Charlie had the good grace to look contrite. “Sorry.” He bumped shoulders with Riley. “If it’s any consolation, he’s been checking you out too.”
Riley scoffed; that was so not true. After that first drink he’d bought him, he hadn’t spoken to Alex much at all. Currently, Dylan and Jake were busy chewing his ear about God knew what. “He’s hardly looked my way all night.” Riley glanced to his left to prove his point, but Alex had gone again. “Where’d he go now?”
Charlie looked over Riley’s shoulder, his eyebrows drawing together for a second. “Bar.”
“Again?” He glanced behind him, and with an unpleasant jolt, saw why Charlie had frowned.
Alex was leaning half over the bar, talking and laughing with the barman—the young, slim, and very hot barman. With perfect hair and perfect teeth. Riley hated him on the spot. “Fuck.”
Of course, he was exactly Alex’s type.What was I thinking?His own heavier build, crooked front teeth, and unruly hair weren’t what Alex looked for in a man. He fucking knew that, but he’d got caught up with all Charlie’s encouragement, thinking he had a chance.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
And now all the beer he’d drunk was making him a miserable bastard.
“They’re just talking,” Charlie whispered, indicating with his beer.
Unable to help himself, Riley turned to look again to see Alex had now stood up straight, beer in hand. Unfortunately it was also in time to see the guy slip Alex a piece of paper, which Alex pocketed with a smile. From the way he stood, Riley had the side view of his face, clear enough to see Alex’s dimples were on show and obviously charming the bartender, judging from the way he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“And exchanging phone numbers, apparently.”
Riley hated the bitter edge to his voice. He didn’t own Alex; he had no right to be pissed off.
Charlie nudged him again, softer this time. “I didn’t see Alex give him anything in return, and what does it matter? That’s just some guy he met tonight. You’re his best mate. I think you get dibs.”
Riley snorted at that and watched Alex sway a little as he manoeuvred through the crowd to get back to them. “He’s not a thing.”
“You know what I mean.”
Whatever witty reply Riley might have made died on his tongue as Alex crowded up behind him and slung an arm over his shoulder. His breath, cool from the beer he’d just bought, hit the back of Riley’s neck, and Riley shivered. Hopefully, Alex was way too drunk to notice.
“Hey, Ri.” Alex’s voice came out velvety soft and far too close to Riley’s ear. “What did you want to talk about earlier?”
No. No, no, no. They were not having this conversation while drunk. Riley couldn’t handle Alex forgetting a second time. “Never mind, I’ll ask you another time.”
“You sure?”
Alex was so close, his lips brushed Riley’s skin, and there was no amount of alcohol that would make him numb to that. Riley’s jeans got a little tight in front, and he thanked God the bar was busy enough and dark enough to hide it.
“Yeah,” he managed to get out, a little huskier than he would have liked, but under the circumstances, he’d take it.
“Okay.” Alex patted him on the shoulder and sort of stumbled between Riley and Charlie to go lean all over Nick and interrupt whatever he was explaining to Abi.
Charlie leaned in close. The brothers were roughly the same height, although Riley was bigger across the shoulders. Charlie easily made himself heard. “Jesus, Ri, you’ve got it so bad I’m amazed he’s not called you out on it before now. He must be blind not to see it.”
If Charlie had meant that to sound encouraging, then he failed miserably. All it did was reinforce Riley’s suspicions that maybe Alex did know and when sober tried to pretend it wasn’t there. Everyone did stupid shit when they were drunk. Apparently, Alex’s stupid shit was Riley.
He drained the rest of his pint and said, loud enough for the rest of his friends to hear, “Shots!”
A chorus of approval met his declaration, along with an eye-roll from Charlie, his conscience for the night. But Charlie still downed the shot Riley passed to him. And the round after that.
The rest of the night disappeared in a blur of lights, music, and more alcohol.
“Oh God.” Riley managed to open one eye enough to see a glass of water and a pack of Nurofen on the table next to his bed. Along with a bucket.God bless you, Mum.
And on further inspection, a note.
Me and your dad have gone out for Sunday lunch. Both you and your brother were invited but you looked like death, so we left you. Please try not to throw up on my carpets.
