Chapter Text
I.
Audrey Routledge gasped, her head falling back against the pillow. Her chest moved rapidly up and down as she inhaled deeply. JJ Maybank crashed beside her, his own sweaty forehead rested against her shoulder, panting as he did so. His arm wrapped around her, tugging her into him, chasing her body heat as he found her lips for a searing kiss. When they parted, JJ ran his hand through her hair as he propped himself up with his other arm, his piercing blue eyes staring down into her vibrant green ones. The soft morning glow of the sunrise filtered in through the curtains, reflecting around the room as the old, noisy window unit rattled unhappily, pushing what cold air it could manage into the room. They stared at one another, enjoying the quiet moment together. They kissed again, this one much slower than their last several were, their heart rates starting to return to normal.
“What time is it?” She asked him softly as they settled, the couple sharing a pillow.
“Mmm.” JJ shifted across her to grab his phone, tapping it to see the time. A smiling picture of Audrey greeted him as the phone woke—he took it a few weeks ago after he convinced her to go out surfing with him. She’d gotten her ass kicked harder than either of them expected, and so after they called it quits and retreated back to the van, he took the photo of her wrapped in a towel, hair wet, but smiling wide as she looked up at him. “It’s just after eight.”
Audrey stretched as JJ settled on his side, nuzzling his way back into her, “what are you doing today?”
“Whatever you’re doing.”
She threaded her fingers through JJ’s hair, enjoying the feeling of some of his weight on top of her as well as the feeling of having her arm wrapped around him.
It’d been almost a month since they lost John B and Sarah. Life had gone on for the rest of the town of Kildare. A funeral for Sheriff Peterkin took up almost all of last weekend—parades and pomp and circumstance filled the center of town. Audrey spent most of that time lost in JJ, holed up in the little love nest they carved out for themselves in the Chateau, too afraid she might run into one of Sheriff Peterkin’s family members. This weekend there would be a memorial for Sarah. She vaguely remembered hearing Topper discussing the event with a few of his Kook friends outside Heyward’s a handful of days ago. She pictured a large photo of Sarah hanging from an ornate easel, the Cameron family dressed in designer black as they listened to teens and adults alike sharing their favorite memories of the blonde.
Aside from the memorial JJ and Pope carved into the tree out back, nothing had been done for John B and she had no plans to change that. Almost a year ago, Audrey gave John B so much shit about not signing their father’s death certificate and forbidding her to do it, that it was almost poetic how fast she threw Shoupe out of the house when he came around asking if she would sign her brother’s. JJ held her back as she all but screamed at him to never set foot on their property again, his hand wrapped around her bicep as he half blocked her from throwing herself at the now acting Sheriff. That was the night she burned half the shit in the house—everything that she felt had anything to do with the Royal Merchant or treasure was burned. Almost all of her dad’s office went up in flames, JJ having to ease her back on a few things that he knew she would regret disposing of.
Kiara cried that entire night, begging Audrey to just leave things alone until she finished grieving. But standing outside, watching as piles and piles of books and trinkets and dumb shit went up was the lightest Audrey had felt since either of their deaths. The house was considerably emptier after that—she threw away what she couldn’t burn and boxed up things JJ wouldn’t let her throw away, storing them in the office. Anything she didn’t want to deal with ended up in that room, usually at the hands of JJ. At the request (and begging) of both Kiara and Pope, Audrey left John B’s room alone—for now.
Audrey kept the Twinkie despite hating the way it drove. JJ promised he’d drive her around in it after Kiara nearly had a heart attack at the thought of Audrey selling it for parts. Most of the time it remained parked out back—untouched unless they were going somewhere they couldn’t get in Kiara’s SUV or Pope’s dad’s truck. Plus, Audrey would be lying if she said she didn’t find it useful when she needed to do laundry.
In the weeks since that night, JJ had all but moved into the Chateau and her room. In one of her middle of the night throw away moods, Audrey cleared out her dresser and closet, demanding that he put his clothes, which had since been stuffed into a large duffle bag, in there. JJ had looked at her shocked, unsure what he’d done, only for her to break down a few moments later about wanting him to have an actual home. He hadn’t officially informed his dad that he moved out, instead opting to go back home briefly when he knew Luke would be gone to grab the rest of his things, but even his dad would notice that his stuff was gone. While he grabbed about ninety-five percent of his belongings, he did opt to leave his furniture and the more risqué swimsuit posters behind—after all he didn’t need them anymore with his dream girl beside him every night and even if he wanted them and was able to convince Audrey it was art, she’d probably just burn them anyway.
