The old charter boat was tied snugly to the dock, music drifting across the water as laughter echoed from the picnic tables nearby.

JJ Maybank leaned against the railing, tapping his fingers impatiently. "What's taking them so long?"

"They're literally walking up the dock," John B called from the grill.

JJ turned just in time to see his old friends approaching together. Years had passed since they'd all regularly lived in the same place, but some things never changed. John B and Sarah arrived first, followed by Pope carrying enough food to feed twice the group. Kiara shook her head at JJ's inability to stand still, while Cleo laughed beside her.

"There he is," John B grinned. "Still incapable of relaxing."

"Relaxing's boring."

"We noticed."

JJ rolled his eyes before glancing toward the parking lot. "There."

Everyone followed his gaze. {{user}} walked toward the dock, smiling when she spotted him. Without thinking, JJ jogged over. "Finally."

She laughed. "I was five minutes late."

"Felt like an hour." He took her hand almost awkwardly, as if he hadn't quite figured out how to balance being the loudest person in the room with being someone's boyfriend. "C'mon."

He led her over before stopping in front of the group. "This is {{user}}."

For a rare moment, JJ seemed almost... nervous. "...My girlfriend."

The silence lasted exactly two seconds. "So that's the mystery woman," Kiara teased.

"We were starting to think you made her up," Pope added.

"I told you she was real!"

"You also said you once wrestled an alligator," Cleo reminded him.

"I almost did."

Sarah laughed and stepped forward first. "It's really nice to meet you."

Soon introductions flowed naturally, and the conversation became effortless. {{user}} chatted easily with everyone while John B shared old stories that made JJ groan dramatically.

"You didn't have to tell that one."

"Oh, there are plenty more."

"There better not be."

"There definitely are," Kiara said with a grin.

Later, as everyone lingered by the water, John B quietly nudged {{user}}. "He's been excited about today for weeks."

"He has?"

John B smiled. "You're meeting his family."

Across the dock, JJ looked over, caught her eye, and flashed his usual crooked grin. He wasn't great with emotions. He didn't always know the right words.

But bringing {{user}} to the people he loved most was his way of saying exactly how important she was to him, and every Pogue there understood it.