"Knock, knock!" I call out as I open the door to the Benson house, just in time to duck out of the way as two girls run past me, one being Sara, the other no clue.

"Sara! Wait for the rest of us!" A deep male voice calls out, and I smile as I step into Brandi's kitchen.

"Give it up. Babe, we need to stay five feet away from her at all times in public," Stephanie says.

"Is that Billy Benson?" I ask, and there he is. Older, his face slightly hardened, and he's muscular as hell, but there's no mistaking that same old cocky grin of his. He's leaning against the counter sipping a beer, and Stephanie is standing next to him, a soda in her hand.

"Bucky!" Billy sets his beer down and grins as he walks towards me. He says the old offensive name in such a friendly way I can't even be mad at him as he envelopes me in a warm hug.

Still, I scowl at him as we part. "Bucky, Billy, really?"

"Apologize to her," Stephanie shoots Billy a look, but he just shrugs.

"It was for old times sake. I meant it as a compliment," Billy says.

"Sorry." Stephanie offers me a small smile, then ducks off down the hallway.

"Watch out, Kinsey's gotten a lot scrappier," Brandi says as she walks in from outside, and Oliver is behind her, sipping a bottle of beer.

"She was always scrappy," Oliver says.

"Just because she pushed you around," Bily retorts.

Brandi's phone rings and she frowns as she looks at it. "It's the prison."

"The prison?" Billy questions. "Why are they calling you?"

"I don't know," she mumbles as she answers it. "This is Brandi Benson. Can I help you?"

The room goes silent as we all stare at her. Her eyes widen and she lets out a small gasp.

"Are you serious?" she pauses for a long moment. Nodding several times and gulping a few. "He...damn. Wow, um, okay, no, this is good news. Thanks for letting me know. Okay, bye."

Brandi hangs up the phone and stands there stark still as she slowly shakes her head.

"Brandi, what?" Billy presses.

"Brandi?" I prod.

She doesn't move and doesn't even seem to hear us.

"B?" Oliver takes a step closer, breaking her trance; her eyes well up with tears as she looks at him.

"What did you do, Olly?" she whispers.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Oliver replies, but he's not looking right at her.

"Yeah, you do, you do because there is no way. Sixteen years he's been... Sixteen years, he wouldn't risk release. He wouldn't! You did something."

"Release, what? Is this about Wade? What the hell is going on?" Billy demands.

"He got into a fight with another inmate," Brandi says. "I guess it escalated, and I don't know much more. They didn't give me all the details, but his release was revoked."

"What!" I gasp.

"Oh, thank fuck!" Billy yells out, then sees Johnny looking over and cringes.

"He's not getting out now?" I question.

"Not for a while. I guess there are new charges now and a hearing and–"

She stops, stepping closer to Oliver. "How did you make this happen? I don't understand."

"I can't make Wade get into a fight. It's just a coincidence," Oliver says, but he's lying, I can tell. He's not even a little surprised by this news.

"You did something, pulled some string, for someone to provoke him," Brandi presses. "I know you did."

"B, all that matters is he's not getting out," Oliver says. "Not yet anyway. It was just a fight, so who knows how long this delays things... let's take the win and celebrate the fourth; it doesn't matter how this happened."

"It matters," she says, then throws her arms around him. "It matters."

I can feel her emotion like it's physical because it's so heavy. Oliver saved her, just like he did me... I'm happy for her, right? I'm supposed to be, so why does this all feel so ...weird?

"I'm going to tell Stephanie the news and– Kinz, get in line for daiquiris. I need to celebrate ASAP!"

"On it!" I agree.

"I'll see you all there. I need to make a quick call," Oliver says and heads out the front door. I stare after him with a puzzled look. How did he make Wade get into a fight? When did my little nerdy Olly become so powerful and heroic?

"Kinz..." Billy's voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I look at him. "Y'all aren't kids anymore. Get out of their way."

"Wha–?"

He ducks off down the hallway, leaving me hanging with that.

***

"I love ribs!" Harley declares with a huge grin, his entire face coated in thick red barbeque sauce, and all of us are laughing at the sight.

