Page 113 of Now and Then

“Told ya they’d all notice,” I whisper in her ear.

“Think they’ll let it go any time soon?” Sutton asks.

“Probably not,” Vinnie says. “Plus, we needed a break from Luke and Adam fighting over who’s better at fluffing wreaths.”

“There is no fight,” Adam says. “I am objectively better.”

Luke balks. “Grace, tell him—”

“Absolutely not,” Grace says, walking away. “I’m not getting between your holiday egos. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen putting away the last of the Halloween crap.”

“You take that back,” Greer says, tossing a wad of spiderweb at Grace. “It is not crap.”

“No, but Adam’s wreath fluffing abilities are,” Luke mumbles.

Greer snorts. “See? This is why I needed reinforcements.”

Sutton steps into the living room with cheeks flushed, but she’s smiling now. A real smile. She drifts toward Grace, getting swept instantly into the chaos. Adam is arguing with Luke in the background about ribbon angles. Vinnie is humming Christmas music off-key. Greer is giving instructions no one is listening to.

I linger in the entryway a second longer before going inside, watching Sutton tuck cobwebs into a plastic tub and laugh as Luke pretends to faint over a crooked bow.

Sutton smiles at me over her shoulder and gestures for me to come closer. I snake my arms around her waist and pull her to my front, leaning forward to kiss the slope of her neck. When I look up, everyone is staring at us.

“Will you guys stop making this awkward?” Sutton says with an eye roll. “I’m pretty sure you all knew we were in love before we did.”

Grace and Greer break into matching smiles. “In love?” they ask in unison.

“Obviously,” Sutton says matter-of-factly. “Now, let’s get back to work, people. Santa’s coming!”

Everyone bursts out laughing, but I have no idea what’s so funny. Navy’s right, I need some lessons on pop culture.

Sutton hands me the last box of Halloween decorations. I turn toward the garage, but she stops me with a hand on my forearm and mouths, I love you.

There was a time I thought moments like this would only exist as fantasies. I’d imagined them in the quiet corners of my mind, too afraid to voice them out loud or else they wouldn’t come true. But here she is.

Choosing this.

Choosing us.

Something settles deep in my chest, like I’ve finally reached the place I’ve prayed for all these years.

If she lets me, I’ll build a thousand moments like this. A whole life full of them. Because Sutton Bradley isn’t just the girl I’ve loved for half my damn life. She’s the future I’ve been waiting to get to.

23

Sutton

Why do all bars smell the same? It doesn’t matter if you’re in the backwoods of Tennessee, the beaches of Florida, or a small town like ours. Bars all have the same scent. Fried food, old pine cleaner, and whatever cheap cologne the pool regulars bathe in.

Noise batters me from every direction, trivia night pulling in half the town like usual. Neon lights flicker above, casting soft reds and blues over the sticky floor. Someone yells an answer to a 90s sitcom question, and a ball clatters on the pool table nearby.

Everyone is already in our typical booth, drinks in hand. Greer waves me over. My stomach drops at her very large, very all-knowing grin.

“You’re late,” she says, even though I’m not.

“Sorry, Mom,” I tease. “I had to change.”

“Uh-huh.” She slides the communal bowl of mixed nuts toward me, eyes taking in the details of my deep blue sweater, one Hunter bought for me. The one I found hung in his closet near his button-downs.