They pulled into the driveway, and EJ turned the car off. When he went to unbuckle his seatbelt, Gina leaned down, cupped his chin with her hand, and kissed him again.

"Easy there, we're outside my uncle's house."

"Never stopped you before. Being inside your uncle's house never stopped you before."

"As much as I would enjoy a stroll down that particular memory lane with you, we've got to get you inside. Ashlyn is probably 30 seconds away from spontaneous combustion."

"Fair. I don't want to be responsible for blowing up Big Red's bride two days before the wedding."

They walked up to the door hand in hand, quickly dropping them when Ashlyn flung open the door.

"Gina, my mom has a question for you about hair appointments for Saturday? And I need to talk to my cousin a minute."

"Oh, sure," Gina said, casting a questioning glance back at EJ. "I'll see you tomorrow then? At the thing?"

"Yep, sounds good. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

Once the door was shut, Ashlyn spun around. It took everything EJ had not to laugh at her intensely critical gaze.

"... and?"

"And what?"

"You guys good? Am I not going to be refereeing you two in between courses?"

"We worked it out. Worked us, out, I think. Fighting won't be an issue for the rest of the weekend, we- I promise."

Ashlyn narrowed her eyes. "Worked what out, exactly?"

"Ash, we're good. I swear."

"Mmmhhmmm... good, sure."

"Go inside and get some rest, huh? The madness continues tomorrow."

"Do you know what time they're getting stuff set up at your parents' place?"

"I think my mom said stuff is scheduled to start showing up in the morning, but the caterers are coming at 3? I plan to be as scarce as possible until it all kicks off."

"5pm. Do NOT be late."

"It's in my backyard, I think I got it."

"Sorry, just… nerves. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok, and Ashlyn? Thanks."

"For what?" she asked, though the smirk on her face meant she knew exactly for what.

"Pushing us. We... I... needed that."

"And now we see why I meddle. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, goodnight!"

...

Gina could hear Ashlyn march back into the house and straight up to Gina's room. All these years later, all the Caswells still called it "Gina's room." She tried to look casual, just leaning back on her bed and scrolling through her phone. She looked up when Ashlyn walked in, and slammed the door behind her.

" Oh, hey, Ash. All set on the hair, your mom just wanted to make sure…"

"You had sex with him!"

"Ashlyn, what are you…"

"You, EJ, just now. Please just tell me it wasn't in the back of that rental. You don't know where those cars have been."

Gina couldn't help but laugh. "Look, I'm terrible at lying to you, so fine, yes, we did… it. Twice, actually."

"Coulda done without that detail."

"You opened the door, I just walked through it."

"So… what does that mean? Just blowing off some steam, or for old times' sake, or…"

"We're… going for it. We're going to give it another try. Like, an actual relationship, not just randomly hooking up whenever we're in the same vicinity. Truth is, I'm not sure I ever stopped wanting that, wanting him like that, and life seems to be pushing us back together when it's spent more than half a decade pulling us apart. So… that's what that means."

"Oh my God, GI! Are you, how are you feeling about, did EJ tell you that... I'm… sorry, I'm having a hard time processing this information."

"Yeah, I heard something about a couple name you use for us?"

"Oh come on, Gina, if you don't think anyone with eyes can see what's been going on with you and EJ since FOREVER, I can't help you. Everyone loves a good OTP."

Gina rolled her eyes. "Ok, Ash. Look, this doesn't have to be a big deal. We don't want to pull focus from the ACTUAL very big deal going on this weekend, you and Big Red getting married. So we'll be as on the downlow with this as you need us to be. We'll be in the same city in a few weeks, we don't need to rush into putting anything on display."

"Gi, the one thing I want for this weekend is to be able to look back and know it was all about love. And there's no one I want to feel loved more than you… even if that also does include my stupid cousin," she laughed. "People are going to talk, let them. You've waited too long to waste even one more day holding back from being happy."

"I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you, Ash."

"I'm pretty great. But can you keep the making out on the dance floor to a minimum? I'm still scarred from prom and that was years ago."

"You know you ship it."

"That doesn't mean I want to watch it."

"Fair. Thanks, Ash."

"Alright, this has been way more drama than I envisioned for the rehearsal, and I envisioned a lot of drama, I've met us. Get some sleep so we can get over to EJ's parents' tomorrow and get ready for the next event."

"Wait, EJ's? Why are we going to EJ's?" Gina knew she'd be navigating through a maze of Caswells all weekend, but she at least expected to be on neutral ground. Now she's going to have to be in the house of her as-of-an-hour-ago-boyfriend's mother? The same house that the last time she was there, she had mind blowing but gut wrenching sex with said guy, who she just did it with again tonight?

"The welcome thing? That's at EJ's. Didn't you read the wedding packet I sent?"

Gina avoided Ashlyn's eyes. She MEANT to, but with finals and getting stuff set up for the move she just… didn't.

"Tomorrow, 5pm. Drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and trying to keep Big Red from vomiting in the pool. It'll be a blast."

"Can't wait."

Ashlyn went down the hall to her room, and Gina's text alert was already flashing.

EJ: So… how busted are we?

Gina: She knew, of COURSE she knew. We were never going to get away with anything.

EJ: And? How'd she take it?

Gina: Mostly disappointed that we're not making Saturday a double wedding.

EJ: Told you. #portwellstan

Gina: Yeah, don't do that again.

EJ: Did she say how she wants us to deal with this weekend? Are we trying to keep this under wraps for now?

Gina: No, she actually said she doesn't care what people say. God, I love that girl… I wish I had half an ounce of her ability to not give a fuck. I'd be a lot better off.

EJ: So we're just… going for it, then? We're taking this thing public?

Gina: You tell me, dude. This place is crawling with Caswells, do you want to out me as your girlfriend to everyone at the same time?

EJ: Gotta admit, would be efficient.

Gina: Yeah, well, there's the not exactly small matter that I haven't seen your parents in years and I don't think you've been talking me up. That might be a bit of a shock.

Gina: Speaking of which, when were you going to tell me that I was spending tomorrow at your parents' HOUSE?

EJ: You didn't know? Didn't you read the wedding packet?

Gina: I swear to God, if one more Caswell asks me that…

EJ: Look, it'll be fine. My mom has always loved you, she even called my last girlfriend "Gina" once. It did NOT go over well. And my dad's my dad. You never know what you're gonna get there. It's better not to even guess.

Gina: Not gonna lie, I'm a little uneasy considering what went down the last time I was at that house.

EJ: When you tried to let me down gently and didn't know you were smashing my heart?

Gina: I was thinking more that we had sex in your childhood bedroom.

EJ: I mean, that part was pretty damn amazing.

Gina: EJ!

EJ: Sorry. Like I said, it will be FINE. Especially since I would imagine you're planning on wearing something more than that amazingly small black bikini. Stop stressing, get some sleep and dream about me.

Gina: Your ego has always been one of your less attractive features.

EJ: Cmon, you know you love me.

Gina's heart skipped a beat looking down at the message. She knew he was being playful, but it was there in black and white, and it was true.

Gina: Yeah, I really do. I love you EJ.

Gina: Putting on DND now, night!

She giggled as she silenced her texts and plugged her phone in to charge. She couldn't let EJ have all the fun.