"Me too!" Hunter smiles at the boy as he digs back into his own ribs. Harley's plate is nearly identical to Hunter's. Everything his daddy wanted, he wanted too. It's just adorable.

"They are some good ribs, aren't they, Harley?" I ask.

"Yes, ma'am!" Harley agrees with a mouthful of food, making us all laugh.

It's surreal: Hunter, Oliver, me, Brandi, Billy, Stephanie, Johnny, and Harley are all eating at a table together. I'd never have imagined this happening. Brandi is elated, beyond, already in full party mode.

Even Stephanie seems to be in a light mood, and she's doing okay so far being out in this big crowd. Billy is always right there next to her, and I notice the little comforting touches he gives her and the way she leans into him for support. I can't imagine how hard it was for her to be without him for all these years.

"Me too, little man," Billy says. "I dreamed about the Spencer's ribs. They lived up to the memory."

"I've been trying to get the sauce recipe for years; they'll never give it up," I say.

"Johnny can help with that," Stephanie says with a soft smile towards the shy kid. He's sitting slumped over, his curly chestnut hair hanging in his eyes. He looks so much like Billy, but he's so shy and awkward and does not have any of that Benson attitude his sister has. "Can't you, Johnny?"

"Maybe," Johnny says with a shrug.

"Stop being modest, Johnny. He's a total foodie. He can taste it and probably figure out exactly what's in it," Brandi says.

"That's impressive, man!" Billy says, and Johnny simply shrugs again.

"If you can crack that sauce, we make ribs and beat the Spencers!" Brandi suggests.

"You can't just copy their sauce!" Stephanie laughs out loud, and Johnny finally cracks a smile.

"I can make a better sauce than this," Johnny says.

"Oh yeah?" Billy asks. "I bet you can."

"How would you know anyway?" Johnny snaps, his smile lost as he stands up.

Billy's face falls and my heart hurt for him.

"Johnny, where you going?" Stephanie says to him. "We're going to head to the beach soon to get a spot to watch the fireworks."

"I'm going to get a Coke. I'll meet you down there," Johnny shoves his hands in his pockets as he takes off.

Billy lets out a big sigh. "He hates me, and Sara is totally indifferent to me."

"Sara is a teenager. Take the indifference and embrace it. It's better than getting screamed at, and Johnny just needs time," Stephanie says softly. "Change is hard for him."

"He seems like he's getting less and less comfortable with me, though," Billy says with a frown. "He was actually happy when y'all picked me up."

"Can I offer some advice?" Oliver asks.

"Please," Billy says.

"He's not that different than I was; he's shy and insecure, and you're not just any dad, Billy. You're that strong athletic, outgoing type, and that can be intimidating to a kid like Johnny. I used to feel like my dad didn't even like me because I wasn't the jock he hoped I'd be. My being in my head thinking he'd never approve of me made me resent him."

"You think that's what Johnny feels like?" Billy asks worriedly.

"I can see that," Stephanie is nodding. "He has a hard time with his coach and the popular boys in school, and Billy, that's you."

"So, what do I do?" Billy asks.

"Find things he likes to do and bond with him that way. Show him how proud you are of him for him and his talents," Oliver says. "When my dad and I bonded over the computer stuff and his job it was a game changer for us."

"He likes cooking, and you like eating," Brandi points out.

"Start there," Hunter chimes in. "He'll come around, Billy. He might be a little angry right now, but I'd have given anything for a chance to know my dad at his age. He's happy you're home even if he doesn't know how to say it."

"They're all I thought about, in there," Billy says quietly, then looks at Stephanie as he squeezes her shoulder, "them and you, it's how I got through every day. And now I just have so much time to make up."

"So, let's not waste any." Stephanie could cry, and I was close to joining her.

"Agreed," Brandi says as she stands up. "I'm going to go find Sara, Oliver, you go find Johnny. Billy and Stephanie, you two, go find a spot on the beach. The fireworks should be starting in an hour or so."

"Done," Oliver says as he stands.

"Yeah 'works!" Harley cheers as he also pops up, his face still coated in sauce.

