Page 44 of Between Here and There

“I regret not having the courage to end things with Emily properly,” he admits, his voice suddenly much quieter. “In the end, I didn’t only hurt her, but Denise too.”

A heavy silence floods the room. No one moves, no one speaks. The air seems to hang on his words, like they’re too raw for anyone to process. Rob stands there awkwardly, his posture rigid, eyes darting nervously between all of us, waiting for some kind of response. I almost wish someone would say something—anything—but the moment stretches on.

ShouldIsay something? What could I even say? I glance over at Joshua, hoping he’ll break the tension. He catches my look and raises an eyebrow in silent understanding.

He claps his hand together and says, “And you guys say I’m the player,” Joshua says, breaking through the air. Everyone chuckles nervously, and before it gets more awkward, he adds,“Anyway, thank you for your honesty, Robert. Is it my turn next?” he asks Haley, his voice casual, like nothing happened.

“Yup!” Haley exclaims, almost too eagerly.

Joshua rises with a smirk, making his way to the Jenga tower. As he pulls a block free, the tower wobbles dangerously. The room collectively holds its breath, the sound of air drawn in sharp and expectant. The tower teeters, tips, and with a dramatic crash, the entire structure topples over.

Bon lets out a loud, surprised squeal, her hands flying to her face, and the rest of us burst into laughter. I can’t help but join in, the tension from Rob’s confession easing.

“Alright! As rules dictate, you choose both!” Haley happily hands Joshua two fishbowls.

Joshua gives her a mock bow before he takes the bowls, his fingers brushing over them with exaggerated flair. “Very well,” he says, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of his lips. He picks one and reads aloud, “What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for someone?”

He pauses, his eyes briefly meeting mine. Then, his voice drops into something more playful, but still sincere. “Bumped her up to business class and held her hand on a seventeen-hour flight.”

Beside me, Kate lets out an “Awww,” but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. The way he says it makes it sound so casual, almost as if it were no big deal, but I know the truth. I remember the feeling of his hand in mine, how he’d pulled me closer when the anxiety of the flight almost got the better of me. He’d made me feel safe and protected, even in a room full of strangers.

Our eyes linger for a moment longer, but before either of us can say anything, Haley nudges the second fishbowl toward Joshua with a knowing smile. He looks down at the paper, still holding my gaze, and reads aloud, “Choose one person in the room and kiss them.”

A soft murmur ripples through the group, but Joshua doesn’t hesitate. “Easy,” he says, his voice low and teasing.

In a single, smooth motion, Joshua walks over to me, leans forward and presses a quick, sweet kiss to my lips. It’s brief but unmistakable, and the room bursts into cheers. Bon teases, “Get a room!” but Joshua doesn't pull back. He stays close, his presence warm and solid next to me, and I find myself a little lost in the sudden intimacy of it all.

When he finally sits back down, his arm around mine makes my stomach flip. As if he can sense my inner turmoil, Joshua leans in to whisper in my ear.

“That was pretty convincing, don’t you think?” His voice is low, and the warmth of his breath against my skin sends another shiver through me.

I want to tell him that evenIwas convinced for a moment. But all that escapes is a breathless, shaky laugh, as I try to process the swirl of emotions that feel far too complicated for game night.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Emily

“Bon, how are you not freaking out?” I start, watching as Bon sits on the edge of her bed, focused on sewing her wedding gown, which is dragging a bit too long for her liking. It’s the night before her wedding, and she’s calmly making adjustments.

I can’t help but admire her composure, especially since I had expected her to be a bundle of nerves. When she first announced her decision to have the wedding at the new community hall of Magnolia Heights, I was shocked. I always pictured Bon wanting a grand, extravagant wedding, with all eyes on her as the life of the party. So, when I asked her why she chose such a modest setting, I braced myself for a passionate speech about dreams and fairytales. But she simply told me that a big wedding meant big expectations and bigger headaches. She just wanted to marry Ryan without all the fuss.

“Because, Mama Em, not everyone is uptight,” she says with a nonchalant shrug, her fingers expertly moving.

I realize she’s right. Ever since she got together with Ryan, she became grounded in reality, not caring about what others would expect of her.

I shake my head in disbelief. “You know you’re getting married tomorrow, right? This is a huge deal!”

“Of course, I do! But if I freak out, I’ll forget to enjoy it.” She shoots me a playful smile, her confidence infectious. “Instead of freaking out, be a dear and get me a glass of water.”

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Fine, I’ll get you water, but I’ll still freak out in my head.”

As I step out to grab the water, I catch a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. Despite the whirlwind of emotions surrounding weddings, she remains steady. I can’t help but feel jealous. of her ability to stay calm and unbothered. I wish I could just stop my brain from overanalyzing every single thing. Even for just a day. Or ten minutes. It would be a blessing.

As I get some water, my phone buzzes with a notification:Joshua Santiago updated your shared note.

I set Bon’s glass on the counter and check our note.

I can’t help but chuckle. I make an edit on rule number four to add a ‘public kissing confirmed! - E.’ I quickly hide my smile in case he’s lurking around here. It’s his house too.

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