summary- A month into their secret relationship, they settle into a quiet routine—until her dad’s move brings an unexpected complication. Forced to keep things professional, they navigate stolen moments and lingering tension. Over dinner, plans for a weekend at the family cabin take shape, setting the stage for whatever comes next.
word count- 5.4k
a/n- yall they're yearning and I'm so here for it (as if I'm not rubbing my hands together like a fly as I'm writing it).
warning- DOMESTIC! JOEL, YEARNING, TENSION, making out while someone is in another room, QUICKIE while people are in the house! fingering smoochin
Sunday— June 7th 2001
One month had passed since that first night together, and somehow, Friday nights had become their nights. Some evenings, they went out—another bar, a late-night diner, a drive out to some quiet overlook where they could talk, laugh, and let Joel’s hands roam over her skin. Other nights, they simply stayed in, sprawled across Joel’s couch or curled up in bed, the warmth of his touch more comforting than anything else.
Meanwhile, life carried on. She was still babysitting Sarah, still working at the cafe. Joel was busy as ever, managing his contracting business and keeping up with projects. It was steady, easy, and good.
And then, out of nowhere, I got the news: my dad was moving closer.
A quiet little neighborhood just outside the city, not too far from where she lived now. The house was older but solid, and her dad was excited about the change.
“I’ll finally be able to see you without a whole day of driving,” he’d joked over the phone. “Come by soon, yeah? Place needs some fixing up, and I could use the extra hands.”
So, I did.
It was a warm Saturday afternoon when I pulled up to the house. The scent of sawdust hung in the air, and the distant sound of power tools hummed in the background. My dad greeted me at the door, pulling me into a tight hug before leading me inside.
“Just started getting work done. It’s mostly flooring for now,” he explained, motioning toward the stripped-down hardwood in the living room. “Got a good crew helping out.”
That’s when I heard his voice.
Joel.
I turned the corner, and there he was—flannel sleeves rolled up, tool belt slung way too low on his hips, kneeling by the baseboards as he spoke with one of his guys. He hadn’t seen me yet, too focused on whatever measurements they were discussing. My breath caught.
He noticed me a second later, eyes locking onto mine. For a beat, neither of us moved. Then, as if remembering himself, Joel nodded. Not warm, not distant—just neutral. A greeting that meant nothing and everything.
My dad’s voice snapped me out of it.
“Hey, man! Didn’t expect you so early.”
I turned toward him, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Figured I’d get a head start.”
“Good timing. These guys are working on the floors—damn good crew, too.”
I could feel Joel’s presence even when I wasn’t looking.
For the next hour, I busied myself with unpacking kitchen boxes, my mind half on the task, half on the man moving between rooms, speaking to his crew, measuring, cutting, working. Every so often, I caught his gaze—just for a second. It was excruciating.
Then, finally, a moment alone.
I had stepped out to grab a box from the porch when Joel followed, letting the screen door creak shut behind him.
“You didn’t tell me,” I murmured, not looking at him.
“Didn’t recognize the last name ‘til this morning.” His voice was low, careful.
I exhaled a quiet laugh. “Yeah, no kidding.”
A silence stretched between us. The kind that buzzed.
Then, his fingers brushed against mine as I reached for the box. It wasn’t much—just the lightest touch—but it sent a shiver up my spine.
Joel glanced toward the house, then back at me. “You gonna be here long?”
“A few hours.”
His jaw tightened, then loosened, like he was deciding something. “Might need a second opinion on the floors before we wrap up.”
I raised a brow. “Oh, yeah?”
He smirked, just barely. “Yeah. Professional opinion.”
It was a game we were playing, both of us pretending like we weren’t dying for more. Like we weren’t waiting for the next Friday night.
I let the moment linger before stepping back, gripping the box tighter. “Well, let me know when you need my… expertise.”
Joel huffed a quiet laugh, then nodded before slipping back inside.
And just like that, the tension stayed—buzzing, stretching, waiting for the next stolen moment.