"Hold on, Buddy. Let's wash you up and find your—"

"Look at you!" Amber walks up just as Hunter's about to mention her.

"He and the ribs got real friendly," I offer, and Amber laughs as she pulls him over to clean him up.

Somehow, we have been getting along all week. She brings Harley into the bookstore quite often in the afternoons.

He loves it there, and Oliver has been helping him learn to read. He's incredible with Harley. Watching them together is impressive, and I'm not the only one who notices it. Amber gets a real dreamy look in her eyes when she sees the two of them together.

It's unsettling, to say the least, but I'm trying to ignore it. It's not like anything is going to happen. I mean, she's Hunter's ex. How weird would that be?

"I'll meet you back here after the fireworks, then?" Amber asks Hunter as she takes Harley's little hand in hers.

"Sure," Hunter agrees.

"You ready to go find a spot?" Amber asks, and Harley eagerly grins as he tugs at their arm.

"Let's go, Mama!"

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," she giggles as they start skipping off.

"Have fun, Harley!" Hunter calls after them with a smile.

It's Hunter's night with Harley, but the fourth is a big day, so he'll watch the fireworks with Amber. Then Hunter will take him back to the farm later. They handle the co-parenting stuff well, and she is so much softer around Harley. I guess I never took notice before now.

"Should we go find the others?" I look towards the beach.

"Nope," Hunter says as he grabs my hand. "I have a better idea."

"Dejavu," I comment as he pulls us towards the duplexes.

"You weren't supposed to guess," he comments.

"Technically, I didn't," I comment. We reach Hunter's old duplex, and he pulls me towards the back. The construction has started but is mainly on the end building far.

"I know you're seven feet tall, Wilde, but we're getting older. Are you sure we should be climbing up the roof?" I look up with a pensive expression, and he laughs at it.

"Darlin, we ain't climbing up there like little kids," he says. "There's a ladder here."

"Oh," I laugh but can't help but be relieved as I watch him retrieve the ladder and set it up.

"Go ahead. You know I won't let you fall," he encourages me. As I slowly and carefully climb it, I feel him behind me, and any nervous feeling fades away.

As we reach the top, I see he's already planned this. A blanket is laid out for us to sit on, and a bottle of bubbly with a few plastic wine glasses is set next to it.

But that's not all... there's a folded sweatshirt on top of the blanket.

"Hunter!" I gasp as I make my way towards the blanket. I pick up the oh-so-familiar Camel Joe sweatshirt, it's ridiculous a sweatshirt with a literal camel smoking a cigarette on it, but its goofy and I love it. I wore it nearly every day for literal months. "You still have this?"

"I kept all the little things," he says with a far-away look in his eyes. "I still remember that gas station trip, because it was the first one you came back to life a little..."

He pats the spot next to him. I slip the old, faded sweatshirt on over my jean shorts and a tee shirt. It feels like an old hug embracing me.

It's a souvenir from our road trip. I went along with Hunter on his trip, but I was like a zombie. Until that day, he got me that sweatshirt, a few of my favorite trashy gossip magazines, some Doritos, starbursts, and a Pepsi, all my favorites, and I just... smiled, for the first time in probably a week and it felt good. Even if it was fleeting. The sweatshirt became like my safety blanket on our road trip from then on out. I left it in his camper so I'd always have it there, and assumed he lost it at some point.

Hunter hands me a glass of champagne, and I sit next to him as I enjoy a nice sip of the refreshing bubbles. It's still cold, so he probably set this up recently.

"I was as madly in love with you then as I ever was, and seeing you so broken killed me, that is one hundred percent of the reason for my anger at Oliver."

"Oh, Hunter," I feel my chest tighten.

He smiles sadly and pauses to sip from his glass before continuing.

"But I can't blame him beyond that. I should have talked to you and I didn't. At first, I told myself you needed time to get over Olly. Then you started college, and I thought, who was I to tie you down? Then you met Julian, and I kept hoping he'd be a college boyfriend and be on his way soon. Kept waiting for the day you said y'all broke it off, but it never happened. Ya'll got closer, and you seemed happy.

"I was," I say softly. "I can honestly say that being away from home and Jules in the beginning was good for me. I don't think we should have got married though."