They spent their time learning to live with one another—learning to live without John B. Audrey picked up whatever odd jobs she could get here and there, which usually involved scrubbing fancy Toto toilets and stocking shelves at Heyward’s, but for the most part work was hard to come by. She could feel the stares from half the town anytime she left home—the half that didn’t think she was related to a cop killer pitied her, which she was almost sure was worse than the other half that thought she was an accomplice. Audrey felt like an outcast—acted like an outcast. She did what she had to do to survive and then didn’t do the rest.
JJ struggled with it—struggled with seeing Audrey all but self destruct. Gone was his girl who tried to find passion in what she was doing, even if it wasn’t her original plan. She was a shell of herself now, but then again, so was he. Two shells trying to remember what it was like to be whole. He knew they’d get there one day, knew that every time someone told him “time heals all wounds” they were just trying to help, but it was still hard when they were still very much in the trenches. After spending an entire night arguing a few days ago, both Audrey and JJ came to the conclusion that they were done with the island and North Carolina. Once JJ graduated, which is what their argument was originally about—JJ wanted to drop out and Audrey felt he needed to finish school—they would leave. Start over somewhere else. Together.
“I need to go to the grocery store,” Audrey said once she brought herself back to the present, thoughts of her brother and the last month fading to the back of her mind, “will you go with me? No one says anything when you’re there.”
JJ had found himself in a handful of fights since John B’s death, including one at the Island Club last weekend where he’d dumped an entire pitcher of ice water onto Kelce. If anyone even got close to saying something to Audrey, JJ intervened, going into full on protection mode with his girlfriend. His fist had landed many a punch and word quickly spread not to approach the couple—especially Audrey.
“‘Course, baby,” JJ inhaled her soft scent, nose pressing to her hairline, “whatever you want.”
“What do you want to do?”
“You,” JJ pushed himself up on his arms, shifting until he hovered over her, “I just wanna do you all day.”
Audrey laughed, her head thrown back against the pillows as JJ settled himself between her legs, kissing her longingly. Audrey only hummed, legs bending at the knee to cage JJ in. Her fingers slipped into his hair, tangling gently in the blonde strands that hung just a little longer than they did earlier this summer. It didn’t take JJ long to deepen the kiss, exploring her mouth as if he hadn’t just thoroughly done so an hour ago. The corner of his lip lifted as her hand drifted down his back, curving around his hip before urging him closer. He greedily accepted her gasp as he pressed himself flush against her, lips sliding down her jawline to neck where he happily left a bruising kiss to the soft skin, pulling back far enough to confirm a mark would appear in the next handful of hours. Audrey could only let out a quiet laugh as he kissed her again, her hand lifting to catch the side of his jaw as her other hand wandered over his hip and along his thigh, expertly searching for him. It was a well-known dance now, but one that neither ever had any desire to stop. She loved JJ and she loved sex with JJ. He was her rock—her lighthouse in this terrible storm of grief. The only thing that kept her hanging on.
Head tilted back, Audrey couldn’t help but close her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips as JJ brought her leg up and over his hip, sinking into her. Their foreheads pressed together, breath mingling as they moved together softly, taking their time with one another.
It was a few more hours later that Audrey found herself moving around the kitchen, making a mental list of everything they needed for the next week or so. JJ was finishing up his own shower, after he successfully commandeered hers and kissed her under the spray well after it ran cold.
JJ finished and made his way down the hallway in half the time it usually took Audrey, pulling on his hat backwards as he met her at the door. He took her backpack from her, tossing it over one shoulder before they exited the house and made their way over to the Volkswagen. It hardly moved now, but seeing as how they couldn’t get groceries back on a dirt bike, it was often used for that. At the grocery store, JJ and Audrey moved at a comfortable pace. JJ hated pushing, so Audrey handled the shopping cart while JJ wandered around. It was horribly domestic—but Audrey found herself enjoying the time together. She liked bantering back and forth with JJ as they went up and down the aisles, and she liked the meal ideas he normally came up with as they searched for the best deals. He always made a point to thoroughly inspect the produce if they bought any, claiming to be a fruit expert. Audrey remembered watching him thump every watermelon on the stand before declaring they were all “terrible,” and that they should buy the cantaloupe instead. Audrey didn’t have the heart to tell him the cantaloupe was nearly rotten when she cut into it later that evening and instead blamed Pope for eating it all.
