This time, I lift a finger. “Don’t you dare.” We exchange understanding smiles till Em interrupts our moment with her whining.
“Jake is well-coordinated and can swivel his hips.” She pouts. “I don’t know how you do it. I’m as stiff as a board.”
Jake smirks at Emma. “Aw, Ems, don’t be jealous. You could move your hips, too, if you would just loosen up a bit. Seriously, you’re overthinking it.”
Em narrows her eyes and gives him a small push. “I am not overthinking it.” She stomps like a child.
He scoffs. “You overthink everything, Em.”
She rears her head back. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Enough,” Levi snaps and smacks Jake’s chest. “Or you guys will never stop.” Levi then turns to me. He’s right. Jake and Em could argue for hours, just like siblings. They grew up in similar worlds, and it’s the one thing Levi and I can’t and don’t attempt to understand.
“The class is great, babe. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Confidence will get you everywhere.” He winks at me while lightly jogging in place to keep his heart rate steady.
His wavy dark hair bounces over his blue eyes in rhythm with his legs. Levi is, hands down, one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever met. Combine that with his musical talents and bad-boy demeanor, he’s full on lethal. Or he would be, if it not for his blatant genuine sweetness.
“Thanks for coming, guys. I really appreciate the support.”
“Don’t worry about it. Now go get your fine ass back up there, break is almost over.” Jake smacks my ass, making me jump. I flip him off over my shoulder. He’s also easy on the eyes, but just like Levi, we’ve never crossed the friendship line.
A couple of people have had trouble accepting our friend group in the past, mostly due to Jake's family. The wealth from his father’s media company, along with their never-ending popularity, constantly puts them in the public eye. Meaning that for a little while, we were subjected to being exploited by certain tabloids as well. Luckily, those days are long gone for Levi, Em, and I. Jake still gets photographed when he’s back at home.
“Alright, break is over, everybody ready?”
Grunts spread across the studio while Levi cheers loudly.
“That’s what I like to hear, let’s go.” “Mujeriego” by Ryan Castro plays, and my body starts to vibrate again. I live for this feeling, and as soon as the song speeds up, as always, I lose myself to the music.
“I am starving.”Levi plops down into a red booth at our favorite place in town to eat, Roxy’s. It's an eighties-themed diner with walls covered in neon light signs and a black and white checkerboard floor.
“Same.” I sit next to Levi and lean on his shoulder.
Em politely waves at the waiter, and we put our orders in, already knowing what we want. She then turns her attention to Jake.
“How was your summer?”
“The usual. Multiple charity and other obnoxious events with the fam.” He smiles sarcastically at what he says next. “They tried to set me up with women of, and I quote, ‘good breeding.’”
We groan in unison.
“Exactly,” he continues, “they think that in order for me to have my shit together, I need to not only have excellent grades and take over the family business but have someone to marry after I graduate. That’s the dynastic plan. And if I don’t, I won’t see a penny of my inheritance, and I’ll most likely get disowned,” he bites out.
My lips curl in disgust. Who says ofgood breedinganymore?
“Do you really care that much about your inheritance?” I ask for the hundredth time since we’ve known each other.
“Listen, I hate the way they speak about women, and you know I hate their particular world, but I need my inheritance. I can’t let them have anything to hold over my head anymore. I do not want to, fuck that, Icannotturn into my father. Eventually, I’ll have to cut ties with them, I guess. Maybe…I don’t know.” Herubs his hands down his face, looking exhausted just thinking about his future. “Can we please talk about something else?” Jake usually looks so confident and sure of himself, yet whenever he talks about his family, he ages ten years. It won’t be hard for him to find a wife. He’s sweet…most of the time, funny, and good-looking. But he can be irresponsible when there’s too much pressure on him.
“I found Ray fucking his parent’s pool boy over the summer. Talk about a walking cliché,” Levi says casually.
I choke on my juice.
“What?” Em squeals, and we all flinch. “I thought you guys were crazy about each other. What the hell happened?”
“Apparently, he can’t handle dating a bisexual guy. He thought I would’ve cheated on him with a woman later in the relationship.” Levi lets out a humorless laugh and my heart drops at the underlying pain in his voice. “It’s ridiculous and would’ve never happened. I’ve had some girls think the same thing. It sucks, but it is what it is.” He frowns.
I slap his arm.
