"The air was thick with something unspoken, like the space between a match and the strike."

I was writing—really, I was—but it was hard to focus on putting words to paper when the golden hues of the morning sun spilled across the side of Morgan's face.

She sat in the grass like an angel. Beautiful.

Her plump lips puckered in thought, the blonde strands of her hair falling forward, framing her bare face in a soft curtain.

Chin resting in her palm, she stayed locked in concentration, her brows furrowed just slightly.

"How are yours coming along?" Her melodic voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I gulped. Seeing my own blank notepad, I scratched my head, searching for a quick escape. "You first."

Morgan rolled her eyes, but I didn't mind. In this early morning light, they looked even more luminous, almost unreal.

"Chris!" she scolded playfully. "You don't have anything written down?"

I opened my mouth to make an excuse, but before I could, she smacked me in the shoulder with her pink notepad.

"Let me see what you got," I said, reaching for it.

She yanked it back before I could get a look, but I caught a glimpse—her page was already filled. I felt bad.

"Do you even love me?" she teased, pouting.

I groaned, tossing my head back on the blanket. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply before peeking one open.

"No."

Morgan's mouth dropped, and before I could react, she was smacking me again with her notepad.

Laughter erupted between us as I wrestled her down onto the blanket, both of us tangled up in the moment.

When she finally tapped out, Morgan sat up, her expression shifting. She gave me a look so firm, so familiar, she had to have stolen it straight from Mary's book.

"Seriously, write your vows, Chris."

I stole another glance at her when she wasn't looking, taking in everything—her presence, her persistence, the way she kept me grounded even when I wanted to drift.

I'd get them done. Eventually.

But right now, I just wanted to enjoy the moment in front of us.

A couple of herons swooped near us, skimming the still water around the dock.

We hadn't taken much advantage of this spot since moving to Easton Hills, but Morgan mentioned on our walk the other day that it would be nice to watch the sunrise from here. It had been set up nicely so residents could enjoy the views.

I wasn't exactly thrilled about moving to a Southern state like Tennessee, but I had to admit—it was beautiful. I still wasn't rushing to buy cowboy boots or belt buckles, but I'd gotten used to it.

The air around us buzzed with the sound of chirping birds and cars whirring past. A few avid runners—some walkers—had gone by, each offering a polite wave. That was the difference between here and New York. Back home, no one smiled at you for no reason. Here, people went out of their way to make you feel welcome.

Morgan was focused on her phone, scrolling through emails.

Her brows pulled together as she read aloud a request—more like an order—from Tandy.

I tuned her out. Whatever Tandy had going on, I didn't care. Right now, I just wanted to take Morgan's mind off all that.

The oversized gray jacket she wore slipped off her shoulder, exposing warm skin. The creamy notes of red berries, mandarin, vanilla, and musk curled into my nose before I kissed her there, just below her collarbone.

It was too easy to lose myself, mouth trailing to her neck, fingers teasing the hem of the blanket she was wrapped in.

"Mm," she whispered. "Babe—babe, stop."

She gently pushed me off. "Did you hear me? Lydia's trying to put me in control of the Fourth of July parade."

My jaw clenched. Another foiled attempt at intimacy.

I exhaled through my nose. "So? Don't do it."

"But it's for charity, and she's asking if I can get one of the brands I work with to sponsor," she explained, her posture slouching as she struggled with the decision.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, debating whether to engage or let it go.

"Morgan, you can't handle anything else right now. Especially not another event."

"But it's just one day, babe. It's the Fourth of July. It's not like we had anything planned," she mumbled, fingers tapping at her keyboard.

I wasn't giving up that easily. My fingers trailed up her thighs, testing the limits under the blanket.

I bit my lip. "Remember our first Fourth of July?"

Morgan's typing slowed. She glanced down at me, smiling as I lay on my side next to her.

"Yeah. I do. You took me to that river with all those college kids, and we paddle-boarded."

I nodded, lost in the memory. "Bolpawa Park. My parents used to go there all the time. I couldn't believe I took you there—I never did that with a girl before."

"I'm special," Morgan bragged, lips spreading into a knowing smile.

I wet my lips. "You had on that purple outfit. Drove me crazy."

She giggled. "I remember. You kissed me that night for the first time."

I couldn't stop my grin from taking over my face. "Okay, but you asked me to."

"You wanted me to," she shot back, pushing my chest.

I didn't say it out loud—didn't have to.

Morgan kissed me first.

It was easy for me to get excited because it had been a while, but her kiss was intoxicating. I didn't want it to end.

Then, her timer went off, and she pulled away.

I grabbed her desperately, trying to bring our lips back together, but she giggled and stayed at a distance.