"I'm sorry, Kinz, that I screwed it up so many times for us."

"It's not your fault, Hunter," I say. "It's always been bad fucking timing with us."

"And it still is," he comments. "It's like we were handed this second chance, and then fate was like, nah, just kidding, here's Oliver."

He can't hide the bite in his tone, and I know this hurts, and I hate it. It hurts me to hurt him.

"I know it's not fair," I say quietly. "To either of you. I wish this was easier, but..."

"It's alright," he gulps back his champagne, then tops me off and fills himself with a half glass.

"No, it's not," I argue. "You can admit that much. I appreciate the space you're giving me to figure this out, but it's not fair, and you can tell me that."

He lets out a long, soft sigh, closing his eyes.

"You're right it sucks," Hunter admits. "I hate that he's here in the way of this. I hate sharing my time with you, I don't think he deserves a second chance, but it ain't my call. I think it sucks you work for him and see each other every damn day now, but—" he pauses and lets out a breath. "This is where we are, and I'm dealing with it, as best I can."

I hug my arms around myself, wishing I could somehow turn back time and be sixteen, do it all that night, tell him how I feel, before he ever had the call with Olly...

"But Kinsey..." Hunter says quietly, warningly.

He angles his body to face mine with a serious and somber look in his eyes.

"When I said I want you to be clear, I meant it because, Darlin, if it's not me. I am going to move on."

A knot forms in my belly as I gulp.

"I mean, really move on this time. I won't ever do to another woman what I did to Amber."

"You were good to her," I argue.

"No, I wasn't. Finding a pretty woman to try and take my mind off you was a dance I'd danced before," Hunter says. "Only this time, I went and married the girl. I may have been loyal and kind to her, but I wasn't good to her. My heart wasn't with her all the way and that was not fait to her."

He's right; it wasn't, and I think in her place, I'd have been as snarky to her as she was to me.

The words, really move on, are haunting, though. They feel so dire, and despite the heat of the summer night and the warm sweatshirt I'm wearing, a chill spreads over my body.

The whizzing sound of fireworks surprised us, and I realized the sun had started to set. We watch it shoot into the sky and burst into colors.

Hunter puts his arm around me, and I curl closer as he kisses my head.

"When you say move on, you don't mean you'd leave?" I ask worriedly.

"I told you I'll never leave. I might need to take some time away, but I'd come back. I'll never stop being your best friend."

"I know I keep making your promise this and... I'm sorry."

"I get it. You're afraid I'll leave like Oliver did. But I won't. I can't leave you. But I can't pine away for you if it's not me either. It's the last thing I want to do, and if it was just me, I wouldn't. But I got my boy to think about what I do is what he sees. I set the example for him, and being miserable ain't a good one to set."

"I don't want you to be miserable, Hunter. It's the last thing I want," I tremble as the shaky words escape as he pulls me tighter.

"I know," he sighs. We fall silent as we watch more fireworks shoot up into the sky, painting it in beautiful colors that burst and fizzle, not unlike the tumultuous emotions surrounding us.

"You just be clear, and if it's Oliver, I'll understand. It'll hurt, but if you're happy. I'll find a way to be happy, too. That's all that matters to me."

"I don't deserve you..."

"Yes, you do. Hell, you deserve the world, Little Darlin. I wish I was the guy that could give you that, but I don't have everything."

"I don't need everything," I say as I look up at him from under his arm. "I had the overpriced house and car. I don't want any of that. I just want a simple life. I don't care about a big house if it's filled with tension. I want happiness and laughter, a house that's a home."

"That's all I ever wanted, too." A flicker of excitement shimmers in his eyes as he says. "I'm working on something, but I'm waiting until it's a little more solid to tell you 'bout it."

"Is that that errand you all ran the other day?"

"Maybe." A slight grin plays at his lips, but he doesn't give any further away.

"What is it?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Hunter, tell me now!"

"Nope," he quips.

"Please?" I pout.

You're missing the fireworks, you know," he says as I hear a loud explosion in the sky above us.

"So are you," I point out.

"I usually do when I'm with you."

