I smiled as an idea formed in my head. When was the last time we’d gone out just for shits and giggles?
A pre-bachelor party outing. That’s what I needed. One last hurrah with my best friend before the whirlwind of the wedding swept us both away.
Before I talked myself out of it, because Victoria would be back tomorrow and hungover Adam was not her favorite, I grabbed my keys and headed for Lusitana.
The familiar route to my parents’ restaurant calmed my nerves, even as a mix of emotions swirled in my belly. Something in the air was unsettling. If only I could pinpoint what it was. Probably just pre-wedding jitters.
Getting married? Hell yeah. Getting all the attention? Hard pass.
The dinner rush was in full swing when I arrived. I slipped through the crowded dining room. The controlled chaos ofclattering pans and sizzling grills welcomed me, the scents of garlic and herbs filling the air.
The restaurant was as much home as our childhood home was, thanks to the endless school vacations my brothers and I spent working here. We’d mastered every single job except the kitchen. As teenagers, we’d felt like it was an obligation, but now I appreciated that Lusitana wasn’t just a business. It was part of the family, and it was only when you got down and dirty with everyone else that you really understood why.
River had always loved it more than us, so my dad had taken him under his wing before we all left for college. He even got a business degree so he could one day take over the restaurant.
River was in his element at Lusitana. He moved with practiced grace, calling out orders and checking plates with a focused intensity that was River through and through.
“Hey, boss!” I called out, grinning as River’s head snapped up in surprise. “Got a minute?”
His expression softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “For you? Always,” he said, wiping his hands on a towel as he approached. “What’s up? Shouldn’t you be cuddled up with your fiancée watching a movie or something?”
I shrugged, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish. “She’s away for business.”
River’s brows furrowed. I knew exactly what he was thinking. Victoria had promised no business meetings during the month before the wedding.
Ignoring the words he wasn’t saying, I said, “I had an idea. What do you say we blow this popsicle stand and have a guys’ night out? Pre-bachelor party style?”
River’s eyebrows shot up. “Now? Adam, I’m in the middle of dinner service. I can’t just?—”
“Come on,” I pleaded, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes. “When was the last time we did something spontaneous? I’mgetting married in three weeks, man. Don’t I deserve one last night of freedom?”
I watched the conflict play across his face and the moment responsibility gave way to something else. He sighed, shaking his head with a rueful smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“That’s why you love me,” I quipped.
River turned to his assistant manager, rattling off instructions and handing over the reins for the evening. I felt a surge of warmth at how easily he gave in. How willing he was to drop everything for me. It had always been that way between us, an effortless give and take that felt as natural as breathing. That was why he was my best friend.
As we stepped out into the cool evening air, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. This was exactly what I needed—a night with my best friend, free from the pressures of wedding planning and future responsibilities.
“So, what’s the plan?” River asked, falling into step beside me. “Please tell me it doesn’t involve strippers or anything cliché like that.”
I laughed, bumping his shoulder. “Give me some credit. I was thinking we could start with drinks at Tanner’s and then maybe hit that new gay club that opened a couple of months ago.”
River’s eyes shot up at the mention of the gay club, but he didn’t say anything. A club was a club, right? Music, alcohol, and poor decisions.
Besides, it’s not like it would be the first time I’d been to a gay club. With my best friend and two brothers being queer, I’d been to more gay clubs than any other. I’d just never been the one suggesting it.
Cliffborough’s city center was small enough that once you found your parking spot, you could walk everywhere, and thankfully for us, Tanner’s wasn’t far from Lusitana. The club was a little farther away, but we could get a rideshare back to getmy car. If we got too drunk, we’d take the rideshare home and return for my car in the morning. Easy-peasy.
As we walked, I found my gaze drawn to River. The streetlights caught the angles of his face, softening the worry lines that had begun to appear. I frowned, wondering when those lines had formed and why I hadn’t noticed them.
“You okay, River?” I asked. “You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The one that says you’re overthinking something. Want to talk about it?”
“I want to talk about why you really came out tonight.”