Now that I was completely alone the only logical thing to do was call Alex.
She picked up after two rings. “What’s up, hot stuff?”
I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. “Alex. You are not gonna believe what happened today.”
“Ohhh, this sounds good. Give me the drama.”
I sighed, propping the phone between my cheek and shoulder. “Okay, so you know how my dad is moving closer, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, new house, cute neighborhood, all that.”
“Well,” I dragged the word out. “Guess who’s working on the house?”
There was a pause. Then, in a slow, knowing voice, Alex said, “No. Fucking. Way.”
“Oh, yes. Fucking way.”
She gasped. “Joel?”
“Joel.”
“Oh my god.” She practically squealed. “Did he know? Did you know? Did you guys make out in the unfinished kitchen while sawdust floated romantically around you?”
I snorted. “No. And no. I had no idea, and apparently, neither did he until this morning. So I walk up, all ready to help my dad unpack, and bam—there’s Joel, sleeves rolled up, all contractor-mode, looking ridiculously good, and I just—”
“You short-circuited.”
“Completely.”
Alex let out a dramatic sigh. “Ugh. The universe really said, ‘Let’s test these two.’”
“You’re telling me.” I tugged my bottom lip between my teeth. “It was so tense, Alex. We couldn’t do anything. We couldn’t act any differently. But the way he looked at me…”
There was a knowing hum on the other end. “Like he wanted to haul you into the nearest empty room and have his way with you?”
“Alex!” I groaned, heat rising to my cheeks. “Not in my dad’s house!”
“Oh, please, if your dad wasn’t there, you would’ve been all over him.”
I huffed, leaning against the wall. “Okay, fine, maybe. But it was torture. Every time we made eye contact, it felt like we were saying a thousand things we couldn’t say out loud.”
Alex sighed dreamily. “So what now? You gonna ‘inspect the floors’ again?”
I rolled my eyes, but a grin tugged at my lips. “He did say he might need a second opinion.”
“Oh, babe, you are in so much trouble.”
Tell me about it.
Sunday 7:43 pm
Joel sat in his truck, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. His knuckles were damn near white. The engine idled softly, the only sound breaking through the quiet tension sitting heavy on his chest.
Today had been... unexpected.
He hadn't seen it coming—not her walking up to the damn house he and his crew were working on, not the way his stomach dropped when he realized who she was there for. Her dad.
Joel let out a long, slow breath, running a hand through his hair. It was a cruel joke, really. He’d spent the past month balancing on a tightrope, making sure no one caught onto them. He was careful, always. Even when he wanted to be reckless. But today, for the first time, she was in his world. His real world. And he had to pretend.
Pretend like she didn’t drive him damn crazy. Like he hadn’t just had his hands all over her a few nights ago. Like he wasn’t dying to touch her even then, when she was standing just feet away, talking to her dad, and all he could do was nod in acknowledgment.
And when they were left alone for a sliver of a moment—when she’d turned to him with that knowing look in her eyes—he felt it, that pull. That ache.
"Of all the houses in Austin, Miller," she had whispered, amusement laced in her voice, but her eyes had that softness, that warmth only he got to see.
"Yeah, funny how that works," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t do something stupid, like brush her hair back or drag his knuckles down her arm.
But it was more than just the surprise of it all. It was the fact that for a second, when he saw her there, talking to her dad, smiling—he saw a glimpse of something. A different life. A life where they weren’t sneaking around, where he could just reach for her without thinking twice.
He closed his eyes, sighing.
Didn’t matter.
They had a good thing going. A safe thing.
And yet, as he finally put the truck into drive and pulled away, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting.
Steamy intermission
The sound of hammering echoed from the other room, the low hum of the workers setting a rhythm in the background as I stepped into the quiet room with Joel. My dad had gone out for a bit, and the workers were busy in the other room. The space between us was charged, heavy with the tension that had been building for weeks now.
