CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
↳ PDA overload

THE CHATEAU WAS QUIETER THAN IT HAD BEEN IN DAYS. With the sun dipping lower in the sky and the evening settling in, everyone had naturally drifted into their own little corners. John B and Sarah were lounging on the hammock outside, deep in conversation, while Pope and Kiara sat on the dock, their voices carrying softly over the water.

Hazel glanced around from where she stood on the porch, noticing how everyone had naturally paired off. She felt a nudge at her elbow and turned to find JJ grinning at her, his expression equal parts mischievous and nervous.

"We could, uh..." JJ gestured vaguely toward the house, his eyebrows wiggling in an exaggerated attempt at casualness. "You know. Go... do something? Inside. Like, I don't know, sit?"

Hazel bit back a laugh, her lips curving into a smirk. "Real smooth, Maybank."

JJ rolled his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, fine. You wanna go inside and... hang out? Or whatever? Because if I have to sit here watching Heyward try to make small talk with Kiara any longer, I might actually explode."

Hazel raised an eyebrow but nodded, slipping her hand into his. "Sure. Let's 'hang out.'" She couldn't resist teasing him, especially when his ears turned a little pink at the contact.

They slipped inside the house, the screen door creaking shut behind them. JJ led the way to Hazel's room, closing the door with a soft click before turning to face her. For a moment, he looked unsure of what to say, shoving his hands into his pockets as if that would somehow make him look cooler.

"So," he started, his voice cracking slightly before he cleared his throat. "Uh, it's, like, quieter in here. Which is... nice. Right?"

Hazel crossed her arms, leaning back against the door with an amused smile. "Nice? That's your big pitch?"

JJ groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Look, I don't do this whole... 'being normal' thing, okay? You're making it hard."

Hazel stepped closer, her teasing smirk softening into something warmer. "It doesn't have to be normal, JJ. It just has to be us."

That seemed to relax him—at least a little. JJ let out a breath, his shoulders loosening as he reached for her hand. "Okay. Us. I can do that."

Hazel tilted her head. "Good. Now get over here, idiot."

JJ grinned, his confidence returning as he leaned in closer. 

His lips met hers, soft at first, testing the waters. Hazel's fingers lightly brushed against his jaw, pulling him closer as their kiss deepened. When she kissed him back with equal fervor, JJ's hesitations melted away, replaced by the heat of the moment. His hands found her waist, fingers curling around her hips as he stepped backwards until he was sitting at the edge of her bed and pulled her fully into his lap.

Hazel's fingers tangled in his hair, tugging just enough to draw a quiet groan from JJ. The sound sent a ripple of electricity through her, making her bolder. She shifted closer, her legs straddling his thighs, her chest pressing against his as their kiss turned more fervent.

JJ's hands slipped beneath her hoodie, his palms skimming her back, warm and deliberate. Hazel gasped softly, her lips parting against his, and JJ pulled back slightly, his breathing uneven.

"Is this okay?" he asked, his voice rougher than usual. His blue eyes searched hers, his forehead resting against hers.

Hazel laughed softly, brushing her fingers along his jaw. "You're doing fine, Maybank. Better than fine."

JJ grinned, though his cheeks flushed pink. "Good. 'Cause I feel like my brain just turned to mush, and I'm not sure I'm running on anything but instinct here."

"Instinct's good," Hazel teased, her voice breathy as her fingers skimmed the back of his neck. "Just... don't overthink it."

"Cool, cool," JJ murmured, nodding as his hands settled on her hips again, drawing her closer. "I can do that. No thinking. Just this."

Their lips met again, and Hazel lost herself in the feel of him—his warmth, his steady hands, the way his mouth moved with hers like they'd been made for this. Her fingers trailed down his chest, slipping under the hem of his shirt to feel the hard lines of muscle beneath. JJ inhaled sharply, his hands tightening on her hips, but he didn't stop her.

She shifted her weight, leaning into him, and they toppled backward onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and laughter. JJ's head hit the pillow with a soft thud, and he blinked up at her, his hair a mess, his grin lopsided. "Well, this is new. Usually, I'm the one pinning someone down."

"Shut up," Hazel muttered, straddling him and leaning down to kiss him again, silencing his playful remark. Her hands trailed down his chest, tugging his shirt up slightly as her lips moved to his jaw, then his neck.

JJ groaned, his hands sliding up her thighs, over her hips, exploring every inch he could reach. "You're gonna kill me, Zel," he muttered, his voice low and rough.

