Chapter 20: Group Hangout Vibes
The weekend arrived in a burst of sunlight and energy, and with it came another group hangout. Riley had been looking forward to it more than sheâd expected, but a part of her knew it was because she had been texting Elena for the past couple of nights, their conversations finally shifting into something comfortable and easy. She didnât want to admit it, but she was excited to see her again outside of the project context.
Sam, as always, was the mastermind behind the plans. Heâd texted everyone about a barbecue at his place. And while it was mostly the same crewâSam, Jordan, Danny, Elena, Maya, and of course Rileyâthis time, there was a slightly different vibe. Maybe it was the way Riley and Elena had started to open up to each other, or maybe it was just the anticipation of hanging out without the looming pressure of a project hanging over their heads. Whatever it was, Riley felt lighter today, more herself.
By the time she pulled into Samâs driveway, she was already in a good mood. The sun was warm, the air was thick with the smell of grilled food, and the laughter of her friends filled the air. Sam waved to her from the porch as she parked, his usual easy grin plastered on his face.
"Riley!" he called out, jogging over. "You ready for this?"
She chuckled, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "I guess. What's on the menu today?"
"Ribs, burgers, and a couple of sides. Oh, and I may or may not have brought a massive cooler of beer," Sam added with a mischievous wink.
Riley raised an eyebrow. "Youâre really making this a party, huh?"
"You bet. It's a hangout, not a snooze fest."
Riley grinned, following Sam inside. The house was already buzzing with activity, the grill sizzling in the backyard as everyone mingled and talked. She could hear Maya and Jordan arguing over music, while Danny and Elena were deep in conversation on the patio.
Rileyâs eyes scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on Elena. Elena looked as casual and relaxed as ever, her laughter filling the space as she leaned against the railing, her eyes sparkling with something unspoken. And as if on cue, Elena caught Rileyâs gaze. Their eyes locked for a beat longer than necessary, before Elena smiled warmly at her, a softness in her expression.
Rileyâs heart gave a small, unexpected jolt. She quickly turned away, shaking her head at herself. Pull it together, Riley.
"Hey, Riley!" Maya called out from the grill, holding up a drink. "You want one?"
Riley snapped back to reality and joined her. "Sure, why not?"
As she grabbed the drink from Maya, Riley couldnât help but notice how comfortable everyone was with each other. It was like theyâd all fallen into this easy rhythm of friendship that made everything feel natural. It was a far cry from the awkwardness of their early days together, and Riley liked it. She felt like she finally had a place in this group.
After a few drinks and some food, the vibe shifted into something more relaxed, more like a regular weekend hangout. There was no agenda, no project to discussâjust friends enjoying each otherâs company. Sam had pulled out his guitar, and a few of the group members had gathered around to listen.
Riley leaned back in her chair, watching Sam strum lazily, while Maya and Jordan argued good-naturedly over what song should come next. She couldnât help but notice how at ease Elena seemed, her shoulders relaxed as she sat next to Maya, laughing at Dannyâs jokes. It felt... different now. The air was thick with a comfort Riley hadnât realized sheâd been craving.
Riley sipped her drink, the alcohol warming her from the inside. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she glanced at it. A text from Elena.
Elena: Are you okay? Youâve been kind of quiet.
Riley felt a slight smile tug at her lips. She tapped out a reply quickly, trying not to seem too eager.
Riley: Iâm good. Just enjoying the vibes. You?
A moment later, Elenaâs response came through.
Elena: Same. Glad weâre all hanging out.
Rileyâs heart fluttered, but she shoved the feeling away. This wasnât the time to start overthinking things.
"Riley!" Danny called from the other side of the yard. "You in for a game of horseshoes?"
Riley shot Elena a quick look, then shrugged. "Why not?"
Elena raised an eyebrow but didnât say anything, merely giving Riley a nod before she returned to her conversation with Maya. Riley couldnât decide if she was disappointed or relieved that Elena hadnât joined her. It was probably better this way, she thought, as she walked over to Danny.
The game was lighthearted and full of banter, with each team trying their best not to embarrass themselves. Riley had to admit, the change in dynamic from earlier in the day was welcome. No project. No pressure. Just laughter and the joy of simple competition.
After a while, though, Riley found herself wandering back to the porch, her attention wandering toward Elena again.
The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. Elena was sitting on the steps now, her legs crossed, eyes fixed on the horizon. It was moments like this, quiet and serene, that Riley found herself wondering what was going on in Elenaâs head. What did Elena think of her now? They were friends, sure, but was there something more?
Shaking her head, Riley tried to push the thoughts out of her mind. She was overthinking thingsâagain.
It wasnât until she was standing a few feet away that Elena glanced up and smiled at her.
"Hey," Elena greeted softly, patting the step beside her. "You want to come sit?"
Riley hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, sure."
She took a seat beside Elena, their shoulders almost brushing. The conversation between them was light, with Elena teasing Riley about her overly competitive nature, but the ease between them felt different this time. It was like theyâd crossed some invisible line.
And maybe it was just the late afternoon sun casting its glow, or maybe it was the way Elenaâs presence seemed to wrap around her in this oddly comforting way, but Riley found herself wishing the moment would stretch on forever.
But then, of course, there was Danny.
"Riley, Elena!" Dannyâs loud voice broke through the quiet, and Riley groaned inwardly. "Come on! Weâre doing a photo shoot!"
Rileyâs eyes closed briefly, and Elena let out a small, exasperated sigh.
"Weâre not doing that," Riley muttered under her breath.
But Elena laughed, nudging her gently. "Why not? Itâll be fun."
Riley shot her a playful glance. "Youâre not actually suggesting we take part in Dannyâs weird group photoshoot, are you?"
Elena shrugged innocently. "Why not? It sounds like it could be fun."
Riley stared at her for a long second before shaking her head. "Youâre impossible."
But even as she said it, a smile tugged at her lips. She couldnât help it. It felt... nice to be in this place with Elena.
With a deep sigh, Riley stood up. "Alright, alright. Iâll do it. But if you embarrass me in these pictures, Iâm going to make you pay."
Elena grinned. "Deal."
They walked toward the others, the easy camaraderie between them growing stronger. Riley glanced over at Elena one last time, and despite everythingâdespite the group, the noise, the chaosâRiley felt... content.
Maybe this wasnât as complicated as she had made it in her head. Maybe she could just enjoy this moment with Elena, whatever it was.
But of course, life had other plans.
Just as they approached the group, Dannyâs phone buzzed. He glanced at it before his eyes widened in surprise.
"Uh, guys, weâve got a problem," Danny said, his voice suddenly serious. "You wonât believe who just showed up."