Joel’s eyes locked onto mine as the door clicked shut behind us. There was a moment of silence before he moved toward me, his steps slow but deliberate. “You know,” he said, his voice low, “this is probably not the best time.”
I couldn’t help but grin, a little nervous but far more eager. “Yeah, well, I don’t really do ‘best times.’”
Before I could finish, he was already right in front of me, his hand cupping my face, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I tilted my head up, breathing in the warmth of his scent as his lips hovered over mine.
“You’re trouble, you know that?” he murmured, the words a challenge, a teasing smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“I’m exactly the kind of trouble you need,” I replied, my voice breathless, playful.
And with that, he kissed me. It was hungry, desperate, as if we both knew this might be the only chance for us to be alone. His hands found the curve of my waist, pulling me flush against him, the heat of his body seeping into mine. I gasped against his lips when I felt the unmistakable press of his desire.
“God,” Joel muttered, his voice rough. He kissed me again, deeper this time, his tongue brushing against mine in a rhythm that made my pulse race.
I slid my hands up the back of his neck, tugging him closer, feeling the tension in his muscles as he deepened the kiss. Every part of me was alive, my skin buzzing with the heat of him, of us. He pulled away briefly, his breath shaky, his hands now sliding down to my hips.
“You want this?” he asked, his voice low, his forehead resting against mine, his eyes dark with need.
“Yes,” I breathed, pressing myself against him, my hands fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, the need to feel his skin against mine overwhelming.
Before I knew it, I was back against the wall, Joel’s lips trailing down my neck, his hands moving to explore, to touch, to claim. Every kiss, every touch sent sparks through me, building something inside I couldn’t ignore.
"Joel..." I whispered, my voice strained, my hands tugging at his shirt, desperate to get closer.
He groaned, his lips finding mine again, and for a moment, we were lost—nothing but the heat, the urgency, the growing connection. The sounds of the workers in the other room faded into background noise, insignificant compared to the fire we were stoking between us.
A soft gasp escaped me when I then felt his hand between my legs, tugging at the lace of my panties before he managed to push them down far enough for his big hand to fit. His hand went back to my thigh, stroking while he kissed me hard, groaning softly against my lips when he felt my hand gripping his dick through his jeans.
Joel’s lips found mine again, about the same time his hand found my clit. I gasped but spread my legs, moaning softly as he touched me in gentle circles, rubbing in a balanced pleasure of fast and slow. I could tell he was eager, the way his fingers traveled all over my slick folds, feeling my warmth and wetness and drawing sweet gasps and moans from me.
“Joel” I breathed out in a moan, a weak attempt at a warning when he inserted two fingers in me. I was already close, this would surely pull me over the edge. Joel only smirked and went down to my neck, kissing and nibbling and sucking to make small subtle marks.
‘’Come for me, darlin’,’’ he whispered in a dark and raspy voice, full of want and need. When he put his thumb to my clit and started stroking in rhythm to his fingers, I could do nothing more but to grip his shoulders and welcome the familiar throbbing heat building up in my core. It took all of me not to scream as I came, waves of pleasure ripping through my body and my moans merely a distant sound. Joel kept going until I was down from my high, legs trembling from the overstimulation.
I let go of him and panted, looking up at the ceiling and face flushed red.
He kissed the tip of my nose as he helped me back into my now, soaked panties, and jeans then walked off like he didn’t just make me come in under five minutes.
One Week Later
The scent of fresh paint and sawdust clung to the warm afternoon air as Alex and I stepped onto the front porch of my dad’s new house. The place was coming together—slowly but surely. The once-empty space was now taking the shape of a home, and I could already picture my dad in it, settling into his quiet new life here.
“Dad?” I called as I pushed open the door, letting Alex follow behind me.
“In the kitchen, kiddo,” his voice rang out.
The sound of a drill hummed in the background, coming from deeper inside the house. Alex shot me a knowing look, already sensing the presence of a certain contractor nearby.
