SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

029

Gabriella and John B sat side by side on the grass, the warm afternoon sun casting a golden glow over them. The breeze was light, rustling the leaves above and carrying with it the scent of the sea. Their legs stretched out in front of them, and every so often, they'd playfully kick each other's feet, exchanging giggles like two lovestruck angels in a carefree world.

Gabriella held a book in her hands, her eyes skimming the pages, but her attention was divided. Every time John B nudged her foot with his, she couldn't help but laugh and glance over at him. He was absorbed in the papers his father had left him, spread out before him like a treasure map. I mean, that's what it was, right? His brow furrowed in concentration, yet there was a lightness to his presence, a sense of peace that came from being with her.

She watched him for a moment, her heart full. The secrets she held about her father weighed on her mind, and she knew she couldn't keep them to herself much longer. The connection between their families was too significant, too intertwined with the very mystery they were trying to solve. But how could she bring herself to tell him?

Her foot brushed against his again, this time more gently, and he looked up, catching her gaze. They both smiled, a silent understanding passing between them. She loved these quiet moments with him, the way they could be so close without needing to say much. But beneath the surface, the unspoken words simmered, waiting for the right moment to be voiced.

Out of nowhere, Sarah appeared, her voice breaking the peaceful silence. "It's your turn," she said to John B, her sudden presence causing Gabriella to jump slightly.

"Oh my god, Sarah! You scared me," Gabriella exclaimed, her heart racing as she laughed at her own reaction. She clutched her book to her chest, trying to steady herself.

Sarah grinned, clearly amused by the effect she'd had. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you, Gabs."

John B glanced between the two girls before facing Sarah. "Uh, for what?"

"To ask me what I'm doing here."

Gabriella asked, "What are you doing here?"

Sarah placed her hand on her hip, "I didn't get a chance to respond the other day after you spat in my face and yelled at me, and you stormed off like a child. So, first of all, I'm not a liar. I don't know how Ward found out about the scuba gear, but I swear it was not me. I'm not the reason you got fired." Gabriella smiled to herself, knowing that Sarah had realised it was Topper who was the reason John B got fired. "That's all. Good talk."

"As Sarah started to walk off, Gabriella suddenly called after her, "Sarah, wait!"

Sarah turned back, her expression curious. Gabriella hesitated for a moment before asking, "How are you feeling after last night with Topper?"

Sarah gave a small, tight smile. "I'm okay, I feel fine. It's just... you know how Topper is," she said with a shrug, trying to brush it off. She stepped closer and wrapped Gabriella in a quick hug. As she pulled away, she reached into her bag and tossed something to Gabriella. "Oh, your favorite!" she said with a grin, as a pack of Takis landed in Gabriella's hands. Sarah must've done a deep dive on Gabriella instagram, which had a photo of her posing with Takis.

Gabriella laughed, catching the snack. "Thanks, Sarah."

Sarah gave a playful salute before turning to leave. "See you later!" she called over her shoulder as she walked away.

John B had been watching the exchange quietly, but once Sarah was out of earshot, he looked at Gabriella with a hint of curiosity. "What was that about? How do you know Sarah?"

Gabriella sighed, realizing this was the moment she needed to explain. "Sarah gave me a lift to Luke's, and well, you know the rest of the story."

John B nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly with concern. "What about last night with Topper? Were you with him?"

Gabriella could sense the underlying worry in his tone, and she quickly shook her head. "Look, I didn't want to keep anything from you. I just didn't know how to tell you. I bumped into Sarah when I went for a skate, and one thing led to another. We were cleaning up on the beach, and then she invited me to this Kook house party."

John B's expression shifted, a mix of confusion and something else—something like jealousy or concern—crossed his face. "Did you like it? The Kook life?" he asked, his voice a little more intense than usual.

Gabriella met his gaze, seeing the emotion in his eyes. She softened her tone, wanting to reassure him. "Who wouldn't? It isn't that different from my New York life," she admitted with a small smile. "But I couldn't trade this Pogue life for anything else."

She reached out and placed her hand on his, their fingers intertwining as they sat close together. She gazed into his eyes, trying to convey with a look what words couldn't fully express. John B's shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension easing out of him as he realized she meant every word.

Just as they were about to say more, Gabriella's phone buzzed with a text. She glanced down and saw a message from Pope.

pope
need a few more bucks??
could use some help with
delivery service.
come to Heywards seafood.

Gabriella looked back up at John B, their moment interrupted but not lost. "Looks like I'm needed," she said with a small grin, standing up and slipping the pack of Takis into her bag.