“Perfect, everyone pile in together!” Chad instructs, holding his phone out with the back camera facing us.
“You sure we’re all going to fit?” Jace checks.
“I put it on the point-five lens so it should,” Chad says.
Everyone squeezes in, and after he snaps the photo, Chad holds it out for all of us to look at. We look great. Even John, who’s standing as far back as he can, still has the smallest hint of a smile.
“Perfect,” I comment.
“Now one without the necklaces that we can post?” Ash asks hopefully, probably not wanting to have this one on the internet.
“Yeah, okay,” Chad says, pulling his necklace off without complaint while everyone else follows.
We take a few more photos, eat quickly, and still make it to the club in time without any issues. We walk past the giant line of people waiting, hoping to get inside, and talk to the bouncers. One leads us in, explaining where our table is and gives us a rundown about what to expect for the night.
We have a booth reserved just for us on the balcony overlooking the main dance floor with our own dedicated waiters. A woman with very little clothing on comes overand introduces herself as our main waitress for the night and asks what we’d like to drink. I know some guys love the whole half-naked thing, especially on their bachelor party weekend, but those guys aren’t as lucky as I am, and I have no desire to ogle anyone other than Liam, so I barely notice it.
“We’ll take a round of Macallan shots please!” Chad answers the waitress, then we all order our individual drinks.
“Be right back,” she promises with a smile and walks away.
“Holy shit, this place is packed,” Liam says into my ear as we slide into the booth.
It’s already almost midnight and the dance floor is completely full. There’s a huge electronic chandelier above the crowd that moves and rearranges with the pulsing beat of the DJ’s music. I love it. Our waitress comes back with seven shots for the table, and Chad helps pass them around to everyone before we hold them up for a toast.
“To having the best friends a guy could ever hope for, and to us all having the best weekend ever!” I say, and everyone holds up their glasses saying “Best weekend ever” before clinking them together and taking the shot, even John.
After it goes down, I can’t help but say more because this really is so important to me. “Seriously, guys, it means a lot to us that you’re all here. To have all of our closest friends together is so cool. I know you don’t all know each other as well as you do us, but I think you allknow that I’m not as close with my actual family as I want to be with my chosen one, and I want you all to be a part of that. I’m so happy that we have this time to bond and have fun. I cannot wait for what the rest of the weekend has in store!”
“Wow, Blake. That was actually really sweet,” Ash says with a surprised smile.
“You’ve always been my family, bro,” Chad adds, throwing an arm around my shoulder for a side hug.
“I feel the same way,” Liam adds on my other side, addressing the group. “John, obviously you’ve been in my life the longest, but I’m so glad that you’re back in town, and I’m glad that I have the rest of you in my life now, too. When I signed up for the show, I had hoped to meet a partner to share my life with, but I never could have imagined all of this.” He smiles at our friends, and I take his hand in mine, squeezing it in support. I know he doesn’t usually open up like this, and I love that he feels so comfortable with our people.
My smile is obnoxious as he continues. “As someone who’s always been more reserved, I didn’t think I needed a huge group of friends, but Blake introducing me to you guys.” He gestures to Chad and then Ash. “And Jace, the friendship that we formed on the show, and meeting you, Kieran, it’s all made my life so much fuller than I could have ever imagined. So thank you for being a part of it.”
“I’m lucky to have you in my life,” Jace assures Liam from his other side, squeezing his shoulder. “No need to thank us.”
“Yeah, you guys might be chaotic as hell at times, butit’s also pretty amazing,” Kieran teases, looking between Chad and I.
“I hope you know that your friendship has meant a lot to me,” Ash agrees.
I turn to John with an encouraging smile. He’s the only one who hasn’t said anything. He takes a sip of the whiskey on the rocks he ordered, looking out over the club. After a few moments, he notices me looking at him, and arches a brow, as if he’s challenging my expectant look.
“Are you going to add anything, Johnny?” Chad says, nudging his shoulder. I don’t know how John keeps ending up next to Chad when he claims he annoys him so much, but it’s kind of funny to see how alarmed he looks by the casual touch.
“Johhny?” he repeats. “That’s not my name. And Liam knows he’s my best friend. I don’t need to give a big, sappy speech about it.”
“Aww, your best friend. I knew you had a big heart under all your leather and tattoos,” Chad teases, and it only makes John’s scowl deepen. They’re hilarious together.
“Well on that note,” I singsong. “Let’s party!”
5
JOHN
This alcohol needs to kick in immediately.