“You know, if we keep coming around, you’re gonna get roped into manual labor,” she teased under her breath.
“Too late,” I muttered, just as we entered the kitchen and found my dad leaning against the counter, a familiar figure beside him.
Joel.
He was dressed in his usual work attire—worn jeans, tool belt slung low on his hips, and a gray t-shirt that was just tight enough to make my thoughts go places they shouldn’t. His sleeves were pushed up, forearms dusted with a bit of sawdust. He glanced up as I entered, something flickering in his gaze before he masked it with a nod.
“Hey,” he greeted, voice even.
“Hey,” I echoed.
Alex was practically vibrating beside me, but she played it cool, offering my dad a bright smile. “House looks great! The kitchen’s really coming together.”
“Yeah, thanks to Joel and his guys.” Dad clapped Joel on the back. “They’ve been busting their asses to get it done right.”
Joel gave a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Just doin’ my job.”
“Well, the least I can do is feed you,” Dad said, suddenly turning his attention to Joel. “You got dinner plans?”
Joel’s eyes flicked to me for a fraction of a second before he shook his head. “Nah, nothin’ set in stone.”
“Good, then you’re comin’ with us. I’m making steak.”
I felt Alex’s arm press against mine as she barely contained a squeal of excitement. Meanwhile, my heart did a funny little stutter.
Joel didn’t hesitate. “Wouldn’t say no to steak.”
And just like that, the night took an unexpected turn.
The smell of grilled steak and roasted potatoes filled the kitchen as Dad moved around, flipping something sizzling in a cast iron pan. Alex had taken up the job of setting the table, occasionally sending me a knowing smirk. Joel stood near the sink, arms crossed, looking far too comfortable in this house that I wasn’t used to calling my dad’s yet.
Joel had been here every day this week, finishing up final touches with his crew. And because I’d been helping Dad, I’d been here every day too. We had danced around each other in broad daylight, perfectly cordial in front of everyone, careful not to give anything away.
Alex, of course, saw right through it.
“Dinner’s gonna be ready soon,” Dad announced as he shuffled into the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a pack of steaks. “You girls staying?”
Alex answered before I could. “Yep! Wouldn’t miss it.”
I shot her a look, but she just smiled sweetly and went back to unpacking dishes.
Dad turned to Joel. “You’re staying too, right?”
Joel hesitated. “Oh, I—”
“C’mon, man. You’ve been working all day. Least I can do is feed you.”
Alex shot me a look that I pretended not to see.
Joel rubbed a hand over his jaw, stealing a glance at me before clearing his throat. “Yeah, alright. Appreciate it.”
“Perfect,” Dad said, satisfied. He clapped a hand on Joel’s shoulder as he moved past him, tossing the steaks onto the counter. “Beer’s in the fridge. Help yourself.”
Joel gave a small nod before stepping back, still watching me. I could feel Alex practically vibrating with excitement beside me.
“Oh, this is gonna be good,” she whispered under her breath.
I wasn’t sure if she meant the food or the situation, but either way, she wasn’t wrong.
As dinner came together, the four of us settled around the dining table. Dad had made steaks, roasted potatoes, and grilled veggies, and despite my mild discomfort at the current company, my stomach growled.
“So,” Dad started as he cut into his steak, “how’s school going, kid?”
I swallowed my bite of potato. “It’s going fine. Just juggling classes and work at the cafe, nothing too crazy.”
Dad nodded approvingly. “Proud of you, y’know. Working hard.”
I felt Joel’s eyes flicker toward me, but I didn’t look at him. “Thanks, Dad.”
He turned to Joel. “And how’s your little girl doing? Sarah, right?”
Joel’s face softened. “Yeah, she’s doin’ real good. Smart as hell, keeps me on my toes.”
Dad smiled. “That’s great. Kids grow up fast.” He glanced between us. “You must have your hands full. I know she keeps my daughter busy.”
The air in the room changed instantly. My stomach flipped. I could feel Joel tense beside me.
