Me.
Tony.
Sage.
Chloe.
I was pretty lit, Tony never seems drunk I wasn’t sure abut Chloe but I had bought Sage at least four rounds not sure howmany fuckface had before I intervened. An after party on the boat was within walking distance. Crashing there was always our go to after a night out. See? We were responsible.
The four of us walking down the docks under yellow lights and salt air.
Wood creaking under our shoes. Masts clinking softly. Water slapping against hulls.
Tony’s practically vibrating.
This time he doesn’t even pretend he’s not loaded up with family money as he talks about the yacht and his ski house in the same breath.
He steps ahead of everyone like a tour guide. “Welcome aboard Artemis.”
He helps Chloe down first like she’s royalty. Offers his hand. Makes a whole show of it.
I glance at Sage. “Is she single? What’s her deal?”
She shrugs, smiling like it’s a private joke. “I don’t know. Chloe just does whatever she wants.”
“That’s… not helpful.”
She leans closer. “Stop worrying about Tony.”
Her hand slides into mine. Warm. Certain.
“Come here,” she murmurs.
And just like that, Tony stops existing.
We idle out into the harbor.
City lights shimmer on the water. The skyline looks fake, like a postcard.
Tony disappears into the galley and comes back with a bottle of champagne I didn’t even know he owned.
“Where the hell did you get that?” I ask.
“Emergency supplies,” he says, popping the cork like he’s in a movie.
He’s laying it on thick—blanket, glasses, the whole works.
Chloe laughs at everything he says, but it’s softer now. Closer.
They migrate toward the bow, wrapped together under the blanket like they’ve known each other longer than an hour.
Tony’s arm around her shoulders.
Her head tipped into his chest.
I blink.
Well damn.
