I was starting to get a shadow, most prominent above my lip and on my chin. My ability to grow a beard hadn’t changed much since my teens, but it didn’t bother me since I couldn’t have one while in the military anyways. I preferred the feeling of being cleanshaven.
I sighed, realizing my white dress shirt was now giving an awesome display of my chest tattoo and nipples. I laughed at myself and unbuttoned my shirt. I should’ve worn an undershirt but had been in too much of a rush to think about it. I stood with my shirt under the hand dryer, lost in thought when the bathroom door opened.
I jerked my hand from underneath the dryer, cutting the noise. I gave the stranger an awkward smile, “Sorry. The rain. Trying to dry off.”
The middle-aged man nodded with a smile and went to handle his business at a urinal.
I shook my head at myself, adjusting the shirt.
The door opened again, and I sighed as Jae, Sebastian, and Benji all strolled in. I grimaced, watching as Benji screeched and slapped his hands over his ears and quickly withdrew the shirt again.
Jae laughed, stopping in front of me, and I couldn’t help but notice that Sebastian was staring at my tattoo as he ushered Benji ahead of him into a stall.
Jae’s laughter abruptly died as I turned to look at him. “Could’ve told me I was giving the restaurant a free nip show, you dip.”
Jae chuckled again and made his way to a urinal.
I gave up on drying the shirt and shrugged it back on.
“No, Benji!” Sebastian sighed loudly before continuing on in Spanish, talking to Benji. It sounded like Benji might have done something gross, like touched the inside of the public toilet.
Jae and I shared a look as he stepped up to wash his hands. I finished tucking in my shirt, grateful that at least it was no longer sticking to my chest and revealing my nipples despite still being damp.
The stranger exited the bathroom, leaving Jae and I at the sinks. I turned to leave but Jae gave me a silent gesture to wait.
He air-dried his hands as he ushered me towards the exit.
“See you out there, Seb,” Jae called over his shoulder before the door shut.
“You figure out what you’re gonna order?”
“Yeah. The burger. You?”
“Gonna do the steak. Dad’s paying, so I might as well go all out.”
I shook my head at his comment, eyes snagging on the wall of liquor as we passed the bar. Jae tugged my arm, pulling me out of the way just in time as a waiter with drinks passed us.
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
Jae swung his arm over my shoulder, tucking me in close, “Anytime, brother. I’m glad you came.”
I scoffed, lightly punching him in the abs as he led us back to our table. “Of course, I’d be here. I don’t think I could be any prouder of you, Jae.”
“Aw,” he cooed, squeezing me tighter, which meant I was awkwardly being shoved into his armpit.
“Shut up, dip,” I chuckled, shaking him off of me as we approached the table.
Everyone’s attention landed on us as I dropped into my seat. Sebastian followed in quickly behind us with Benji who was running in a beeline for the table.
The waiter stepped in, probably waiting for us all to return to the table, and took our orders.
After the waiter left, I hadn’t expected the conversation they were all having to die and nearly choked on my saliva when Eden called my name from down the table.
“So, we were right!” She said with a proud smile. “I found that scrunchie in your bathroom and I just knew you were seeing someone.”
I swallowed, ignoring Sebastian’s attention to my left.Fuck, if he knew who I was dating…
“Yeah,” I smiled, unable to hide the joy I felt in getting to call her mine.
