Page 54 of Something Spontaneous

I tilt my head and give her the sternest big brother look I can muster. “Sisi, I’m serious. Can we not do this here?”

She nods, and I pull my hand away to reveal her goofy grin.

“So, what are you two doing?” She squints and seems to consider that for a moment. “No, actually. Based on the contents of your pocket, please don’t elaborate. I can’t believe you two are actually ‘reconciling’ or whatever it is you’re doing.” She makes air quotes around the word. I let out an exasperated breath.

“That’s not what we’re doing, and I know it means nothing—at least to her.”

I realize I sound dismissive, exactly like Josie, but the last thing I need is my sister thinking we’re magically getting back together.

Her expression softens, and she shakes her head. “You’re still the same big, dumb idiot you were back then. If you want my adv⁠—”

“I don’t,” I mutter under my breath, slumping back into the booth, “but I know you’re going to give it to me anyway. Get it over with.”

“Why don’t you try actually talking to her instead of…” Her eyes fall to the spot on the floor where the panties fell out of my pocket, “whatever that was. I haven’t seen her in ten years, but I know her well enough to know that under that snarky and feisty exterior, she still cares about you.”

She’s hitting closer to home than she realizes. The problem is that I don’t know how to get through to that side of Josie. Sisi ignores my silence and makes a flippant wave with her hand. “Channel whatever part of you that she thought was redeeming back then or something.”

CHAPTER 23

JOSIE

Take A Picture

“I’m going to miss you when you finally leave,” Maribel says, shaking her head from behind the counter. “You two were the most colorful things to come in here in a while.”

“Is that a joke about our hair?” Grace runs her fingers through her long, rainbow-streaked hair, twirling the end of a purple strand in her fingers. I snort a laugh from my seat at the bistro table, looking between her and Maribel.

“I mean it was nice to have a breath of fresh air in here. It’s going to be dull without you two.”

“I can hear you. Great to know that I’m so dull.” Taylor peeks her head in from the kitchen, wearing her best teenage scowl that almost makes me proud. A shiny glint of gold under her nose catches my eye.

Backing away from my seat at the table, I grab our empty sandwich wrappers and toss them into the trash can by the counter.

“Taylor, what is that?” I fold my arms over my chest and grin at her.

“What’s what?”

I point to my nose and tap my septum ring. “Did you get some new bling?”

She blushes an adorable shade of pink that completely betrays her angsty teen vibes.

“Yeah, last night. I got my friend to drive me to Taos. It didn’t even hurt,” she adds, sticking out her chin proudly so we can see her nose ring better. “I picked out a ring just like yours.”

“Yeah, that’s one of the easier piercings to get. It looks good on you,” I say, trying not to make it obvious that being considered cool by a moody teen is one of the highest honors that could be bestowed upon me.

Grace comes up to my side and looks at Taylor. “Oh, I like it. That’ll probably be my next one, if I get any more piercings.”

“What else do you have pierced?” Taylor tilts her head and gives her a curious look, probably noticing that she doesn’t have any visible piercings other than the ones on her ears.

I snort a laugh. “You just turned eighteen. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Make sure that one heals well first.”

Grace shudders and cups her breasts. “Yeah, no joke. These took forever to heal, and don’t even get me started on my⁠—”

“Yeah, see that’s my point.” I cut off Grace before she overshares because she has no filter.

I hear Maribel choke on her drink. “You girls these days. See, this is what I’m going to miss. There’ll be no excitement without you here to be a bad influence on her.”

I turn my head and scoff. “Bad influence? I’m just making sure someone continues my legacy of mischief in this town. You said it yourself; this place is boring without me.”