To Infiniti & Beyond

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Last minute Tristian hit up the Gapplebees group chat for the first time in I don't even know how long. It's Labor Day weekend and he somehow convinced his dad to rent an air bnb beach house for us and insisted there's no payment needed.

Tristan, Darcy, Jake, Beau, Jaxon, Brynn, Grayson, and Jasper are all going. Brynn told me if I didn't go that there would be consequences. She said, and I quote, "if you leave me alone with Darcy you will not live to see another day."

So here I am throwing the last of my items in my bag in order to make it on time for our group cruise to the house. To say I'm excited would be an understatement.

Aside from the shitty highway, the cruise was really nice. I'm slightly jealous that Brynn is now Jaxon's passenger princess, I miss her being mine - plus she sees him every day, so how is that fair?

When we pull up to the beach house and figure out parking, the driveway yet again looks like it's straight out of the Fast and Furious. Oh, how I've missed this!

The house is white with blue shutters, a matching blue door, a cute little front porch with two wooden rocking chairs, and those light colored beachy pebbles lining the walkway leading up to the stairs. On the side there is an outdoor shower, as well as a picnic table. This place is going to be paradise for the next 36 hours.

After we've all explored, the chaos of figuring out sleeping arrangements ensues. Tristan and Darcy will room together and they get the first pick. Jaxon and Brynn room together. Jake and Beau get the room with the two twin size beds, I brought my air mattress that I'll just squish between their two beds. Grayson claims the other room with a queen size bed. Jasper complains about having to take the pull out couch but no one wants to hear it. It's a good thing Dean and Mason couldn't make it.

Jaxon, Tristan, and Grayson all volunteer to cook dinner for the group. The three of them head to the grocery store to gather supplies. Beau and I offer to cook breakfast for the group, so we send the supplies list to Tristian. Somehow all eight of us agreed to splitting costs evenly - usually money isn't something we come to easy terms dealing with, this was a nice change of pace.

Post the bbq dinner Darcy and Brynn clean up. Jake and Jasper will be on cleanup duty tomorrow morning after breakfast.

It surprises me how cohesive we're all being. So far there have been no discrepancies, but I don't want to jinx it. We still have all night and morning to get through.

Everyone is relaxing by the firepit outback that displays a wide open view of the beach when I see my phone light up.

"Walk?" Grayson's contact reads.

"Sure." I type back.

We excuse ourselves and I get a suggestive look from Brynn. I give her one back.

We start the walk in comfortable silence before I ask how work is going for him. He simply replies, "same shit different day." To which I agree. "So what's up with you?" he nudges my shoulder with his own.

"Nothing much," I pause considering what is something new I could fill him in on. I've been working on my car a lot more though!" My face lights up and he smiles.

"Tell me about it."

I do, I tell him about the wrap and how fun of a process it was to learn, but how equally annoying it was because of how tedious you have to be. I told him about my new exhaust, and he noted that he thought my car sounded louder. I told him how much of a bitch it was installing my lowering springs with the sun beating down on us, to which he laughs and it's music to my ears. I also tell him about what a steal I got the new wheels for. "I think that's it!" I bring my rambling to a close.

"That all sounds good, I'm really happy for you." He smiles as he looks down at me.

We finish the remainder of our walk in that same comfortable silence we started in. I had forgotten how simple being with him was. I don't ever want to take another one of these moments for granted again.

A bit later in the night people are slowly starting to head to their rooms. As I excuse myself to go grab my air mattress from my car, Grayson catches me off guard by suggesting I just stay with him. How could I refuse?

After getting ready for bed, I take the side closest to the wall. For whatever reason, he is the only person that doesn't make me feel claustrophobic when I sleep against the wall, I typically prefer the outside of the bed.

He turns the light off and we both settle in.

"Goodnight, Gray."

"Goodnight, Kie."

When morning comes, there's weight around my torso and warmth on my back. I open my eyes to his body wrapped around mine.

I try to gingerly pry him from me, but fail miserably.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "Go back to sleep."

He yawns, "come here."

"I have to piss, I'll be back."

He turns over as I exit the bed.

After my morning piss, I don't return to his room. I go to freshen up in my brother's room, making sure to wake Beau up on my way out, before making my way to the kitchen to start on breakfast. It's currently 9am and the checkout is at 1pm.

Beau and I have a fun time bickering while we cook. People start to occupy the kitchen and living room as the time passes on.

When Grayson makes his appearance, he leans over to me. "You never came back to bed."

I just gave him a meek "sorry" and turned my attention to another task.

All too soon, we're cleaning up to head home.