Audrey glanced down into the most empty cart, taking inventory of their items. They didn’t need a lot, Kiara often brought them some leftover food a few times a week now that she was working regular hours at The Wreck, and Pope’s mom was worried sick about the two of them on their own, sending hot meals over when she could.
Audrey usually made a pretty big dinner once a week and they ate leftovers the rest of the time, sandwiches covering the lulls. Their basket wasn’t too full, especially since neither of them had a steady job at the moment. Dressed in a new yellow plaid shirt that Pope’s mom had given him last week, JJ slung his arm around Audrey as they neared the checkout, eyeing a few people near the liquor section who started whispering the moment they stepped into line.
Audrey paid with cash and JJ carried the grocery bags out as Audrey sorted through the change before putting it back in the small wristlet she used to hold money. JJ tossed the bags in the back before he felt himself inhale deeply, a familiar ache settling on his chest. His nostrils flared and he felt his chest tighten further—his hand coming up to rest against his chest. A small wave of panic filled him as he felt himself try to take a deep breath—why couldn’t he take a deep breath? Why was this happening again?
He inhaled again, his breath hitching as his lungs attempted to refuse his unneeded deep breath, which only caused more panic to settle. He didn’t even realize he was leaning against the Van until Audrey slipped between him and the door, her hand lifting to rest on top of his own.
“JJ?”
Concern flashed across her beautiful face and JJ attempted to clear his throat, but knew his voice sounded forced when he replied, “yeah, baby?”
Audrey squeezed his hand, eyes searching his, “is it still happening?”
“I’m fine,” JJ dropped his hand despite the tightening in his chest lingering, “where to now?” Audrey didn’t believe him, her face telling him just that as she frowned at him. “I’m ok,” JJ brought her closer to him, kissing her forehead, doing his best to ignore the way his body felt, “let’s get this home and then figure out what Kie and Pope are doing.”
Audrey didn’t want to drop it, but she allowed JJ to table it for now as he walked around the van to the driver’s door. She slipped into her seat a moment later, watching as JJ started the Twinkie up. He slipped his hand across her knee after backing the bus up, leaving it there in hopes of grounding himself.
Upon arriving back at the Chateau, the couple found Kiara and Pope inside the house. Pope sat on one end of the couch as he finished filling out what appeared to be a summer reading guide, while Kiara sat on the other, tapping out a light beat on her bongo drums, one earbud in her ear as she listened to something on her phone.
“I hope we’re leaving room for Jesus,” JJ motioned to the large gap between the two as he and Audrey entered, Audrey moving to the kitchen to put away the refrigerated and frozen items.
Kiara’s only response was a lift of her middle finger, Pope completely ignoring JJ’s comment. No one had really discussed what happened the night John B passed—JJ asked Audrey about it days later after remembering that their two friends basically made out on the dock after John B left in the Phantom, but she didn’t have any more information than he did. Still—JJ really enjoyed teasing the two.
JJ took his bag into the kitchen once he realized neither of his friends were going to respond to him, instead listening as Pope said, “popsicles in the freezer.”
“Niceeee,” JJ opened it instantly, grabbing a blue polar freeze pop, “that’s what I’m talkin’ about, Pope!”
“One of the Kooks ordered them,” Pope looked up briefly from his notebook, “but canceled their order so dad sent it over here instead of tossing it.”
JJ shrugged, “their loss is our gain.”
Audrey glanced over at Pope—the boy was a terrible liar, but she mouthed a “thank you” to him and he only nodded back. She’d thank Hayward when she saw him next. Audrey finished putting things away and then went to wash her hands as JJ wandered into the living room, flopping down in the chair closest to Pope.
“Mom and dad back from the market?” Kiara lifted her eyebrows at JJ as he sucked on the popsicle, his blue eyes turning to look at her, “you two have gotten really domestic, haven’t you?”
“Oooh,” JJ wiggled his eyebrows towards Audrey as she shook her head at him, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips at the look of pure joy across her boyfriend’s face at the set-up, “I kinda like that—wanna come take a seat in daddy’s lap, baby girl?”
