Page 87 of Always Been Yours

“Pfff.” I let out a breath of air, thinking it over. “Top three would be walking on the beach, time with my family—especially holidays—and… and you.” I link my pinky with hers, pulling her to a stop. The look on her face tells me enough.She doesn’t believe me.“Viv, I missed you before I ever moved away. I missed you from the first birthday I didn’t spend with you because I, selfishly, couldn’t see you with Brody that day. Not on a day that had always beenours.It was your birthday, but that day felt like mine too somehow.”

She inhales sharply in surprise. I slip my hand around the nape of her neck and lean down, our noses brushing, our lips only an inch apart. I continue, “I wasn’t delusional. I never expectedthis.Nights like tonight, and the ones spent at your house, weren’t something I would’ve ever allowed myself to wish for. I missed you though. You’ll always be my best friend more than anything else. But I’m so lucky that you’re giving me this chance to be everything to you.”

“I missed you too,” she whispers in a trembling voice. Her fingers find my belt loops, pulling our bodies flush to each other. “I never allowed myself to wish for this either. But I would be lucky to be something to you and to your daughters.”

I nod, letting the way my lips brush against her convey the words I can’t articulate. She’s more than just someone to me. She’s my first and best friend, my first crush, my first kiss. The girl who I grew up with, and who I spent countless nights and holidays with. She’s so much more to me than what I can put into words, and these last couple of months have only solidified thatfact.

She’s the woman I was always supposed to end up with. And I’m not letting anything come in the way of that again.

She stands up on her toes, sinking further into the sand. Her annoyedhmmpfis adorable but I take pity on her. Both of my hands find their way to her jaw, tilting her mouth up to me as I lean down and deepen the kiss. I gently stroke her cheeks and relish in the feel of her hands on my hips. After a long moment, I ease away from her. She gives me a goofy, satisfied grin that begs for me to plant one more kiss there. So, I do.

There are a few reasons I’ve never been to Yellow Cab—one of which is that Harper said he was going to come here when Vivi ran into him at Spotlight at the beginning of the school year. I would do just about anything to avoid seeing him at all costs, especially when I’m trying to enjoy my night with Genevieve. But I can’t lie, the place is freaking cool.

An array of disco balls are hung across the ceiling, lighting up the booths that look like actual taxi cabs. The DJ plays from the top of a miniature version of the Empire State Building. There are a few hot dog carts that serve what looks like Jello shots. You have to get on the subway to get to the bar. When we were walking back from the beach, Vivi told me that during Christmas they swap out the Empire State Building for the Rockefeller Tower and put a Christmas tree in here. I have no idea where they can fit it. And once a month, there’s a drag night that includes go-go dancers that dress up like the Statue of Liberty.

Vivi grabs my hand and pulls us further into the crowd. Shemakes a beeline for a booth toward the back near the pool tables in Central Park. This booth is a yellow SUV, allowing room for larger parties.

Lexi, Calypso, Asher, and Hudson are here already. Knox said he and Lucas are coming out but haven’t arrived yet. There are two guys and a woman that I don’t recognize. Two of them look vaguely familiar but I can’t place them.

“Hey!” Lexi calls over the music. She’s in the middle of everyone, but she stands up to give Vivi’s arms a hug. She gives me an enthusiastic wave. I think she has a good buzz going.Good for her.It’s her birthday after all.

Lexi points a finger at Vivi and shouts in an accusing tone, “You didn’t tell me that Yaz was going to be in town!”

Yaz. Yasmin Hernandez. Lexi’s childhood best friend. I never knew her very well. I don’t remember her and Vivi ever having any problems between them either. When I look down at her, Vivi has a beautiful, bright smile as she takes in her best friend’s shock. She happily waves to Yasmin before scooting into the booth next to Calypso. She let my hand go before we reached the table, but she calls me to sit down next to her.

I slide in, allowing my thigh to press against hers. I want to respect her need for privacy—I know how nosey everyone in this town can be—but I really just want to touch her all the time. It doesn’t matter how innocent. I just want to know that she’s really there, beside me.

She waves at the guys sitting across from us, and leans in to whisper, “That’s Gavin from the bookstore, and his boyfriend.” Her lips are right next to my ear, her breath is warm against my skin.

“I thought he looked familiar.”

“Oh, I think I see Knox and Lucas.” She tries to stand, peering over the crowd. She waves them over and plops back down inher spot, pushing her thigh into mine again.

A few seconds later, Knox slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Hey! I’m going to go buy the birthday girl a drink. Do you guys want anything?”

I look at Vivi who’s nodding up at him. I chuckle and stand from the booth, gesturing for Lucas to sit down. “I’ll go with you.”

Knox and I are about to make our way toward the bar when I hear Vivi over the music. “Wait, Grady!”

I turn back around and lean toward her on the table, so she doesn’t have to shout. “What?” I suppress the urge to call herloveorGenevieve.

“You didn’t ask what I want,” she says with just enough snark to pull a smug grin across my face. I was planning on letting this be a quiet win, one that I didn’t gloat about, but she would’ve known.

“I don’t have to.” I shrug. “A blood orange margarita. On the rocks with salt.”

Calypso snorts into her drink, pretending like she isn’t paying attention. Lucas looks like he has a front row seat to the Superbowl.

“Maybe I don’t want that.” She tilts her chin up like a brat.

My smile grows. “You do. But in case I’m wrong, what would you like to drink, Viv?”

Shebarelybites her lips in time to stop the smile, but I notice. I give her a few seconds to say something but her only response is an eye roll as she sits back.

I turn toward the bar with Knox, but I can hear Calypso laugh, “Wow.”

“That was really hot,” Lucas admits.

Once we’re in line, Knox turns toward me, “What just happened? I couldn’t hear anything.”

---