Alex coughed into her drink, barely stifling her laughter.
Joel, to his credit, kept his cool. “Yeah, she’s real fond of her.”
Dad nodded like it was the most casual thing in the world. “Good. I trust my girl wouldn’t babysit for just anyone.”
I forced a smile and shoved a piece of steak into my mouth, pretending like my heart wasn’t hammering in my chest.
Alex’s phone buzzed then, and she glanced at the screen before making an exaggerated gasp. “Oh no.”
“What?” I asked, raising a brow.
She stood abruptly, pressing her phone to her ear. “It’s Ethan—hang on, I gotta take this.” She walked off toward the kitchen, leaving me, Joel, and my dad alone at the table.
I shot daggers at her back.
She absolutely did that on purpose.
And now it was just the three of us.
Perfect.
Alex came back into the room announcing she would have to leave early due to an ‘emergency’ but I saw her shit eating grin.
Dad packed up some tupperware to go for her and she left.
“So, how did ya get into contracting?” Dad asked, cutting through the tension like he had no idea it was there.
Joel wiped his mouth with his napkin, buying himself a second before answering. “Oh, me and my brother Tommy run it together.”
Dad raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. “Family business, huh?”
Joel nodded, settling back in his chair. “Somethin’ like that. We take on a mix of jobs—big ones like this house, smaller renovations, repairs. Keeps us busy.”
Dad seemed impressed. “That’s good. You trust your family more than anyone else when it comes to work like that.”
Joel huffed a quiet chuckle. “Yeah, most of the time.”
“So how’d she end up babysitting for you?” Dad nodded toward me, and my heart skipped a beat.
Joel didn’t miss a beat. “She saw my flyer.”
I picked up the cue instantly. “Yeah, on the cafe board. You know how parents post those when they need sitters?”
Dad nodded, completely believing it. “Smart. And Sarah likes you, so it worked out.”
Joel’s hand curled into a loose fist on the table. The only sign that, despite how smoothly we were handling this, he was still wound tight.
I shot him a tiny, reassuring smile before grabbing our empty plates. “I’ll clean up.”
Dad stretched again. “I’ll be outside. You two can join me when you’re done.”
Joel exhaled as soon as the back door shut behind him. His shoulders dropped just a fraction, like he’d been carrying something heavy this whole time.
I bumped my hip against his as I passed. “You handled that well.”
He gave me a look. “Could’ve been bad.”
“But it wasn’t.” I let my fingers brush his wrist for just a second before stepping away. “You should go out there. Keep up the good impression.”
Joel watched me for a moment, eyes lingering, before he nodded and stood. “Yeah. But I’ll help ya first.”
I turned back to the sink, biting my lip to keep from smiling.
The soft hum of the dishwasher was the only noise between us as I scrubbed away at a plate, the gentle scent of dish soap filling the kitchen. Joel was standing beside me, drying off the glasses as I washed, like we’d been doing this forever. The little routine felt almost too normal, too comfortable, but I liked it. I liked that we didn’t have to say anything to fill the silence.
His movements were smooth, practiced. I couldn’t help but admire the way he worked, how natural it felt to have him by my side, even in this simple task. His hand brushed against mine more than once as he reached for a dish, his fingers lingering longer than necessary. Each touch sent a flutter through me, like a reminder of the chemistry that was always between us, even when we didn’t speak.
“You’re good at this,” I murmured, trying to break the comfortable silence.
Joel’s lips quirked up in a small smile. “Guess I’ve had a lot of practice.” His eyes shifted to mine, that familiar warmth there. “You always do the dishes at home?”
“Not really,” I replied, glancing up at him as I rinsed a pan. “Usually, I just let it pile up.”
He raised an eyebrow at that. “I’d say I’m impressed, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen your ability to avoid chores.” His teasing tone had me grinning as I handed him another dish to dry.