Pope choked on his own spit as JJ continued to run with the joke, patting his lap invitingly as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down. Audrey only chuckled in response, having seen that coming a mile away.
“You are so disgusting—” Kiara blanched as she stood from the couch, making her way to the freezer to grab a popsicle of her own, “how do you put up with him?”
“I’ve got a big dick!”
“JJ!” Kiara was horrified as she closed her eyes and shook her head, Pope choking for the second time that afternoon.
Audrey cut the top off Kiara’s popsicle, neither girl wanting to rip it open with their teeth like JJ had. Ignoring her boyfriend, Audrey looked over at Pope, “what color?”
“Anything but orange.”
Audrey handed the non-orange popsicle over to Pope before following Kiara out onto the screened-in porch. The screens had definitely seen better days, a few holes had formed since Agatha blew through, which resulted in pesky mosquitoes annoying them throughout the day. Despite the holes, the weather was still warm with an occasional cool breeze and Audrey fully intended to enjoy the last bits of summer on the porch. Curling up on the couch, her feet tucking under her, she watched as Kiara took a seat on the opposite end of the couch.
“How are you doing?” Audrey asked as she bit off some of her popsicle, relishing in the way the coolness felt on her tongue.
“I’m ok.”
“How’s the new curfew going?”
“Mom and dad are pretty tight,” Kiara sighed unhappily, “after—everything that happened. Regular shifts, home no later than eight, Sunday brunch at the club, family dinners every Friday night…”
Audrey nodded in understanding, part of her envied Kiara, wishing she had all of those things and more. But the other part of her was happy to have her freedom. After all, what eighteen year old was able to live with her seventeen-year-old boyfriend unsupervised?
Audrey sucked a little more popsicle into her mouth, “what about Pope? How are things going on that front?”
Kiara glanced nervously at the backdoor but only shrugged, her voice dropping in volume, “I don’t know.”
Audrey knew Kiara still had a thing for her brother. Even though the two had worked it out a bit when Sarah came into the picture, Audrey could still see the flashes of hurt across her friend’s face when John B and Sarah would interact before they died. She wasn’t sure how deep Kiara’s feelings went, but she did know that regardless of the depth, those feelings typically didn’t disappear overnight. Audrey wanted to ask her about it, but also knew that it wasn’t the right time. Kiara, like the rest of them, was still grieving. That was a conversation to be had later— much later.
“How are you doing?” Kiara asked her after a few moments of silence, both girls lost in thought.
“Terrible,” Audrey laughed bitterly, her eyes looking down at the melting popsicle, “I feel—I feel like I’m barely hanging on, you know? I went from a pretty respected member of our town. A Pogue, sure, but I had a great job, made decent money, and had a few Kook friends. And overnight I became…Boo Radly or something. Now half the town is afraid of me and the other half pities me. I feel like I’m suffocating.”
Kiara nodded softly, although she didn’t experience the same exclusion from the town of Kildare, she did feel for Audrey. The girl had lost her entire family within a year—orphaned at 18, Audrey was having to make decisions that some adults didn’t even have to make.
“Have you thought about reaching out to your mom?”
Audrey shook her head no, “no—I mean yes, I did briefly think about it. But she left, she left us in this shit hole and if she really cared about me or…or loved me, she would have reached out by now.”
A longer pause filled the air as Audrey finished her popsicle and took her time sucking the leftover juice through the plastic tubing. “Things are good with JJ?”
Audrey’s green eyes flickered over to Kiara, a small smile pulling at her lips as she thought about the blonde just inside the house. “Yeah,” Audrey eventually said, smiling a little wider, “yeah that’s—that’s the one thing that’s going right.”
Kiara leaned over and laced her fingers through Audrey’s, “I’m glad,” she squeezed her hand, “even if he is a disgusting pain in the ass.”
“He’s my pain in the ass,” Audrey laughed as Kiara giggled, “but yeah—he’s…he’s really taken on a lot.”
Before Kiara could say anything further a vibrating sound demanded their attention. Audrey pulled her cellphone out of her back pocket. The screen was cracked along the bottom, but still functioned ok. A 242 number was listed just under “unknown caller.” She didn’t know that area code, but the only people who needed to get in contact with her were already here, so Audrey tapped the button on the side, sending the call away, her lock-screen shifting back to a photo of JJ making a silly face as he looked over his shoulder at her on the dirt bike.
