to hold it together as she hacks up a lung.

“Earth to Grady,” she sputters out.

Oh.

Oh crap.

I was actually staring at her for who knows how long.

“Huh?” It’s the only coherent thought I can get out.

“I think I actually need that water.” She gives me an embarrassed look in between her coughing.

I push myself off the chair and tug on the hair piled on top of her head. “I’m on it.”

Vivi

“Mmm,” I contemplate over another bite of pizza. “I don’treallybelieve that’s your favorite romcom.”

“Why would I lie about that?” In his defense, he truly seems slighted.

“It seems like a staged, fake ass answer, honestly.”

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