"Oh really?" I giggle.

"I always preferred watching you as you look at them. The colors flash over your face," he ghosts a hand lightly over my cheek as he speaks. "Highlighting how pretty you are. Your beautiful eyes light up, just like the sky as they take it all in. Then when the fireworks burst and fill the sky, you get this little smile on your face. You don't even mean to do it, it just happens, and it's always this fleeting but perfect thing. I could watch you all night and never look at another firework myself again."

I go speechless. I just gape at him until he gently turns me back to the sky, just in time for my favorite one, the big spidery willow tree-looking one that lights up the whole sky and looks like it's raining right down on you. We sit quietly for a moment as we take them in, or as I take them in, I feel Hunter watching me, and it's melting me after what he just said.

"Oliver left because I was in love with you. I accidentally confessed that to him that night."

Hunter stills beside me. "He...you... what?"

"I loved you from the moment we first sat on this roof together at fifteen and almost kissed," I tell him as my eyes become watery with tears, and not just mine. Hunter's cheeks are dampening. I move closer, wiping them away with my thumbs as I crawl into his lap.

"And I still do, and I'm sorry because I know it's not fair that I don't have an answer for you yet. Maybe it's even worse to tell you this before I know, but I just felt like you should know."

He doesn't speak for the longest time, and I suddenly wonder if I overstepped, words are powerful, and everything is still so up in the air.

"It's everything," he abruptly cuts off my thoughts and then his lips crash against mine in time with the sky as it explodes above us.

***

It's dark, and the street is heavy with people wandering, talking, and drinking as Hunter and I return to the street to meet Amber.

"There they are," I motion as Amber waves at us from up ahead. She's holding Harley, who looks to be passed out.

We make our way to them, and she hands Harley off to Hunter, and the kids don't even flinch.

"He's wiped!" I comment with a laugh.

"He fell asleep before they were even over," Amber says with a fond smile as she gazes at Harley. "Well, you all have a good night. This mama is off duty and going to drink."

"Later." I wave her off.

"Have fun," Hunter says as she ducks off.

"I better get him home," Hunter turns his attention to me. "You want me to help you find Brandi and then first?"

"Nah. I'll find them or my folks at the bar, I'm sure." I tip-toe up to kiss his cheek. "Night."

"Night Darlin," he says his voice slightly husky.

Harley starts to shift in his arms, and he gives me one more long look before leaving.

I sigh; maybe I should've left with them, had a drink with Hunter while Harley slept...But all that does is pull us even closer. Meanwhile, what about Oliver?

The vibe between Oliver and I is good. More relaxed than it was when we were a couple. I feel like we're making up for lost time, and I really love that, but he's not making me feel wanted in the way Hunter is, and I get it. He wants reassurance before he's willing to give too much away, but the problem is so do I.

I want to be clear, like Hunter said: the last thing I want to do is make the wrong choice here and hurt everyone, but I'm hurting everyone anyway.

So, how do I make this clearer? What do I do?

"Kinsey?"

I whirl around to find Oliver standing behind me.

"Hey–" I start.

"Come to New York with me," he says.

"What?" I step back, shaking my head slightly as if I heard him wrong.

"I said come to New York with me," he says. There's a wildness in his eyes that catches me off guard.

"Are you drunk?"

"Just a little," he says, stepping closer. "But so, what? We have the weekend off, let's go."

"Since when have you been impulsive?" I question as I tilt my head.

"Did you forget how impulsive we were that one-fourth of July?" he asks as he arches an eyebrow and his lip twitches.

"That was actually quite planned," I point out as a teasing smirk curls over my lips.

"By a total genius," he boasts, and I giggle.

"It was smart," I agree.

"And so is this. Come see my world one weekend, please, Kinz?"

"When?"

"Right now," Oliver says, "I'll call us a cab and book a flight."

"I don't even have any clothes packed or anything –"

"I'll take care of everything. All you have to do is come with me."

Well fuck I asked for a way to make this clearer. Is this it?

"Alright, let's go," I agree.

*The next chapter will be a two-parter; aiming to have them both posted this weekend!!  

https://youtu.be/FsGdznlfE2U