Page 95 of Limbo

Got the monster. No rush. Going to bed.

The first part, I believe. The last part, not for a second. One of those girls smiled way too big at him, and his arm went straight around her on their way out. I remind myself of our conversation and the trust I need to have in him, and I tuck the phone in the pocket of the hoodie.

“We good?” Jordan asks, hauling me against his side.

“We’re great.” I tip my chin up to see him. “How would you like to see the farm?”

All the lights in Pete’s grandparents’ house are off when Jordan parks next to Trey’s cruiser. When I climb out, my cousin hooks an arm around my neck and drags me around to the front of the Jeep.

“Let’s get this out of the way right now,” he says, pointing at the oak tree by the house. “Don’t try to climb that.”

He twists us toward the barn on the other side of the lot, but I stop him.

“Let me guess. Don’t crash into it?”

He laughs and pushes me over to Jordan, who catches me. We head down the hill to the bonfire pit near the pond where Pete lights a fire. The cool breeze makes me shiver, and Jordan pulls me onto his lap to keep me warm. I rest my head against his and watch his hand pass back and forth over my leg.

Our calm moment only lasts until the sound of four-wheeler engines rip through the quiet air. I look up in time to see Tony jump the dirt mound on one side of the fire and land on the other, with Pete following right behind. They only collide once, on the ground while trying to beat each other to the ramp.

The night progresses less crazy than most, all of us talking and laughing. It’s been a long time since we enjoyed each other’s company without injuries or drama or blackouts. Each one of them seems at ease, falling into a new dynamic rather than filling the old roles. Shayna never sheds a single tear, and Tony lets off the moonshine early. Although that doesn’t stop him from making baseless claims of how awesome he is. When he starts bragging about being the fastest person in the county, I happily prove him wrong.

We run back and forth between the barn and fire, him lunging at me anytime I steal the lead, which happens a lot. I slap the side of the barn first, and he snatches me up, spinning me around.

He lets me down and rests a hand on his knee, catching his breath. “I concede. I’m the second-fastest person.”

He’s still recovering when, out of nowhere, Trey tears past me and tackles him to the grass. I laugh and am about to walk away when something hits my foot. I glance down to see Trey’s keys on the ground.

Tony grins and mouths,Go!

Maybe noteverythinghas changed within our group. We still like to dish out payback when appropriate.

I scoop them up and head over to Jordan. He’s sitting on a log by the fire, a focused look on his face while the reflection of flames dance in his eyes.

I drop onto his lap. “Oh, hey.”

“Hey, beautiful,” he says.

I hold up the key ring and shake it around. “Want to go borrow Trey’s cruiser?”

With a grin, I hop off his lap and sprint toward the vehicles.

He doesn’t follow, but I’m almost there when I hear Trey shout, “Shit! Caaaal, come on! Not agaaain.”

When I glance back, he’s chasing after me. Even with his long legs, I make it to the car and have the keys in the ignition before he dives through the rolled-down passenger window.

“Hey,” I say casually, mimicking him from earlier. “How’s everyone doin’ tonight?”

“Yeah, screw you.” He flips over in the seat and pulls his feet in the window. I switch on the red and blue lights and throw the car in drive. “Where we going?” he asks.

“Everywhere,” I say.

He laughs, and we fly off toward the pasture.

It’s just before sunrise when Trey drags me up onto a hay bale on the east side of the barn. Jordan climbs up behind us. I settle back between his legs, head on his shoulder. He holds on to me like he’ll never let go, and the three of us stare out at the stars, which are losing their intensity, night fading and day taking over.

I’ve spent my entire life staring up at the stars and dreaming about all the places I want to go, but this is the first time I’ve ever watched the sunrise, being exactly where I want to be.

With him.

---