4th of July // JOJI

Feels Like a Date

It’s 11 AM by the time you wake up. Your eyes wander over to the cracked window, the dew collecting on the sill. Shivering because of your lack of clothing, you carefully climb over Joji and pull the window shut. He’s still asleep as you put your underwear back on.

In the kitchen you make a beeline for the coffee maker and ignore Adam’s stare.

“Someone’s feeling rough. Long night?” His tone was taunting you. You turn around slowly, taking sips from your mug and leaning against the counter.

“Too much beer.” You shrug, unsure of what he’s getting at. You’d made sure to stay quiet last night.

“You know I can see the hickeys on your shoulder right?” You look down, face immediately burning, and pull your falling sleeve back up. He laughs at the panic on your face when Joji enters the room, pulling a tank top over his head and yawning loudly.

“Good morning, Joji.” Adam grins.

“Morning.” He groans, joining you at the coffee maker, his arm brushes yours slightly and you quickly move past him to the table.

“You have a long night too?” Adam continues and you shoot him daggers with your eyes.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“It’s strange, I don’t remember you guys drinking all that much. If anyone should be hungover, it should be me.” Adam smiles at you and you kick him underneath the table.

He grunts, scooting his chair back, “Jesus! My shin!”

Joji finally turns around, eyeing the two of you suspiciously and then laughing. “God, you guys are so weird.” He joins you at the table. “So where is everyone?”

“They went to buy fireworks. We’re gonna shoot them off tonight and then take the boat out to watch the finale.”

It’s the 4th of July, the last of your three day weekend vacation. Tomorrow you’ll be pulling on your apron and taking orders behind a counter as bitchy customers leave you little to no tips. Your creepy boss will make some comment about how he missed having you at work and you’ll put on a smile and wish that you were back in bed.

“Anyways,” Adam stretches, “I’m gonna go take a shower.”

He exits and you look down at your coffee, suddenly feeling shy next to Joji.

“So.” He breaks the silence.

“So.” You look up and see him smirking at you.

“Last night was…” He trails off, eyes covering your neck and shoulder, viewing the marks he left. You feel butterflies rise from your stomach to your chest and you pull the sleeve back up again.

“Good,” You reassure, “Last night was good.”

“You wanna get out of here for a few hours?”

---

You and Joji walk down the secret path you’d found a few years ago that weaves in between some of the houses and leads you to the public beach. The beach is more people than sand and it’s no surprise considering the holiday. They’re laying out on their colorful towels and the scent of sunscreen is almost overpowering. Squabbling seagulls fly overhead, harassing some of the beachgoers in their endless hunger. You kick your sandals off and let your feet sink into the hot sand as you wait for Joji to come back with your drinks.

“I hope you’re craving lemonade.” You spin around to see Joji carrying two huge cups. “This was the smallest size they had.”

You gratefully accept the drink and the two of you continue walking towards the boardwalk.

“It’s been forever since we’ve walked out here.” A swarm of little kids run past, just barely tackling you.

“I know. It’s like Adam’s parents got that boat and we just decided f**k the public.” He laughs, just barely missing being hit by the kids himself.

“It’s not that bad.” You lean over the railing, looking down at the water. The sun is beating down on the back of your neck but the breeze coming off the sea makes it bearable. “I kind of missed it.”

“You can’t tell me you’d rather be here than on a yacht.” He leans beside you.

“Wow,” You pull your sunglasses down so he can see your eyebrows raise, “one tour and you’re already too good for the little things, huh?”

He elbows your side, chuckling, “Yeah, hardly.”

“But seriously… I’m really proud of you, Joji.” You look up again, “you’re really out here doing everything you wanted to.”

He edges his hand toward yours ever so slightly until you feel his fingertips brush your hand. You unfurl your fingers and let his slip around yours. Hand in hand, he leads you away from the water and you continue walking down the boardwalk. The heat of his palm pressed against your own is different. You like it.

“Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“Nothing new really,” You take a sip of the lemonade. It’s so hot that your drink is quickly becoming watered down. “I’m still working at the cafe to keep paying for school.”

“I still can’t believe you’re in grad school. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.” He shudders dramatically.

“Besides the cost, I don’t really mind,” You really didn’t have a choice. It would be impossible to find a job as an occupation therapist without a master’s. “I’m just ready to start working. I’ve got a job lined up at a hospital but that’s not until I graduate in May.”

“Holy s**t!” He squeezes your hand, raising it into the air, “I’m proud of you.”

“Look at us,” He has a huge grin on his face and you’re overcome with the urge to kiss him again, “We’re both out here doing shit.”

You spend the rest of your afternoon walking in and out of the little shops littering the boardwalk. You end up sharing a soft pretzel while sitting on one of the benches, his side stays pressed against yours and you don’t want to leave. You wonder if it’s a date. The way he’s been holding your hand all day certainly makes it feel like a date.