Dance clubs are at the very bottom of my list of places I’d choose to go, but this weekend isn’t about me. It’s about being here for Liam and, by extension, Blake. So here I am.
Liam slides up beside me against the balcony rail, drink in hand. He’s quiet for a moment, just looking out over everyone dancing below us. “Thanks for coming, man,” he says, nudging my shoulder lightly. “I know this isn’t your scene.”
“Not even remotely,” I agree. “But I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“How’s your new place coming along?” Liam asks.
“I’m really glad I got it. It’s got good bones, just needed someone willing to put in the time,” I say with a shrug. “Looks like that’s me.”
“You know I’m down to help whenever you need ahand,” he offers. “You’re always helping out around the farm. Let me know when I can return the favor.”
“You don’t need?—”
“I want to, John,” Liam insists.
“Alright. I will,” I promise, and we fall into a comfortable silence, the kind only old friends can share without needing to fill it.
At least, the kind of friendsIlike to have. After watching Blake and Chad’s relationship, I’ve realized just how polar opposite Liam’s and my friendship is. Not better, just different. Ours suits us.
Behind us, Kieran and Jace are talking louder and louder about dancing as they come up behind us to look over the balcony too.
“Come on, babe, you told me you went to clubs all the time when you first moved to New York,” Kieran says. “Doesn’t it look so fun down there?”
“I did,” Jace agrees, sounding amused. “If you want to go dance, we can.”
“Hell yes, show me what I missed all those years apart,” Kieran yells, pulling Jace toward the stairs.
“I’m coming too!” Ash shouts and follows them, leaving Blake and Chad at the table together.
Liam huffs a laugh beside me. “You want to go join them?”
“Not even a little.”
“Great. Me neither.” We clink glasses without looking at each other as we watch them making their way onto the dance floor below us.
I should’ve known the quiet wouldn’t last, though,with who’s still up here. Chad and Blake have been chanting “Shots!” multiple times since we got here. Right as I take another sip of my drink, Chad pops up between us, throwing his arms over our shoulders, and I think the drinks he had in the penthouse are already catching up to him because all his weight is leaning on us. I’m hyperaware of everywhere he’s touching me, and I try to ignore the way his easy smile makes something twist in my gut.
“Okay,” he announces, already yelling over the music even though he’s way too close to my ear. “I have a very important question.”
“What’s up, Chad?” Liam asks, far more used to Chad’s antics than I am. I assume he has a soft spot for Chad because he’s his fiancé’s best friend and they’re so similar, but I’ve been surprised by nearly everything that’s come out of his mouth today when he was sober, so I can only imagine what he’ll be like tonight.
Chad turns, pointing between the two of us. “How the fuck did you two become friends?”
I blink. “What?”
“You”—He lays his head on my shoulder, keeping it there to look at Liam—“and you, how did this happen? Because you”—He lifts his head to stand more upright again as he looks at me—“are… well, you have this whole sexy biker baddie vibe.” He drags his eyes over my outfit. “And Liam is more of a… lumberjack-looking farmer. Explain.”
Liam eyes Chad curiously for a moment, and I actively dismiss his comment about my looks. He confirmed earlier today that he isn’t interested in men.And even if he was, Chad is… Chad. He’s probably the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met, so it doesn’t matter that he’s also the most attractive. He’s way too bubbly and outgoing for us to ever get along. And the way he’s been staring longingly at Blake and Liam all weekend has me convinced he’s either secretly in love with his best friend, or he’s jealous of what they have and he wants to be in a committed relationship too. No, thank you.
So many reasons for me to stay far away from the hot man who won’t seem to stop touching me.
Thankfully, Liam answers him. “Our teachers paired us up in school because we were both quiet, and they probably hoped we’d bond over it and become friends.”
“Everyone else was annoying, and we got along without needing to talk all the time,” I add as I shoot a pointed look at Chad. Seriously, he’s been up my ass all day, and he’s the last person I want anywhere near my ass.
But as usual, he’s completely undeterred by my comment. He just beams at me like he’s thrilled I answered him at all. “You can pretend to be annoyed by me all you want, but I know you love when we hang out. I’m great.”
I grunt and turn away from his annoyingly symmetrical face and notice Jace and Kieran below us, dancing together, both with massive smiles on their faces. It’s obvious how completely in love they are.
