Page 69 of Strays
Since we’re expecting guests, Jo had added plastic tables and folding chairs to the list, so we swing by Walmart to pick those up. After that, we hit a dollar store for the small stuff: paper plates, plastic utensils, that kind of thing.
The last stop is the grocery store. We get burgers, hot dogs, and some mushrooms and veggies Jo asked for. Apparently, Hugh, Mike’s husband from next door, is a vegetarian.
When Jo gets home after work, we’re out back unloading the grill and folding chairs onto the lawn. The food’s already in the kitchen, and Shane has lined up the condiments on the counter like we’re running a food truck. Jay’s halfway through assembling the grill, crouched in the grass with the manual open beside him, and I’m trying to get a folding table to actually stay open.
Jo steps onto the porch and just stands there for a second, taking it all in with her hands on her hips and a smile tugging at her mouth.
“Looks like you got everything,” she says.
“We crushed it,” Shane adds, gesturing proudly toward the backyard chaos.
She walks over, eyes scanning the gear, then pauses by the charcoal bag and picks it up. She turns it in her hands and lets out a soft laugh.
“Oh no,” she says. “You guys bought match light?”
Shane frowns. “Yeah? The guy said it lights fast.”
Jo grins. “It lights fast because it’s soaked in lighter fluid. If we cook too soon, everything’ll taste like burnt nail polish.”
Shane makes a face.
“It’s okay,” she says, setting it back down. “We’ll just let it burn longer before we start cooking. Not a big deal.”
She steps into the kitchen, but a second later, I hear her call out. “Hey! What are these?”
She comes back holding one of the wooden skewers between her fingers. “You planning to grill on toothpicks?” she asks, holding it up.
I walk over and take it from her. “Those are skewers.”
“No,” she says, laughing, “these are cocktail sticks. Like, for olives. What were you going to do, grill grapes?”
Jay leans over for a look. “Oh. I thought they looked kind of short.”
“They’ll catch fire before they even touch the grill,” Jo says, still laughing. “It’s okay. We can do foil packets instead. I’ll prep them in the morning.”
Despite our complete incompetence when it comes to barbecue stuff, she looks genuinely happy seeing all the things we’ve brought home.
I’ve been trying to work up the nerve to tell her how I feel — with words — ever since Shane brought it up, and seeing her like that, smiling and light again, gives me the push I need.
I march straight to her, cup her face in my hands, and kiss her hard. She laughs into my mouth, surprised, but within seconds she’s kissing me back just as hard. When I finally pull away, she’s breathless.
I look into her eyes and say the words out loud for the first time. “I love you.”
Her smile fades into something softer. She holds my gaze, then whispers, “I love you too.”
There’s a beat of silence until Shane clears his throat behind me. “Not to ruin the moment,” he says, “but if we’re saying it out loud now...”
I turn to see him standing a few feet away, arms crossed, a small smile tugging at his mouth. Jay’s next to him, nodding like he’s been holding something in too.
“I already told you,” Shane says. “But I don’t mind saying it again. Just... you know, in case it wasn’t obvious. I love you.”
“Didn’t kiss you ‘cause Kory was faster,” Jay adds. “But, yeah. I love you.”
I feel Jo’s whole body lean into mine, warm and relaxed. She stretches one arm out toward the others, clearly trying to pull them in, but her reach doesn’t get her far. Jay closes the distance himself, with Shane right behind him.
She pulls them both close, holding on tight without letting go of me.
“I know,” she whispers to them. “But it’s still nice to hear. And I love you too.”
