Pussy spread open. Soft and slick.

Jesus Christ.

I grab my water. How long until we go back to the hotel? An hour? A year?

Why the fuck did I think these pants were a good idea?

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I say. “Just gonna—”

Find that exorcist we keep talking about.

Gargle some gin.

You know, anything to keep my dick from literally tearing a hole in my pants until I can get this woman naked.

Julia smiles. “Okay. I’ll go find Gracie. But don’t think I’m going to let you off easy. You will get out on that dance floor tonight.”

Ford tips his glass in my direction. “You heard her, TDP.”

“I will,” I say.

If I don’t take a swim in the marsh nearby to cool the fuck off first.

I head to the bar for that gin. Order a double and turn around, leaning against the counter. Watch the dance floor fill up.

Doesn’t take long. The band is excellent, and people are just happy enough—just drunk enough—to let loose. Eli twirls Olivia to Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend.” During the next song, Gracie, Olivia, and a few older women—Olivia’s mom, maybe, and her friends—groove together, laughing.

Julia is with them. She’s kicked off her heels and is wiggling her ass, her sweet little belly along for the ride as she shimmies her hips in time to the beat.

She is so damn adorable. And sexy. And fun.

Makes me want to be fun, too. Makes me want to have a good time. It’s just been so long—

Then again, who cares? Why not celebrate? Life is good right now.

Things are good. And I’m just tipsy enough to really pull a Patrick Swayze. Or Chris Farley, depending on how it goes.

Julia is singing now, head thrown back as she belts out the lyrics to “Mustang Sally.” Shaking that thing like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

Her energy—zero fucks given—is contagious.

“Dude,” Luke says, sidling up to the bar. “You all right?”

I take a sip of gin, my eyes not leaving Julia. She’s doing the twist now with somebody’s grandma. I can’t help it. I smile.

“I’m fine. Why?”

Luke looks at me for a beat. Then he grins, tapping the neck of his beer bottle against my glass.

“Cheers, Greyson. Congrats. On the baby.” He motions to Julia. “And on her. Y’all look real happy together.”

“Thanks,” I say. “I appreciate that.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised y’all ended up together. I knew it the second y’all met—you two had some special kinda connection.”

I pull back. “But we didn’t get along. Like, at all.”

Luke wags his eyebrows. “Exactly. Look, even your sperm knew y’all were meant to be. I knew I’d either end up callin’ the cops on you or callin’ it love. Either way, y’all two couldn’t take your eyes off each other. That first day I had half a mind to just slip on out of there to give y’all some privacy.”