“I don’t mind waiting when the company is good,” he said as he turned to her with a smirk.
“Aww you flatter me! You’re just sucking up so I vote for you at the end of the night,” Hailey said before sticking out her tongue at Avery.
Abby was incredibly intense about karaoke and was giving out prizes at the end of the night for everyone’s favorite performances. It was her birthday, but she liked to make sure everyone was into the activity and having a blast. It’s why Hailey and her got along so well; they were both always worried about makingsure everyone else was having a good time. The only difference was their reasons why.
Abby had anxiety and drove herself nuts over other people’s wellbeing, kind of like how Hailey’s depression made her feel like she had to make sure everyone around her was happy. Oof, no wonder they were always tired.
“Is it working?” Avery chuckled.
“Only time will tell, my friend,” Hailey said as she noticed Avery tense for a moment. It was gone just as quickly as she heard a song she hadn’t heard in forever take over the speakers.
“Oh, God, who the heck is doing this song?” She turned to the stage and paled when she saw Gage holding the microphone and staring at her from the stage.
“This one’s for Hailey, to celebrate her favorite position,” he said into the mic before jumping into the Bloodhound Gang’s “Bad Touch.”
“Fuck me,” Hailey said while gaping at the stage.
“Jesus Christ,” Avery added under his breath while running a hand through his hair.
Hailey could feel her face getting redder and in a bit of a panic shouted, “That’s not my favorite!” but it was too late. Nobody but Avery could hear her over the song blasting throughout the room that suddenly felt like it was getting smaller.
As Gage reached the chorus, he pointed at Hailey while singing, “You and me baby ain’t nothing butmammals so let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel.” She turned back to the bar and muttered under her breath so only Avery could hear, “Okay, where’s that liquor we were waiting on?”
Luckily, the bartender chose that time to reach her and Avery and they each put in their drink orders.
When the bartender handed Hailey her and Gage’s drinks, her hands shook before she grabbed them.
Avery nudged her arm with his elbow. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah, great. I love it when everyone in a room simultaneously pictures my sex life. It’s great, wish it happened more often,” she deadpanned despite feeling flustered.
“I know you hate it. You’ve always been private about that, despite all your dirty jokes. It’s like you hide behind them to protect yourself, to keep your private life private, which makes sense. I totally respect it. If it makes you feel any better, no one in this room takes anything Gage says at face value. We’re all on Team Hailey Bills.”
“Well, thanks. It’s just nobody’s business. And I hate that Gage thinks I’d respond positively to that. It’s like he doesn’t know me at all. Fuck, he doesn’t even notice that I don’t enjoy that position with him. Or hardly any of them anymore. Sorry, that was too much information.”
Avery let out a deep breath next to Hailey. “You can always share anything with me, Hailey. I’d never share it with anyone else.”
“Thanks.” She offered him a small smile. “I’d never share you with anyone else either.”
Avery turned to her with his eyebrows raised, “Oh yeah? Want me all to yourself?” He was beaming now.
“Oh my God, I meant share your private life with anyone—oh, shut up!” Hailey swatted at Avery’s shoulder and they both started laughing.
Gage finished his song and made his way off the stage toward the two of them.
Hailey held up Gage’s beer for him and he ignored it for a moment, his hands going around her right to her ass before pressing a hard kiss to her mouth. She yelped as she was caught off guard and focused on not spilling his beer over herself.
When he pulled away, he had a big smile on his face, “So, what did you think? Your panties wet for me now, babe?”
Avery started coughing next to them and Hailey didn’t dare look in his direction, instead focusing on the mortification she was feeling.
“Oh look at that, it’s my turn to sing!” Hailey rushed over to the stage and grabbed the microphone from the stand. Peering over at where she left Gage and Avery standing together, she saw Gage turn and say somethingto Avery, but Avery’s attention stayed on Hailey.
Okay, time to focus.
“Happy birthday, Abby! This one’s for you!”
Once the music started, everyone in the room started laughing, except Gage of course. If he was expecting something sexy, he was going to be sorely disappointed.
