I’m glad it’s only him and Dakota coming to hangout. I really have been trying to get over this attachment to Kaden—even though I know it’s more of a codependence thing than anything else—but I’m still not ready to meet his boyfriend. My feelings for him had been slowly changing into purely platonic since we started college, until the night he kissed me. I almost stopped him—I should’ve stopped him—but all those old feelings hit me like a freight train, and I gave in way too quickly. Do I regret it? More than I would like to admit. When we stopped hooking up, it left me empty. I’d rather have never had him at all, than be left feeling like I’m missing out on something special.
“Ender, let’s go. What are you doing? We’re going to be late.” Connor’s snark breaks me out of my thoughts.
Without giving him the satisfaction of a response, I get up off the couch and walk out the door. Still, the little asshole is proud enough of himself to laugh loudly.
I turn on my playlist quickly after starting the car, hoping it will drown out Connor’s running commentary about his latest trysts. When we got home from the concert in Atlanta yesterday afternoon, he barely had time to shower before he was running out of the door to meet a guy he had hooked up with last week. Apparently, this guy has ‘potential,’ and he wants to see him again. Sad to say, I doubt he’s the one for Connor. I’m not saying my best friend is hard to please, but he’s a little high maintenance. There haven’t been any guys—or girls—who’ve come close to fulfilling the role—they always lack what Connor needs in a partner, or they can’t put up with all of his antics.
Luckily, when we pull up outside Kaden’s apartment building, he’s waiting outside.
“About time you guys showed up. Let me guess—Connor changed his outfit five times?” Kaden knows him so well.
“Close. Six times, but who’s counting?” That earns me a slap in the stomach from Connor.
“Ha ha, very funny. I can’t help that I have impeccable taste in clothes and a difficult time choosing the right outfit for each occasion.”
“Connor, we’re going to The Garden. You know it’s nothing fancy.” Kaden and Connor launch into a debate about what type of location or occasion justifies changing your outfit six times. I drown them out and focus on the music still playing.
We’re lucky it’s not busy when we get to the bar, and we snag a few couches off to one side of the room that give us a nice view of the dance floor, while still keeping us close to the main bar.
“I’m going to get drinks.” Kaden motions to Connor. “The usuals?” He doesn’t wait for my answer—he knows I always get the same IPA when we come here. This bar has over fifty beers on tap, but I have a hard time with change, and little things like trying new beers are no exception.
“What’s up, boys?” Faith slides onto the couch beside me. “Are you ready to deal with the lovefest that is Lanie and Jackson? I swear, it’s sickening watching—andlisteningto—them every night.” With a look of nausea on her face, Faith continues, “That guy’s dick must be like an elephant’s trunk if you were to go by the noises you hear coming from Lanie.”
Faith is only slightly more filtered than Connor when she’s in a good mood. This isn’t one of those times.
“Definitely not ready for the excessive PDA that’s going to be on full display all night.” I don’t add that I’m glad it will only be Lanie and Jackson and not Kaden with Luke, too.
Kaden comes back with drinks for all of us, including Faith. He’s good like that.
“What’s going to be on full display all night?”
“Your sister and her velcro other half. Those two are inseparable, and it’s nauseating.”
“Faith, you’re just jealous you don’t have a Jackson in your life.” Connor is poking the bear. He knows better than to do that, even when she’s not her usual crabby self. It’s funny how her two personalities are a combination of Connor and me on a good day.
“Fuck all the way off, Connor. You know nothing about my relationship status.” Faith has just opened herself up to a world of trouble. That’s like waving a red flag in front of a charging bull.
“Oh, so thereisa relationship there to have a status on? Do tell, princess.”
And there it is—now he’ll never let this go. From the corner of my eye, I catch someone approaching us. He’s kind of hot. The newcomer leans down and whispers in Kaden’s ear from behind him and making him jump up.
“Holy shit, you scared me.”
Please tell me this isn’t who I think it is.
“What are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming tonight.” Kaden definitely knows him; it must be Luke.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
Fucking hell, I wasn’t prepared for this.
“Ummmm, what’s going on here?” Faith interrupts their moment.
“Faith, you remember Luke. From the Christmas party we went to?” I guess he hasn’t told Faith that he was seeing this guy.
“Of course I do. How could I forget Jackson’s hot-as-fuck older brother? My question is,howdid this happen?”
“Story for another time. Guys, this is Luke. That’s Ender and Connor.” Kaden skips straight to the introductions without answering Faith.