Hazel smiled against his skin, her confidence growing with every sound she pulled from him. "Not my fault you're so easy to mess with."

JJ opened his mouth to respond, but it was cut off by another gasp as her hands slid lower, teasing the waistband of his jeans. His grip on her tightened, his lips finding hers again in a kiss that was all heat and desperation.

The world outside ceased to exist. It was just them, their breaths mingling, the quiet murmurs and shared laughter. JJ's hands were everywhere—her waist, her thighs, her back—like he couldn't get enough of her. Hazel's skin burned where he touched her, and her heart raced, the intensity of it all leaving her dizzy.

But as the moment grew hotter, more frantic, something shifted. JJ pulled back slightly, his chest heaving as he looked up at her, his hands stilling on her hips. "Hazel, wait."

Hazel froze, her breath catching as she met his gaze. "What? What's wrong?"

JJ shook his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Nothing. I just... I don't wanna mess this up."

Hazel's heart softened at the vulnerability in his voice. She leaned down, her forehead resting against his. "You're not messing anything up. You're perfect."

JJ let out a soft laugh, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "You make me feel like I might actually be."

Hazel kissed him softly, her hands cupping his face as she whispered, "You are."

They stayed like that for a moment, their foreheads touching, their breaths mingling. It wasn't about rushing or proving anything—it was about them, about how right it felt to be here, together.

JJ's lips curved into a grin, his hand sliding up her back. "I'm pretty sure I'm falling for you, Zel."

Hazel's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing as she met his gaze. "Pretty sure?"

JJ laughed, his voice light but full of emotion. "Okay, fine. Definitely sure."

Before she could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps and a door slamming echoed through the house. They both froze, their heads snapping toward the door.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" JJ groaned, dropping his head back onto the pillow. "We can't catch a break."

Hazel laughed, sliding off him and grabbing his hand to pull him to his feet. "Guess we'll have to try again later. Somewhere with fewer interruptions."

JJ smirked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they headed for the door. "Deal. But next time, I'm locking the front door and throwing my phone in the ocean."

Hazel snorted, leaning into him as they stepped out into the hall, ready to face whatever chaos awaited them this time.

* * *

Some time later, the Twinkie bumped along the backroads, the summer air hot and sticky as it filtered through the open windows. Music played faintly from the radio, but the usual lighthearted banter among the Pogues was noticeably absent.

In the back, JJ and Hazel were tucked into one corner, her legs draped over his lap as he absentmindedly traced patterns on her thigh. They shared quiet smiles, completely lost in their little bubble. Hazel leaned closer, whispering something in his ear that made JJ chuckle under his breath, his hand resting on her waist.

Across from them, Pope sat stiffly with his arms crossed, staring out the window. Kiara glanced over at him, her expression uncertain, as if debating whether to say something. Every time she opened her mouth, though, she closed it again, the tension between them palpable.

John B gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, sneaking glances at Sarah in the passenger seat. She had her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the horizon, avoiding his eyes.

JJ finally broke the silence, leaning forward with a grin. "Alright, Pope. You've been sitting on this big reveal. Spill it. What's the deal with the key?"

Pope hesitated, running a hand over his face before digging into his pocket and pulling out the small, ornate key. "I found it a while back. Limbrey kept going on about it, and I didn't think much of it until now. She slipped up and mentioned something called the Cross of Santa Domingo."

Hazel raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "And we care about this because...?"

"I don't know yet," Pope admitted, a flicker of frustration in his voice. "But it has to be important. Why else would she be after it?"

Kiara pulled out her phone, typing quickly. "Hold on, let's figure this out. 'Cross of Santa Domingo'..." She paused, her brows knitting together as she scrolled through the results. "Okay, here it is. It's this giant gold cross. Like, massive. Apparently, it was hidden during the Spanish Inquisition to keep it from being destroyed. And guess what? It's worth a crap ton of money."

JJ whistled low. "You had me at 'crap ton of money.'"

Pope shook his head. "It's not just about the money. Limbrey made it sound like this thing is connected to Denmark Tanny."

John B glanced over his shoulder. "And that's why we're going to see your great-grandma?"

Pope nodded firmly. "She might know something about it. If this cross is tied to her old key, she'd be the one to ask."

When they arrived at the small, weathered house nestled at the edge of a thick grove of trees, the tension in the Twinkie reached a breaking point. Pope opened the door, stepping out without a word.

