Six

Eventually, our moment was interrupted, unfortunately. I lifted my head when I heard the sliding door open behind us, then turned around when I heard Jake's voice.

"Kate, I think you should come in here. Olivia's throwing up," he informed me. "She's asking for you."

"I should've kept a better eye on her," I muttered as I stood up from the hammock. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," he assured. "Just find me later."

I stood before him while he still lied in the hammock. I wished more than anything else in that moment I could stay beside him under the stars forever, or at least until the morning.

"I will," I smiled.

I followed Jake back inside, up the stairs, and to the bathroom where I saw exactly when I expected: Olivia shirtless and hunched over the toilet. For whatever reason, she hated puking with a shirt on. Don't ask.

"I'll handle it, thanks, Jake," I said, shutting the bathroom door behind me.

I used the scrunchie still on my wrist to tie up her hair and began to rub her back. I couldn't stop thinking about being in Josh's arms.

After she finished, Olivia piped, "I thought the one you liked was named Josh."

I scrunched my nose, "He is named Josh. Hush, my little drunk beauty, you're just confused."

We both giggled, but she said again, "Then who's Sam?"

I felt my stomach tighten. "You met him earlier, silly. I was standing with him, he's Josh's brother."

"But I heard him talking to his friend about you," she insisted, "I'm drunk, not deaf."

I stayed silent, thinking. I knew I was into Josh, no question. He's sweet, attractive, and we met in the most perfect, storybook way. But I can't deny I find Sam attractive. I'd be totally lying if I told myself anything else. And it wouldn't be so bad, except they're brothers. I couldn't just casually date the both of them. That seemed pretty twisted, and, not to mention, something I definitely wouldn't be okay with if I had a sister. I didn't want to lose him as a friend, though. I've never clicked with a group of people faster in my life. It seemed too valuable to throw away.

"Hello?" Olivia snapped her fingers. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front me now, seemingly a bit more sober since she'd gotten a lot out of her system, but definitely still drunk. "Don't you want to know what he had to say about you?"

I did want to know, but I couldn't bring myself to say I did. But I didn't have to; she told me anyways.

"He was talking to that tall guy with black hair," she started.

"Danny," I interjected.

"Yeah, whatever. Anyways, he said he liked right when he saw you, before he knew. Whatever that means. But that's what he said, and you can quote me on that."

Before he knew I was the girl Josh was talking about? When I walked into the coffee shop? Something inside me told me I needed to find him. Maybe I was a little more tipsy than I originally thought, or maybe I just really wanted to find him.

"Are you okay?" I asked Olivia. "Are you okay if I go grab you a water real quick?"

I knew I'd be gone a lot longer than the time it took to "grab a water", but drunk perception of time is a little different than when you're sober. She'd be fine for a few minutes.

"Hurry your ass up. I'm fucking quenched now that you mention it."

It didn't take long to find him. He was sitting on the couch in the living room with girls sat on either side of him. One was touching his hair and the other had her hand on his leg. I couldn't blame them, but I still scoffed and rolled my eyes. He stood up when he saw me walking towards him.

"Hey," he said. "Is Olivia okay? Jake told me-"

"Can we talk?" I cut him off. "Somewhere with less people. And quieter."

He furrowed his brow and nodded. I started walking towards his room with him following closely behind me. I entered his room and took a seat on the bed. He paused in the doorway.

"What's this all about?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I shook my head, "I'm fine." I hesitated. "I just wanted to ask you about something you said."

"You mean earlier? I said sorry, I know you like Josh. It was out of line."

"Not that. What you said to Danny."

He sighed deeply, "Shit. You heard that."

"Not me, Olivia. I was just wondering..."

He was now standing in front of me while I still sat on the bed.

"Yeah," he exhaled. "If it isn't obvious, I like you, Kate. Ever since I saw you at the coffee shop, and not the time you came in and I took your order the other day. A week before that I had an interview, and they did it at one of the tables while the shop was open. I saw you come in with Olivia mid-interview. The guy interviewing me saw I was distracted, and he mentioned it. I was like 'shit, now I'm not gonna get the job', but then he hired me on the spot right after. He said that was the way he looked at his wife when he first saw her. The look that unfolds a great love, he called it. He said you were a regular, and, eventually, there'd come a time I was working when you came in. He told me it would be as close to fate as anything. And then the time came, and, turns out, you're dating my brother. So I'm thinking it's just not meant to be. Josh would be pissed, and it'd just be wrong to begin with to get in the way of you guys. So I invited you here and decided we could be friends, but after talking to you even for only two hours, I don't think there's any way I could just be friends with you, Kate."

I just sat there, frozen, sitting on his bed. I was speechless. All I could do was stare at him, my mouth gaping open. I didn't have time to think before he bent down and was kissing me. I didn't pull back. I wish I didn't know why I didn't pull back, but I knew exactly why. I wanted it. I was so deep into his kiss that I didn't even hear the door open.