Page 34 of Riding Jamie

I grin, so in love with her that I can’t find the words to say it, and pull the door open for her.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Chapter Sixteen

OAKLEY

“I can’t believeI’m saying this, but it’s good to see you two back together,” Bo says.

I glance over at him with a grin, watching Jamie navigate his way back to us with a cup of punch in his hands. He’s healing every day, and he’s even stronger than he was a week ago.

“Never thought I’d see the day where you approved of Jamie Walker,” I tease.

“Kid grew on me, unfortunately,” Bo grumbles.

I toss my head back on a laugh. It feels sogoodto be back home. Jamie and I are together again, I have my family right here, Phoebe and I spent a ridiculous amount of time getting ready for this party and absolutely trashed her room trying on a million different outfits. Neither of us are close with the guy who decided to throw the party, but I’m pretty sure he and Jamie were friendly in high school. Most of the big parties we went to in high school were at this abandoned barn, so it’s a familiar scene.

Things finally feel right again, and my heart is light.

Jamie is wearing a dark green shirt that almost matches the color of my glittery mini dress, and his legs look miles long in histight jeans. Phoebe’s hair is in perfectly set waves, her makeup flawless and vibrant as always. She ran off to go to the bathroom a little while ago, so I’m sure it’ll be at least half an hour before we see her again. I’ve been inundated with people wanting to say hi now that I’m back in town, too. Bo isn’t wearing anything special, no surprise there, but he actually looks like he’s enjoying himself for once.

It finally feels like I’m where I’m supposed to be.

“Out of lemonade, sorry, baby,” Jamie says, holding out a cup. “They had tea and punch, I figured you’d want the punch.”

I grin fondly, taking the cup of punch from his hand and leaning up to catch his lips in a kiss. He knows better than almost anyone just how huge my sweet tooth is.

I see the bright blue of Phoebe’s dress seconds before she comes crashing into my side like a giggly tornado. There’s a red cup of some strong-smelling alcohol in her hand, and her cheeks are flushed pink.

“Oh, y’all aren’t going to believe who I just saw,” Phoebe says breathlessly, leaning heavily against my arm as she laughs.

My stomach tenses in anxiety for a second. I swear to God, if she says Savannah is here, I’m leaving right the fuck now.

“Spit it out, Pheebs,” Bo says, pulling the red cup from her hand and downing the contents himself.

She frowns at him, but doesn’t outright argue with him. He’s not a ball buster about it, but he doesn’t let either of us drink if he’s around. I’m sure he’s not dumb enough to believe that neither of us have had a drink or two at a party before, but I won’t deny that it makes me feel safer, knowing he’s watching out for us both.

“Your sisters are arguing with some guy out front,” she says.

I glance at Bo in confusion for a second before I realize that Phoebe is looking at both meandJamie. For fuck’s sake.

Maggie is bad enough on her own, but her and Penny together are an unstoppable force of teenage brattiness. I tug at Jamie’s good arm, already marching toward the open barn doors. The last thing I want to deal with is our little sisters causing trouble, but at least it’s something I’m used to.

I hear Maggie’s voice before we even make it outside, and I roll my eyes at the sass dripping from her tone.

“Magnolia Melody Montgomery!” I shout.

Maggie’s head snaps to the side, and she greets me with the most disinterested sneer I’ve ever seen on a sixteen-year-old, which is saying a lot. Her hair is set in perfect ringlets, tied up in flouncy pigtails, and she’s wearing a skintight black dress I’m pretty sure she stole from my closet.

Little shit.

“Penny, I swear to God,” Jamie says as we close the distance.

Penny at least has the decency to look ashamed, but she’s half hiding behind my sister, ready to follow Maggie’s lead.

The boy in front of them looks a second away from fainting, his face flaming in embarrassment. He’s got enough brains in his head to make a dash for it when Jamie gestures for him to get out of here. Smart kid. The smart ones aren’t usually Maggie’s type.

“You two abusing some poor kid?” I ask, thoroughly unimpressed.

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