Kiara started to follow him, but Pope turned, his voice sharp. "Actually, I'm gonna do this one myself. I don't need you coming in with me."

Kiara froze, her face falling slightly. "Pope—"

"Seriously, Kie," Pope interrupted, his tone curt. "I got it."

JJ, leaning casually against the side of the van, raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't we just one big happy family today?"

The sarcasm hung heavy in the air as Kiara stepped back, her arms wrapping around herself defensively. Sarah exchanged a look with John B, but neither of them said anything, the weight of their own unresolved issues keeping them silent.

Pope turned without another word, making his way toward the front porch. The rest of the Pogues stood awkwardly by the Twinkie, the cracks in their usually tight-knit group more obvious than ever.

* * *

The Twinkie idled in the small corner store parking lot, its engine a steady hum against the faint buzz of neon lights outside. Kiara and Sarah had disappeared inside, their laughter trailing behind them as they pushed through the glass doors.

JJ had moved to the passenger seat, sprawled lazily with his feet propped on the dashboard, while Hazel perched on the edge of the seat behind him, her arms draped over the top of the chair as she leaned forward. John B tapped his fingers absently against the steering wheel, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.

JJ broke the silence with a wistful sigh. "Remember when life was simple?"

John B let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, like seven days ago."

"Seriously, though," JJ continued, gesturing vaguely out the window. "Think about it. Ward's still out there, he's got the gold, and we're sitting here debating snack choices."

Hazel snorted. "Some of us are just trying to stay alive, JJ."

JJ turned in his seat to face her, smirking. "And some of us are trying to keep things exciting, Zel. You're welcome."

John B shook his head, a grin tugging at his lips. "Man, it's good to know at least one of us hasn't changed."

JJ crossed his arms, pretending to be offended. "I've changed plenty. Ask Zel. I'm like... practically domesticated now."

Hazel rolled her eyes, though a small smile crept onto her face. "Yeah, sure. Real househusband material."

John B raised an eyebrow, a teasing edge to his voice. "Okay, but seriously—what's with all the googly eyes lately? You two are like... disgustingly cute."

Hazel felt her cheeks warm as she straightened up slightly. "Shut up, John B."

JJ grinned, elbowing John B lightly. "Don't be jealous, dude. You've got Sarah for all the cute stuff."

John B's expression softened at the mention of Sarah, but he didn't say anything. Hazel noticed the shift immediately, her teasing fading into concern. "Speaking of... everything okay with you two?" she asked gently.

John B hesitated, his fingers tightening briefly on the steering wheel before he exhaled. "It's... fine."

JJ gave him a pointed look. "That's convincing."

Hazel reached out to lightly nudge her brother's shoulder. "John B. Come on."

He sighed, leaning back in his seat. "It's just... complicated, you know? With everything going on, and now with Ward... I don't know. I feel like it's pulling us in different directions."

Hazel frowned. "You guys will figure it out. You always do."

"Yeah," JJ added, his tone unusually earnest. "Sarah's ride or die, man. She's not going anywhere."

John B nodded, though his expression remained distant. "I hope you're right."

After a moment, JJ clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Okay, enough with the heavy stuff. Back to me. I've been doing some thinking."

Hazel groaned. "Oh, no."

John B glanced at him warily. "This better not be another jailbreak plan."

"Relax," JJ said, holding up his hands. "This one's foolproof. I'm talking about Ward, okay? Limbrey's got that evidence on tape, right? The one that could put him away?"

John B nodded slowly. "Pope said she has it. But, uh, she also tried to kidnap him, so... there's that."

JJ waved this off. "Details. The point is, if we can get that evidence, Ward's done. We could put him away for good. Justice for your dad, guys. End of story."

John B's lips pressed into a thin line. "I mean, you're not wrong. But it's not exactly a walk in the park."

"Good thing your best friend is JJ Maybank," JJ said with a confident smirk. "I got a plan."

Hazel leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, God. Here we go."

JJ turned to face her, grinning. "Don't worry, Zel. I'm including you in this one. Power couple vibes."

John B groaned, shaking his head. "Please, no. I don't need you two turning this into some weird date night."

JJ smirked. "Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it. Maybe you and Sarah could—"

"Stop," John B interrupted, holding up a hand. "Just... stop."

JJ laughed, glancing back at Hazel. "Killjoy."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, nudging him lightly. "Let's hear the plan first before you start celebrating."

* * *