Whispered Promises

Chapter 26 - Game on

Josy's POV

The sun was still warm against my skin as I spread out the blanket on the grass, carefully arranging the snacks I'd packed for our little Sunday hangout. I leaned back on my hands, surveying the scene with satisfaction. The park was the perfect spot, and the day couldn't have been better. A light breeze rustled through the trees, and the distant sounds of kids playing and dogs barking added to the lazy, laid-back vibe. I slipped on my oversized sunglasses and let out a contented sigh. This was exactly what I needed.

I spotted Jackson jogging toward us, his usual confident stride making him easy to pick out even from a distance. I couldn't help but smile as he got closer, his easy grin already in place.

"Finally!" I called out, shading my eyes with one hand as he approached. "I thought you were gonna stand us up for a second."

"Me? Stand up the famous Josy? Never," Jackson replied, flopping down beside me with all the grace of a cat. He grabbed a bottle of water from the picnic basket and took a swig before giving me a once-over. Then, with that signature playful grin, he leaned in and pressed a quick, soft kiss to my temple.

The gesture was casual, yet it sent a warm tingle through me. I couldn't help but smile, even though we were just pretending. "Nice setup you've got here. What's on the agenda? Or is this a 'go with the flow' kind of day?"

"More like 'go with the flow,'" I said, flashing him a grin. "But you know, that flow is guided by yours truly."

Jackson laughed, a deep, warm sound that always seemed to put me at ease. "No complaints here. Whatever the boss says, goes."

"Ugh, get a room," Alex groaned from a few feet away, where she was furiously trying to master the art of throwing a frisbee. The stubborn set of her jaw was enough to tell anyone that she wasn't about to give up, even if the frisbee seemed determined to make her look like a rookie.

"Hey, Alex!" I called out, unable to suppress my amusement as the frisbee veered off course once again. "Need a hand?"

"I've got this!" she shot back, her voice laced with determination.

Jackson chuckled beside me, clearly enjoying her frustration. "Stubborn as always. You know, I think it's physically impossible for Alex to admit she needs help with anything."

"You think?" I teased, nudging him with my elbow. "You're one to talk, Mister 'I don't need directions, I'll figure it out.'"

He put his hand over his heart, feigning offense. "That's different! I *do* figure it out eventually."

I raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. "Sure you do."

Meanwhile, Alex finally managed to get the frisbee to fly straight for a few feet before it took a nosedive and landed near a tree. She sighed, then turned to us with a shrug. "I'm more of a football person, okay?"

"Obviously," I teased, knowing how much she hated losing. "But don't worry, we won't make you suffer through more frisbee embarrassment."

"Yeah, you just need to find your inner frisbee spirit," Jackson added with a grin. "Everyone's got one, I swear."

Alex rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips. "You guys are hopeless."

"Hopeless but happy," Jackson quipped, grabbing the frisbee and giving it a perfect toss in my direction. I caught it easily, giving him a triumphant grin.

"Show-off," Alex muttered, but there was no real bite to her words. She was clearly enjoying herself despite the frisbee fiasco.

"Okay, okay," Jackson said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "No more frisbee bragging. What's next on the Sunday Funday agenda?"