I swallowed hard, breathing heavy. "You can't kiss me like that and not expect me to want to fuck you."

"We're in public," she said, blushing.

"I don't care," I muttered, pulling her onto my lap.

She squealed, squirming away with girlish laughter.

"We can't," she protested, already gathering her things.

"Why not?" I grumbled, watching her stand.

"We said we'd only watch the sunrise. It's up. Come on, we need to go let Duke and Stevie out anyway," she reasoned, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

She stood above me, waiting for me to take her hand. I didn't.

Instead, I stretched, then deadpanned, "I have to pee."

Morgan rolled her eyes as I wandered off the trail.

After handling my business behind a tree, I started to head back—but something made me stop near the dock.

Like some unseen force was pulling me there.

I glanced down at the water, at the way my reflection wavered with each ripple. It was a little distorted, a little off. I frowned.

Funny how water could do that—show you yourself, but never quite the way you actually are. Maybe that was the point. Maybe it was a reminder that no matter how much you think you've got a handle on things, there's always something shifting beneath the surface.

I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my face before looking away.

I met Morgan in my pickup truck. She sat in the passenger seat, looking at me like she expected something.

I didn't have anything to say, so I didn't.

As I rolled up to a stop sign, we both noticed a lawn sign announcing Tandy's big Fourth of July celebration. Fireworks. Music. Food. Games.

Like this town needed any more excitement.

A few blocks down, homeowners were out putting up more signs, staking them into their front yards.

At another stop, I stiffly waved at a couple of men and women who were standing on their lawns, watching us.

Morgan, with her window down, offered a friendly hello. They just stared, lips barely curling up.

"Okaay..." she drawled, rolling her window up as I pulled off.

"That was weird," she muttered, glancing at me.

I barely reacted. "Tandy's minions."

Morgan smacked her lips. "Tandy likes me. She just doesn't want to admit it yet."

I was too frustrated to be amused by my fiancée's delusion.

"I still don't trust her," I murmured.

As we turned onto Cobblestone Road, the Sheriff's SUV cruised past in the opposite direction.

Kip rolled his window down just enough to tip his hat at me, sneering.

I lifted my hand in a halfhearted wave but didn't bother with a smile.

"—Or her husband," I added.

➤

At first, I was excited to go on the boat with the boys. Donny Miller offered his vessel so Andy, Jabari, and I could go fishing, talk shit, and drink some beer. You know, guy stuff—that's what you do on Fourth of July weekend. Imagine my surprise when Donny showed up at my house at six in the fucking morning in a button-up, Jesus sandals, cargo shorts, a bucket hat, and sunscreen on his nose. Saturdays are no longer for the boys.

I clenched my jaw as I sat in the passenger seat of Donny's truck.

I texted in our group chat, offering Andy or J five hundred dollars to switch me seats. They didn't.

"You only listen to country music?" I growled, already fed up with the genre.

Donny hummed along. "I love it, can't get enough."

Kill me, I thought.

"I kinda like it," Andy chimed in, earning burning glares from Jabari and me.

"How much longer 'til we get there?" Jabari spoke up from the backseat.

Donny glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Eh, about another hour."

"Your boat is an hour away?" I had to make sure I heard him right.

Donny just chuckled, head bobbing along to the song. Fucking Donny.

Why the fuck did I agree to come?

"Fuck that," Jabari muttered, throwing on his Beats headphones. Damn, I'm jealous.

Mostly, I was pissed that JB pulled himself out of the conversation, leaving me stuck with ditsy-ass Andy and the real-life Ned Flanders.

I couldn't take another second of being in the car with Donny without something in my system. He already forbid us from smoking in his car because he had kids, so we couldn't even get high this morning.

"Pull over, man," I said, tearing off my seatbelt.

He parked outside of the liquor store.

"Good thinking, Chris," Donny said as I reached for the door handle. "Gotta get some water so we don't get dehydrated today."

"Right... water," I deadpanned before slamming the door shut.

"Aye! Get me some Cheetos!" Jabari hollered from the car. I flipped him off and walked inside.

The cashier greeted me with a "good morning," and I gave a casual "hey" in return, already heading for the freezers in the back.

It didn't take long to find a few cases of beer. Andy and Jabari had packed hard liquor, but it didn't seem like the day was gonna call for it with the likes of Donny around.

No, but he's a nice guy though. Just a square.

I made my way to the register, but as soon as I saw Sheriff Moran in line, I froze.

Nope.

"Chris?" He called out.

I sighed heavily, hanging my head in defeat.

With no energy to hide or get back in the car and endure this sober, I decided to speak and get it over with.

"I've gotta find a new liquor store," I replied sarcastically.

