𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 87: Eighteen Months Later

"An expedition of one man, John Routledge, and a group of teenagers who are with us today. Locals, who grew up here and who succeeded where centuries of conquistadors, explorers, and admirals failed."

Grace smiled at JJ who grinned back and squeezed her hand.

"Today, we come together to celebrate these teens, friends from both sides of the island who came together to solve this 500-year-old mystery. Let's hear it for them!"

The crowd in front of them cheered and clapped as the Pogues stood.

Grace kept her fingers intertwined with JJ's as Rick beamed up at her proudly.

___________

"Okay, I'm thinking Return of the Jedi tonight," Grace said.

"Is this like the hundredth time you're gonna force me to watch Star Wars," JJ teased while passing her a glass of champagne.

"Okay, first of all we're surrounded by adults and we're very much underage."

JJ retracted his outstretched hand but before he could Grace snatched the glass from his fingers. "That doesn't mean I don't want it."

JJ held his hands up in surrender before grabbing himself a glass.

"Second of all, usually I force you to watch Empire. You should be grateful for the change," Grace argued.

"Okay, I am grateful, Sunshine, but don't you think we could go a little bit further out of your comfort zone?" JJ continued.

Grace pretended to think for a moment. 

"Nope."

JJ rolled his eyes with no malice before placing both hands on her hips. "Fine, we'll watch your movie just because I love you."

Grace kissed him on the cheek while grinning. "Love you too, J."

JJ placed a finger under her chin to align their lips before leaning down to kiss her.

Grace threaded her fingers through his hair while smiling against his lips.

JJ's hands remained placed firmly on her waist, holding her near.

The sound of a throat being cleared forced them to pull apart.

Grace wiped her lips on her sleeve while turning around to the source of the noise, cheeks reddened. "Um, hi... can we help you?"

The man seemed to be unbothered by the fact that he'd just interrupted them. "You're Grace, right?"

She nodded, brows furrowing.

JJ looked down at her silently asking if she knew him.

She shrugged.

"May I speak with you?"

"Sure," Grace agreed. He was probably just some guy wanting to congratulate her.

JJ squeezed her waist before wandering off towards Pope but keeping her in his sight. They'd all become a bit paranoid after the previous year.

"You're not an easy person to find," the man commented before sticking out his hand, "I am Peter Teller I knew your mom."

That got her attention.

"She and I were long distance friends. I'm sorry for your loss."

Grace nodded, still trying to figure out who the hell he was.

"I'm a producer. I saw a couple videos of you at Midsummers and I've gotta say you have a lovely voice."

Grace tried to tamper her excitement and play it cool but couldn't help a wide grin from forming on her face. "Thank you."

He nodded. "I wanted to reach out and when I found out who your mom was I wanted to even more, but clearly you've been busy. Would you be interested in sending me some demos? I'd love to try and get your name out there more."

Grace was at a loss for words. Here was this man standing in front of her essentially saying he was willing to make her dreams come true. "Sorry, I'm just... Oh my god. I'd love to. Thank you."

Peter smiled while passing her his business card. "Don't be a stranger, alright? Congratulations by the way."

With that, he was off, leaving her jaw on the floor and her heart racing in excitement.

She twisted the card around in her fingers, reading and rereading it.

"Who was that?" 

She spun around, jaw still on the floor.

JJ furrowed his brows.

A wide smile broke out on her face. "A producer."

JJ tilted his head. "A producer?"

"He likes my music," Grace continued, smile only growing.

Things clicked into place and a proud grin formed on JJ's lips. "Of course he did."

 "He wants to help with my songs." Grace held back the urge to squeal like a little kid.

JJ stared at the pure excitement on her face and couldn't help but reach out and grab her waist to pick her up and twirl her around.

The surprised laugh she let out made his heart swell.

When he set her down he pushed some askew hair out of her face. "I'm so proud of you, right now."

She beamed up at him. "Get your bags packed Maybank, I'm gonna need a roadie."

JJ laughed while running his fingers through her now shortened hair. "Where you go I go, Sunshine."

When Pope walked past them towards Sarah and John B quickly, JJ grabbed Grace's hand and followed after him.

"Uh, can we help you?" Pope asked yet another stranger who seemed to have taken interest in them.

"Yes. I wanted to tell you all it's remarkable what you did," the man said. "Royal Merchant, El Dorado, Denmark Tanny. Impressive resume, impressive. I was wondering if you would all be so kind as to look at an item of mine."

He brought his briefcase up to set it on the table.

"Oh yeah? What type of item is that?" Cleo asked.

"It's a manuscript," he answered, "I would investigate it myself, but I'm too long in the tooth. I need partners, and you all were first on my list."

Grace looked up at JJ to find him already staring at him.

She raised his brows and he shrugged.

"May I?" Pope reached a hand out.

"I was hoping you would," he said while passing over the manuscript.

Pope flipped it open and the Pogues peered over his shoulder at it.

"1718. Jeez, this is old," he commented while flipping through. "Expedition notes, dates."

"This is a captain's log," John B said when Pope's flipping stopped. "This shows the exact position of the ship."

"The exact location where the ship sailed and where it stopped," the man explained.

"Who is the captain?" JJ asked, eyes still locked on the notebook.

"Edward Teach," he answered as the teens looked up at him. "Blackbeard."

JJ grinned down at Grace with his brows raised.

She returned the gesture. "Ready for another hunt, J?"

He wrapped an arm over her shoulders.

"Hell yeah I am, Sunshine."

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