Audrey and Kiara busied themselves with discussing the upcoming school year for the next handful of minutes. “—excited yes,” Kiara was saying as Audrey felt her phone start to vibrate again, “but also…not? You know? Like what am I going to even do after graduation?”
“Mmhm,” Audrey silenced her phone again, “senior year is bittersweet for sure.”
“JJ mentioned leaving,” Kiara cocked her head to the side, “are you two really going to leave?”
“Pope’s going to go to some fancy college on the mainland. You’ll probably go to some obscure hippie liberal college—” Kiara scoffed before chuckling, “—or join the peace corp or something. That leaves us alone. JJ doesn’t want to go to college and I have no direction in life. So, who knows? Maybe we’ll load up the Twinkie and see how far we get.”
“Probably Charleston.”
Audrey laughed, “if we’re lucky. Maybe we’ll make our way to the Pacific. You know he has that Route 66 obsession…”
“Ugh, yes. I blame Disney.”
The girls giggled, but before either of them could say anything more, Audrey’s phone rang a third time. “What’s the number?” Kiara asked, craning her neck to get a look at Audrey’s phone, “242…?”
“I have no idea,” Audrey silenced it again. “Is that New York? I don’t know. Once the towers came back it was like every small town newspaper or TV station was calling for a comment. I thought about changing my number but eventually the calls faded away. Old news now, I guess.”
“Should we take the boat out?” Kiara glanced around to look up at the sky, “doesn’t look like rain…we might be able to catch something and maybe I can get JJ to persuade you into making fish tacos...”
Audrey laughed, “that does sound nice. I bought tortillas too.”
“See,” Kiara laughed, “it’s meant to be—”
Audrey groaned as her phone rang a fourth time. Fumbling with it, she swiped it unlocked before putting it to her ear, “hello?”
“Audrey?”
Audrey’s blood ran cold, she felt her heart race and her stomach drop. Her hands shook as she pulled the phone away to look at the number before bringing it back to her ear.
“Is everything ok?” Kiara leaned forward to rest her hand on Audrey’s knee, seeing the panic in her friend's eyes, “Audrey…?”
“Audrey, are you there?”
That voice.
Audrey couldn’t say anything, her brain short circuited and she found herself unable to speak.
“…Audrey?”
“Audrey?” Kiara pushed herself into a standing position when she didn’t get any response from her friend she turned her head to call over her shoulder, “JJ!”
JJ was out of the house within seconds, boots thundering on the wooden porch, his eyes wild as they landed on his very, very pale girlfriend.
“Audrey?” Her hands shook as JJ sat beside her, taking the phone from her hand, “what’s wrong?”
The call ended as JJ lifted the phone to his ear, and with his other hand as he cupped the side of her face, fingers holding onto her chin. Pope had since made his way to the porch as well, standing there as he glanced curiously over at Kiara, who only shrugged in response.
“What happened?” JJ’s eyes turned back to look at Kiara, he could feel his heart hammering against his ribcage. There hadn’t been any sign or message from Audrey’s stalker since the week after John B and Sarah died. Was it picking back up again? Couldn’t they be left alone? Were they born under a bad sign or something?
“I don’t know,” Kiara shook her head as Audrey tried to reach for her phone, “a number just kept calling and she answered and…” Kiara motioned to the clearly shocked girl, “…then that.”
The number flashed again as an incoming call came in and Audrey scrambled for the phone, snapping out of the daze she’d been in. She moved faster than JJ, pulling it from his grip as she stood from the couch and stumbled to the railing.
“Audrey?”
Tears fell from her eyes as she looked at JJ. His face was stricken, a hand resting on his chest as he stared at her with all the concern in the world.
“Yeah,” Audrey finally found her voice, “yeah—you’re…I’m here. Oh my God.”
Audrey was sobbing now. Through the phone she could hear her brother asking for JJ, asking if she was alone. Audrey couldn’t get any more words out as she sobbed—big, fat happy tears falling from her eyes. Her hands still shook as she pulled the phone away and hit the speaker button.
There was a distinct sound of crashing waves followed by a staticky “…is JJ there?”
