OUR LONG GAME | josh matthews

goodbyes and new beggings

the ross family stood gathered in the living room, the weight of the moment settling over them as they said goodbye to jessie—this time, for real. sophie felt a lump in her throat, both sad to see her go and immensely proud. jessie had come to new york to chase her dreams, and now she was finally achieving them. she deserved this more than anyone.

jessie hugged each of the kids before finally reaching sophie, who was fighting back tears. jessie smiled at her, shaking her head.

"sophie, sophie, sophie," she mused. "you've grown up so much. you just graduated, and now you're heading off to nyu."

"i couldn't have done it without you, jessie. i don't think i would've believed in myself this much if it weren't for you," sophie admitted.

jessie placed her hands on sophie's shoulders. "you are the most hardworking person i know. you're smart—no matter how much you try to deny it. i'm so, so proud of you."

sophie couldn't hold it in anymore. she pulled jessie into a tight hug, a tear slipping down her cheek.

about an hour after jessie left, the house had fallen eerily silent. emma and luke were currently helping sophie haul the last few boxes out of her room and downstairs. today was the day—she was officially moving onto campus.

"i don't think we can handle any more goodbyes," bertram sighed dramatically, plopping down onto the couch.

"it's not a goodbye. i'll be back tomorrow for breakfast—maybe," sophie teased, smirking.

"the only positive of you moving out?" luke mused, crossing his arms. "we won't have to hear your ungodly loud laugh at night anymore."

sophie gasped, feigning offense. "okay, luke. remind me to cancel your birthday gift."

luke, who had just dropped a box onto the couch, froze. his eyes widened. "you wouldn't."

sophie just grinned evilly.

"oh, she absolutely would," emma chimed in, shaking her head.

luke groaned, throwing his head back. "fine! you will be very much missed, soph."

sophie laughed, and with that, they loaded the last of her boxes into the taxi. after one final round of hugs, she was off.

when sophie arrived at nyu, josh was already waiting in the parking lot. the moment he spotted her, he grinned.

"hey, babe," he greeted, pulling her into a kiss.

"hey," she murmured against his lips before pulling back. "wanna help me carry all this up?"

"i'd be offended if you didn't ask."

he grabbed two boxes, and together they made their way upstairs to her dorm, where she was sharing a room with cassie and kallie. after a couple of hours of unpacking and setting up her side of the room, they headed over to josh, dylan, and nico's dorm, where everyone was just hanging out.

sophie sat on josh's bed, leaning against him as dylan paced the room, looking panicked.

"i forgot my mom's birthday," dylan groaned.

"bro, how do you forget your own mom's birthday?" kallie laughed.

"she posted on instagram," dylan admitted, holding up his phone. "caption said: never felt so good to be 46."

the entire room erupted into laughter.

"nah, that's wild," nico cackled. "you're done for."

"does your mom even like you?" cassie joked, lounging in the beanbag chair.

"jury's still out," dylan muttered, attempting to call his mom for the third time.

as the laughter settled, sophie stood up, making her way to the mini kitchen. "kallie, can you pass me the syrup?"

"syrup?" dylan repeated, brows furrowing. "you're eating spaghetti."

"yup."

kallie grabbed the syrup from the cabinet, handing it to sophie.

"wait, wait, wait," josh cut in, shaking his head. "there's no way you're about to put syrup on spaghetti."

cassie smirked. "oh, this is about to get real weird, real fast."

"this is a thing you do?" nico looked horrified.

sophie opened the syrup, pouring a generous amount over her pasta.

"that's my mom's recipe," nico said, clutching his chest like he was physically pained. "and you just—ruin it with syrup?"

"sorry," sophie said, not sounding sorry at all. she twirled her fork into the now syrupy noodles and took a bite.

josh, still staring in disbelief, challenged, "give me a bite."

sophie smirked, holding up a forkful. josh leaned in, taking a bite—and his eyes went wide.

"wait. that's actually gas."

"you're lying," nico accused.

"no, i'm so serious," josh said, grabbing the fork and stealing another bite.

dylan threw his hands up. "this is why i have trust issues."

a few hours later, the girls were exhausted from the long day and decided to head back to their dorms. as kallie and cassie walked ahead, josh and sophie lingered outside his door.

"want me to come over after class tomorrow? help you finish setting up your room?" josh asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"we might have homework tomorrow, babe," sophie teased. "but still—come over."

he grinned. "i like that plan."

"i'll see you tomorrow," she murmured, her eyes flickering to his lips.

"see you tomorrow," he echoed, leaning down to kiss her again.

as sophie walked down the hall toward cassie and kallie, she glanced back to see josh still standing there, watching her go with that stupid, adorable smile of his.

she turned back, grinning to herself.

yeah. she was going to love this new chapter in her life.