We continued the rhythm, like we’d done this every night for years. The soft clinking of plates, the light hum of conversation, the gentle way Joel’s hand brushed mine every time he reached for the towel—it all felt like something simple, but something right.
“Need some help?” I asked, setting the last bowl in the sink.
“Just keep handing me stuff,” Joel said, his voice low and calm as he grabbed another glass, his fingers brushing my wrist as he did.
I passed him a plate, his hand catching mine this time, pulling me just a little closer. His thumb traced over the back of my hand, sending a shiver through me. My breath hitched, and I looked up at him, my heart racing a little faster now.
Joel didn’t move away, his eyes flickering from my hand to my face, his jaw tightening slightly. The air between us thickened, like it had every other time we’d been close, but this time it felt different—more intimate, like we were caught in a moment where everything else didn’t matter.
His gaze lingered on my lips, and I felt the heat between us intensify. The tension was undeniable, and it was like neither of us knew how we’d arrived here, but we weren’t pulling away.
I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. His hand slipped from mine to rest on my lower back, pulling me gently against him. The feel of his body against mine made my pulse race. I could feel his breath on my neck as his lips brushed over my ear, sending a wave of warmth through me.
“You sure you want this?” Joel murmured, his voice rough, like he was struggling to keep control.
I nodded, my fingers threading through the collar of his shirt as I pulled him closer. “Yeah.”
Without another word, his lips crashed onto mine, a kiss full of hunger and need that had been building for weeks.
We stumbled back, Joel’s hands moving to cup my face as he deepened the kiss, his body pressing against mine, urging me to follow him as we made our way toward the living room. I couldn’t pull away, not when everything felt so right, so perfect.
The world outside disappeared, leaving only the quiet hum of our breathing, the sound of our hearts beating in sync. And just like that, we fell into each other—not rushing, just letting the moment unfold at its own pace, wrapped in the comfort of each other’s arms.
Joel pulled away briefly, his forehead resting against mine, his breath coming in shallow bursts. “You still okay with this?”
“More than okay,” I whispered, before pulling him back in for another kiss.
Joel’s hands slid lower, settling on my hips as he pulled me closer, his warmth enveloping me. Every part of him seemed to fit against me perfectly, like we were made for this moment. My own hands found their way to the back of his neck, threading through the dark strands of his hair as the kiss deepened.
We moved together, our bodies swaying to some rhythm that only we could hear, the sounds of the world outside fading into a distant hum. The kitchen, the dishes—everything else disappeared as we focused solely on each other, the connection between us building with every touch, every kiss.
His lips parted from mine for a brief second, his breath heavy as he looked down at me, his eyes searching my face for any sign of hesitation. “You sure?” he asked again, his voice hushed and a little strained.
I nodded, the words sticking in my throat as the heat between us intensified. My own hands began to wander, exploring the solid lines of his chest beneath his shirt, tracing the muscles I’d grown used to feeling beneath my fingertips. His skin felt like fire, burning beneath my touch.
Joel let out a low groan, his grip tightening on my waist as if holding onto the last thread of control. “God, you make it hard to think straight,” he muttered, his lips brushing against my jaw as he kissed down the curve of my neck, each touch setting me alight.
My heart was racing, every nerve in my body aware of him, of us, of this moment. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to hold onto something, or if I was falling into something new—something deeper than anything I’d expected. But I didn’t care. I didn’t want to care.
As he kissed me again, deeper this time, more urgent, I pulled him toward the couch, guiding him gently but firmly as I let myself fall back onto the cushions. He followed me without hesitation, his weight pressing me into the soft fabric, and I sighed, the sensation both comforting and electrifying.
His hands were everywhere, each touch gentle but eager, like he was trying to savor the moment, to make it last longer than either of us could handle. I could feel him against me, the undeniable pulse of desire growing with every second, every breath.
But it wasn’t just about the physical, not just about the heat and the longing. It was about the feeling that had been building for weeks, the quiet intimacy that had settled between us since the first time we’d truly touched. Every kiss, every soft word, had led us here, to this point where nothing mattered except the space between us.