Kip laughed, holding up the box in his hands. "I come here for the donuts."

"Right, 'cause you're a cop. Aheh." My response was dry as hell.

"What're you and your lady up to this weekend?" He asked, setting his stuff on the counter.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's small talk.

"Nothing, man," I huffed.

Kip gestured for me to put my beer on the counter, so I did. I hesitated for a second but ultimately let him pay. Not because I wanted him to, but because if I didn't, he'd insist, and this interaction would drag on longer than I could stand.

The cashier told Kip the total, and he handed over a couple of hundred-dollar bills.

"Thanks," I said, my voice coming out as stale as I felt.

"Why don't you two join us for dinner? In fact, I won't take no for an answer." His grin came off more possessive than hospitable, like he was trying to assert some weird power play over us—over me.

My face curled up, a silent "no" before I could say it aloud.

His palm hit my shoulder, one hard smack that made me flinch. "Think on it, but if you don't answer me, Tandy will make you. Have a good day, Chris. Stay safe." His voice trailed off with an unnerving smile, like he was testing the waters.

➤

"You know I don't like hanging up the phone on you," Andy talked on the phone. I knew he was talking to Lucy because he put on the fake deep voice.

Lucy made him laugh on the other end.

"No, you hang up first." He laughed, pacing on the boat.

"I'm gonna kill him." I said to Jabari who sat on my right side.

Jabari, equally as fed up with Andy's phone call, yelled at him. "Hang up the damn phone!"

J and I dapped each other up, laughing, as Andy hesitantly got off of the phone.

"Finally," I grunted, beer to my lips.

"Come off it, if Morgan called you, you'd be the same way." Andy hissed at me, sitting on the other side of me.

"Hell yeah." Jabari laughed, agreeing with Andrew.

I let my eyes roll back in my head. "Shut up, I don't want to talk about that."

Jabari sucked his teeth. "Man, don't tell me y'all still having problems?"

I shook my head. "It's not that."

Andy and Jabari both leaned in, anticipating something I wasn't ready to share.

"I haven't had sex... in a month." I admitted, defeat lacing my tone.

"DAMN!" Jabari and Andy both dramatically exclaimed.

I side-eyed both of them.

"What's wrong with that?" Donny asked, shrugging.

"I'm sorry, do you have a wife— or husband?" Jabari questioned Donny.

I shook my head at his remark but tried not to laugh.

Donny retired from fishing and sits on his cooler before us.

"I'm happily married to a woman, yes." Donny answered, pushing the sunglasses higher up on his nose.

Jabari looks at him, confused. "And you don't think not getting any for a month is a long time?"

Donny snickered like a dork. "Well, gee, I'm lucky if we hook up once every few months."

"Oh my God." I gasped, immediately feeling bad.

Jabari just blinked plainly. "Do you still have a dick, or?" He made me and Andy laugh. Donny, too, he's a good sport.

Donny helped himself to a beer, surprising the rest of us.

"It just isn't a priority when you get to be my age and you've been married as long as I have."

"Oh, fuck, I don't wanna hear that." I exhaled, panicking. One of my worst fears right there.

Staring out at the open water, I shook my head. "I can't even imagine that."

"I feel like this has happened to you before, bro." Jabari commented.

I cut my eyes at him. "Please." I begged him not to remind me.

Jabari laughed, shaking his head as he chugged a beer.

"Me and Lucy— nevermind." Andy's voice trailed off, seeing it wasn't the time for one of his kinky ass stories with his girlfriend.

"I don't know what I'm going to do." I complained, arms folded over my chest.

"Have you asked her?" Donny asked me.

His question instantly made me irate but I calmed myself down to answer as he clearly is oblivious.

"I've begged, actually." I confessed lowly.

"Well, have you—" I cut Andy off there.

Standing, I grab another beer and crack open the can. "I don't want advice from any of you, actually. Especially not about sex."

I watched Andy and Donny look at each other and shrug.

"At least we gettin' some." Jabari mumbled, earning a playful push to the back of the head that made us start fighting.

Eventually, I pushed him off of me and joined Donny and Andy in fishing. It had been a while since I last casted a line. I believe the last time was back in Penshaw with my father.

I ignore the unsteadiness of the boat and inhale the saltiness around me.

As I stared out over the water, the surface rippled faintly, I couldn't help but feel like that was me—pretending to be still, when everything inside was stirring. The ocean didn't give a damn about the mess I was in, and maybe that's what I needed to remember. Some things don't need fixing. Some things are just... there, moving on their own.

➤

A/n: I just realized I forgot to give Jabari a page in Morgan's scrapbook in previous chapters unlike the rest of the main cast so since he was in this chapter, here ya go lol — should I make one for Andy?