“That guy’s got some mad game,” Keith responds. “Those ladies are at least ten years older than him.”
“Oh please.” Blaine rolls his eyes. “He’s got nothing. The boy’s an amateur.”
Libby stifles a laugh, almost spitting out her umbrella topped mix drink.
“What, you think that’s funny?” Blaine’s voice carries a teasing tone despite his brows furrowing.
“Yeah, I do,” Libby retorts casually.
In one smooth swift motion, Blaine swipes Libby’s drink from her.
“Hey! Give me back my drink!” Libby squeals playfully.
With a sly smile, Blaine takes a sip of her drink, “Tell me why you think it’s funny, then I will.”
“What are you five?” Libby snorts.
“No, but Ryder is,” Blaine mumbles, getting a chuckle out of a few of the guys.
“Well, the five-year-old has more game than you,” Libby bites back, everyone now laughing at our table. Well, everyone except Blaine.
Blaine raises an eyebrow before loudly slurping down the rest of the drink he swiped from Libby.
“Still got you, didn’t I?” He winks playfully. “I’ll go get you another drink.”
Stunned into silence, no one at our table says anything for more than a beat.
“I’m not going to lie,” Keith whispers next to me. “That was some pretty damn impressive game Mitchell just dished out.”
Bren turns her head in every direction, catching my attention.
“Has anyone seen, Tyler?” Bren asks, now standing up from her seat to look around the beach bar.
“He went home,” Ryder proclaims as he walks up with his new friends.
“What are you talking about?” I question; my mind begins to race with anxious thoughts. Why did he leave? Did he really go home?
“Yeah,” Ryder replies, holding one of the woman’s hands, while the other drapes herself all over him, vying for his attention. “After his first beer, he tapped my shoulder while I was talking to Jillian and Jackie. Told me he was over it and headed out.”
“That’s . . .” Bren pauses, her face scrunched in confusion and concern.
“Not like him,” I finish.
“No big deal, he probably just needed to blow off some steam,” Blake casually explains, like a typical guy not thinking anything is a big deal.
Libby thumbs strike faster than lightning as she quickly taps out a text on her phone, likely to check on Tyler.
Keith pulls his phone out too. “I’ll shoot him a text. Anyone want anything from the bar?”
A few “No thanks” and head shakes are the only responses Keith gets.
“I’m sure he’s fine.” Lucas tries to comfort us with his easy words and pulls me close to his side.
“He just texted me back,” Libby sighs with relief. “He said he’s back at the house, and he was tired.”
“Why does everyone look like something bad just happened,” Blaine asks, coming back to the table. “My joke wasn’t that terrible.” He hands Libby a fresh drink that’s twice the size of her previous one.
“Tyler left without telling anyone,” Bren complains.
