“You’re my bestie-in-law, you have to bring me. And we’re best men together. Oh my god, duh,” he shouts, and before I can even ask, he adds, “We’re going to a gay strip club!”
He looks ecstatic, despite the fact that he confirmed he’s straight only a few hours ago. Then he grabs the second shot and knocks it back. I can’t even begin to imagine a truly drunk Chad, but it seems like he’s heading that way, if he’s not already there. I need to get the fuck out of here before he becomes my responsibility.
Chad shouldn’t be my anything.
He slams his second shot glass down then looks at the two untouched shots still sitting in front of me. His eyes go wide, and he grins.
“No,” I warn immediately.
“Yes,” he whispers as he reaches for the shots.
“Chad. No,” I attempt more firmly, biting my tongue so I don’t scold him for being such a brat.
“Blake and Liam are fucking, it’s only fair I get to have their drinks to fill the emptiness in my heart.” He pouts dramatically, but his tone still sounds so positive I have no idea if he actually feels that way. It’s enough to have me pausing, though, and before I can stop him, he does the two shots back-to-back. He coughs, then wipes his mouth as he shivers before his smile returns in full force.
“Let’s go to the sex club!” he shouts. “Wait, no. Gay strip club? Lessss go, John.”
There’s no fucking way I’m bringing him anywhere other than back to the penthouse to go to sleep.
“We’re not going to a club,” I attempt to spell out clearly.
When everyone else in our group went off to do their own thing, I had hoped I’d be able to slip away and find someone to help me forget all about the eternally optimistic brunet with a perfect body who won’t stop touching me. But all my plans to hookup tonight are now ruined because I can’t possibly leave Chad alone when he’s like this. Someone needs to make sure he gets home safely.
“But you promised,” he complains, sticking out his bottom lip.
“I didn’t promise you shit,” I say with a short laugh.
“Hmm. Pretty sure you did.”
There’s no hope in getting him to listen. I look over the balcony and see Kieran, Jace, and Ash, all in just about the same positions as they were last time, and Liam and Blake still haven’t emerged from the bathroom. I hate group texts, but I reluctantly pull out my phone and type a text to the group chat I’ve barely talked in.
John
Chad’s drunk. Someone bring him back to the penthouse.
“So have you been to a club like this before or will this be your firsstime?” he asks, slurring his words even more than before as he tries to look over my shoulder to see who I’m texting.
“Back up.” I growl so he stops touching me. It’s toomuch. “You’re in this fucking group chat so there’s no need to be that close to me.”
“Yes, sir. So aggressive,” he teases.
I ignore his comment, refusing to allow him calling me sir to affect me. I stare at my phone screen, willing anyone to respond.
No one does.Fuck.Of course they don’t; Blake and Liam are fucking in the bathroom, Kieran and Jace are grinding on the dance floor, and Ash is sandwiched between two attractive guys who look like they’re in their early forties.
I wait another few minutes, doing my best to block out Chad’s rambling and the way the club lights make his smile light up even more. Eventually, I admit my hope of anyone else getting Chad back tonight was stupid.
Maybe if I just drop him off at the penthouse, I can go out after and then I won’t have to worry about anything happening to him. He’ll be where he needs to be, and I can find someone to hookup with.
“Fine. Let’s go,” I say harshly, grabbing his arm to haul him into a standing position.
“Ohhh, I like it when you manhandle me,” Chad jokes.
“I’m not manhandling you,” I scoff, dragging him through the busy club. The second we get outside onto the street, I let go of his arm, and he stumbles.
“Why’d you let go?” Chad whines, gripping my arm again.
“Because you’re a grown man. Do you seriously need me to hold you upright?”