Pope caught Kiara before she fell, her own sob exploding from her throat as the voice of John B. Routledge filled the porch. JJ was frozen in his spot, his eyes glued to Audrey’s phone, his hand gripping his chest so hard he would leave marks. It was only a second or two alter that JJ stood as fast as he could, all but falling into Audrey as he took the phone from her, his arm wrapping around his shaking girlfriend as they both leaned against the railing for support.
“Yeah man,” JJ was crying now, laughing as he did, “yeah—I’m here. Where the fuck are you?”
Everyone laughed and Audrey held onto JJ like a lifeline, Pope was crying now as he cradled Kiara, her hands clasped over her mouth.
“He’s alive,” Audrey found the words as JJ’s hand came up to rest alongside her head, kissing her temple lovingly.
“Yeah…we’re both here,” there was a pause, “say hi, Sarah.”
“Hey guys!”
“This is insane,” Kiara cried.
“Where are you?” Audrey asked, “how…how did you two make it?!”
“We’re in Nassau,” John B’s voice filtered out through the tiny speakers, “it’s a long story and I don’t have a lot of time. We’re working on something—I just…I just needed you to know we’re ok.”
“You’re ok,” Audrey sobbed, happiness bubbling up in her chest as JJ held her up, “you’re both ok!”
By the sound of it John B was crying too, sniffling loudly on his side of the phone, “yeah, we’re trying to lay low. But I need you all to clear my name. I’d like to come home.”
“We’ll get on that,” JJ promised, pressing his lips to Audrey’s forehead, “are you guys alright? How’d you even get to The Bahamas?”
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you,” John B chuckled lightly, “but it’s a long story, one I’d rather tell over some beer and grass, if you know what I mean. But, we’re alive—just a little smelly and hungry.”
“I can do smelly and hungry,” JJ could feel more tears seeping out of the corner of his own eyes, “just glad you’re not fish food.”
Another round of laughter echoed from John B and Sarah, before John B cleared his throat, “look—I have to get this phone back, but keep an eye out for incoming communi-cay from random numbers, alright?”
“Aye, Aye, captain.”
“Oh and JJ?”
“Yeah Bree?”
“You still mackin’ on my sister?”
A chorus of laughter sounded on the porch this time and JJ couldn’t help but lift a hand to shove some hair out of his eyes, his gaze finding his girlfriend’s face as she smiled up at him. His own grin stretched from ear to ear, his arm tightening automatically around her as he brought her closer, their lips almost touching as he answered his best friend, “just about every second I can get, bro.”
“No babies—” Audrey rolled her eyes at her brother’s words, his end of the phone crackling as it cut in and out, “I’m too young to be an uncle.”
“Alright, asshole,” JJ laughed, “keep in touch, alright?”
“Love you guys.”
They all called back their own “love you’s!” to the couple before JJ ended the call, his hand shaking as he slipped Audrey’s phone into the back pocket of her denim shorts. He stared down at her, eyes searching hers. The spark he hadn’t seen in a month was back and he felt his own heart sore, wondering if she could see the same in his. Not caring that Pope and Kiara were only a handful of feet away, JJ pulled off his hat and dropped his lips to Audrey’s in a passionate, toe-curling kiss. He invaded her mouth quickly, grinning as she scrambled to grab onto his shirt as he cupped her face in his hands.
“He’s alive,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Mhmm,” JJ backed her up against the railing, caging her in as he attempted to occupy the same space as his girlfriend. He’d just released her face, his hands searching her hips before lifting her up. Audrey wrapped her legs around his waist and she was vaguely aware of Pope and Kiara groaning in annoyance as JJ walked her back to the couch, falling back into a seated position with his girlfriend on top of him.
“Can you two not do that out here—”
“Our house,” was JJ’s only response as he pulled away long enough to catch his breath, hand lifting to push Audrey’s hair behind her ear, “last time I checked, we made the rules.”
“Ugh,” Kiara was the first to leave the porch, Pope shaking his head as he caught the door before it slammed back against the frame.
“Try not to be too long,” Pope slipped through the door a moment later, “we need to come up with a game plan on how to clear JB.”
“Just five minutes, Pope, alright? Go take care of your situation while I take care of mine.”
“Smooth, JJ,” Audrey couldn’t help but giggle as Pope closed the door loudly behind him.
“Today’s a good day and I'm gonna happily love on my girlfriend.”