Page 165 of Unexpected Ever After

“Go take a shower. A cold one!”

“We could’ve taken one together!”

“Get!”

The sound of approaching footsteps has me running to the bathroom. I quickly dress and try to tame my hair so it doesn’t have the just-thoroughly-fucked look. I’m walking into the kitchen the moment the door opens. In walks Jan and Ben, followed by Larissa and some other guy. Larissa gives me a genuine smile and runs up to hug me. Jan follows next, and then Ben. The new guy settles for a handshake.

“This is Zac,” Larissa beams. “Since he’s staying the weekend with us, I was thinking we could take the downstairs guest room.”

Journi’s room. The room that I was hoping to sneak into. Yet, I may not have to. Last year we couldn’t be together because of Journi and Jan’s loyal friendship. But now Jan shouldn’t have an issue. Larissa looks like a ray of fucking sunshine she’s so happy. She’s glowing before my eyes.

Journi comes into the room smiling wide. I think that smile is for Jan, but I’m going to pretend I’m the one who put that there. “What’s the Dill?”

“Pickle!” Jan turns and shouts.

They hug and bounce around like two schoolgirls. When they part, Journi waves to everyone else. Larissa bounces forward, “Journi, I hope you haven’t gotten too comfortable in the other room.”

If only she knew.

“I was hoping I could have it this year.” She reaches back and takes Zac’s hand. “He’s going to be rooming with me so…”

“Absolutely!”

If Journi is upstairs, sneaking around is going to be a lot more difficult. While I’m struggling to figure out a solution, the door opens again with my parents and Joshua making their appearance. And the solution to my problem. Joshua brought a guy with him, too. I run up to my brother and give him a giant bear hug.

“Jeez, okay. Good to see you, too, man. Um…weirdo,” he mumbles the last part under his breath. He places his arm around the guy who is standing awkwardly by his side. “This is my boyfriend, Tyrone.”

“It’s so good to see you,” I tell him as I embrace him in a full-on hug.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Joshua hisses in my ear.

“You have someone. Larissa has someone. That leaves me and Journi to share a room.”

Joshua narrows his eyes. “You’re a grown man. Act like it.”

“No. She’s forced to share with me. I’m all that’s left. Nobody can get mad.”

Tyrone looks even more uncomfortable now. I’m probably sending all kinds of creeper vibes to him. I start to offer a smile but then decide against it. It’d come off even more sleazy. Best to walk away from this situation.

Jan’s parents walk in, and everyone is still standing half in the kitchen and half in the living room with their luggage.

“All right, rooms,” Jan’s mother, Sophia, says. “Larissa has requested the downstairs guest room, but I told her that’s the Bryce side so it’s up to Joshua and Cruz.”

Joshua shrugs. “I’ve brought Tyrone. So, I was thinking about taking that room.”

Larissa huffs. “You have a room. Y’all can share a bunk bed.”

Joshua’s eyebrows rise. “Nope. I’m planning to share a bed with my boyfriend. Not bunk with him.”

Jan raises her hands. “Larissa, why don’t we go into town tomorrow and you can pick out a new bed for your room. It’s well past time anyway.”

Larissa and Joshua stick their tongues out at each other. Journi’s eyes are wide as she looks around. Jan catches it and raises her hand to get everyone’s attention. “I brought Journi and Ben,” she jokes.

“Sounds like it’s going to be a full bed,” my mother remarks.

“I have bunk beds! Joshua isn’t going to be in there. We’re adults, we can handle sharing a room.” Mother gives me a disbelieving look. I, however, feel this couldn’t have worked out any better. Jan looks concerned, but I only smile.

“That settles it.” Sophia shrugs and begins to walk with her husband upstairs to their room.

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