When he pulled away again, his eyes dark with need, I took a steadying breath, my hand still tangled in the fabric of his shirt. “Joel…” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath.
“Yeah?” he asked, his voice gravelly, his gaze never leaving mine.
I could feel the intensity, the electricity in the air, and in that moment, I knew without a doubt that this wasn’t just about one night, one kiss, or one stolen moment. It was about something more. Something real.
“I’m here,” I said, the words feeling more meaningful than I could explain. And it was true—right then, in that quiet, peaceful space between us, I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Joel’s lips curled into a smile, that same warmth I’d seen before in his eyes now matched in the curve of his lips. Slowly, he lowered his head, brushing his lips against mine in a kiss that was soft, tender, and full of promise.
And for a while, we just stayed there, wrapped in each other’s arms, letting the world around us fade away.
After ten minutes of just embracing each other we eventually wrapped up the little dishes we had left and grabbed some beers to join my dad on his patio.
We both slid into the chairs across from him, the casual ease of the night still hanging around us. Joel cracked open his beer with a satisfying pop, his eyes catching mine for a brief moment before he looked away, a half-smile playing at his lips. It was easy with him like this—no rush, no tension, just the simple company of two people enjoying each other’s presence.
“Alright,” my dad started, setting his own drink down. “Alex told me something I think we should all discuss.”
I glanced at Joel, who raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about where this was going. I gave him a quiet smile, taking a sip of my beer, trying to focus on what my dad was about to say.
“She mentioned that we should celebrate after all the work done around here. Fixing up the house, getting it in shape. Maybe a little staycation getaway?” My dad’s gaze shifted between Joel and me. “You know, to unwind. Maybe head to the cabin. My old place up in the hills. Thought it might be fun if you came along, Joel. It’s just a weekend—nothing fancy. But it could be a good time.”
I blinked, surprised. A getaway? His old cabin had always been a quiet place, peaceful and far enough away from the city to feel like an escape. But... the thought of spending a weekend there with Joel, and my dad, and maybe Alex, suddenly felt like a lot more than just a trip to relax.
Joel hesitated, his fingers curling around the neck of the bottle. I watched him, knowing he was trying to gauge what my dad’s invitation meant. “You really think that’s a good idea?” he asked, a bit cautious.
“Why not?” my dad replied, leaning back in his chair. “It’d be good for all of us. We could fish, drink a little, and hang out. No pressure, just... time to unwind. What do you say?”
Joel looked over at me, his eyes softening as if silently asking me if it was something I’d want. I gave him a small, reassuring smile, trying not to let the sudden rush of nerves overwhelm me. I had no idea how this weekend would go, but I wasn’t going to back out. It might be awkward—hell, it might be weird—but it also sounded... nice.
“Alright,” Joel said after a beat, his voice steady. “I’m in. Sounds like a good time.”
My dad gave him a satisfied nod. “Great. It’ll be good for you. All of us. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to just... be.”
There was a brief silence as we all took a sip from our beers, and then my dad added with a grin, “And, hey, why don’t we invite Tommy and Sarah? There’s plenty of room in the cabin. Sarah would love it, and Tommy could use a break from work.”
I looked at Joel, seeing the hesitation flicker in his eyes, but then it softened into a resigned smile. “Yeah, sounds like a good idea,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Could be nice for Sarah to get away for a bit.”
I nodded, a little unsure of what this would look like with my dad and Joel there, but I liked the idea of having the whole group together. It was an easy atmosphere, something that made me feel like things were shifting in the best way.
“We’ll make it happen then,” my dad said, his voice low and steady as he took a sip of his drink. “It’ll be a good weekend for all of us.”
We sat back into our chairs, the air growing a little quieter around us as the idea of the weekend started to settle in. Joel’s hand found mine under the table again, the gesture making me feel a little lighter. Despite the unease gnawing at the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but feel a little excited about the weekend to come.
