I busied myself with scanning the menu as a few other people slowly filed over to join us. I picked out what I wanted pretty easily: burger, fries, and a blue-colored cocktail that would give me some energy. That done, I looked up, wanting to make a start on Taeho. If I could sway him before Xavi did, I might still get the chance to swap roommates and not feel so alone on this trip.
“What are you getting, Tae?” I asked. I flicked my hair over one of my shoulders, remembering I’d seen him eyeing it in the past.
“I was thinking about the fish,” he said.
“Mm, yeah,” I pretended. “I was thinking between that and the burger.” Xavi kicked me under the table. I ignored him.
He nodded. I admired how his sharp-angled cheekbones bounced the light back. “That sounds good, too.”
“We could share if you want,” I offered. “Half and half each. I could swap with Xavi so we’re sitting opposite.”
“I’m deciding between the burger and fish, too,” Xavi said, looking at me with narrowed eyes. “I could share with Taeho.”
“It was my idea,” I insisted.
“I don’t want to share,” Taeho said, his eyes flicking between us with concern. “I’m having the fish.”
“Right,” I nodded, waving a hand as if it wasn’t a thing. “I’ll just get the burger, then.”
“What are you doing?” Xavi hissed at me quietly, leaning in so only I could hear him. I saw Taeho glance up and then back down. His ears had gone red. We weren’t exactly being subtle.
“I can talk to whoever I want,” I hissed back, giving him a good kick under the table as payback.
Xavi yelped and shot me a murderous look. “I got dibs.”
I snorted. I leaned back in my chair so we could talk better without everyone else listening. “We’re not twelve.”
“You’re just jealous,” Xavi said, turning his nose up. “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll throw you a bone if this doesn’t work out.”
I snorted again. “Fuck off.”
“Seriously, I actually have a chance at getting with a hot guy here,” Xavi muttered. “Back off.”
He swung back around, his front chair legs hitting the floor as he turned to strike up a conversation with Olly. I watched him for a second, carefully trying to rearrange my face so I didn’t look completely stricken.
Right. A chance with a hot guy.
Meaning, what? He didn’t see me as a hot guy, so I was just his backup option if all else failed?
I tried not to let it get to me, but it fucking stung.
It wasn’t even like I was definitely sold on trying to get with Xavi this weekend, butfuck.
“I think the burger sounds good,” Brody said quietly when I leaned back over the table.
I looked up and gazed at him with what I hoped he understood were absolutedaggers.
“Is that everyone?” Keaton asked, looking down the table. I glanced around and saw that all the seats were full. There was general nodding in answer to his question. It didn’t look as though anyone was missing.
“Toast,” Olly announced, as brief with his words as ever. He picked up a glass in front of him – we’d all already had the same waiting when we’d sat down. Champagne.
All of us picked up our glasses as Keaton started to speak.
“I guess we just want to say thank you all for coming on our bachelor party trip,” he said, raising his glass up. “I know it’s traditional for the couple getting married to have their own events, but we realized our friend groups pretty much completely overlap, and besides, we didn’t want to be away from each other for too long.”
There was a chorus of boos around the table. “Come on, we’re about to eat,” Xavi said, making a disgusted face.
Keaton chuckled. “Alright, alright,” he said. “I’ll make it quick. It’s been three and a half, nearly four years since Ol and I got together in college. I can’t believe we’re here, I can’t believe it took so long to get here, and I can’t believe we haven’t already been here, all at the same time. I’m just… I’m happy. Alright – okay – no more soppy stuff! Have fun, thank you, and please try to refrain from having any drama on our trip. It will be good enough to remember anyway.”
