“Jacks,” I called out. “You made it.”
“Yeah, boss. Wouldn’t miss it.” Jacks’s nervousness seemed to evaporate the moment he saw me. He crossed the yard and gave me a quick hug, nearlylifting me off my feet. It was the kind of casual, easy affection we’d grown used to over the past few months. “Chase has a nice place. It screams adult; kinda makes me feel like I need to step up my game.”
“I’m sure your place is fine,” I said.
“My place has pizza boxes on the floor and a couch that’s older than I am.”
“Okay, maybe your place needs work.” I grinned. “But we like you anyway.”
Jacks started helping without being asked—setting out plates, organizing condiments, just naturally making himself useful. I watched him and Chase work around each other in the kitchen, Jacks filling the silence with his rambling thoughts and Chase responding with a patient, amused expression.
“So, Chase,” Jacks said while arranging cups. “You come to the bar like all the time now. That’s cool . . . that you’re supportive and stuff. Of the bar, I mean. And Finn. Supportive of Finn. Which is good because—” He paused, seeming to realize he was rambling. “What I’m trying to say is it’s nice. That you show up. A lot of people wouldn’t do that, you know? You just sit in a booth for hours while your . . . while Finn works. So. Yeah. That’s cool of you.”
I felt my chest tighten.
Jacks meant every word—he always did.
“I like being there,” Chasesaid.
“Still. It’s cool.” Jacks grabbed the beer he’d brought. “Want one? Or are you more of a wine guy? You look like you might be a wine guy. No offense.”
“Beer’s great.”
I turned back to the grill, smiling to myself. This was going better than I’d hoped, though my rational brain knew the real storm had yet to arrive.
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang again, and I heard Benji’s voice echo through the house before I even saw him.
“The hot lawyer! And he’s even hotter in person without the stress of bar lighting. Priya, look at him. Isn’t he gorgeous?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Of course Benji would start with that.
“I see him,” Priya’s dry voice replied. “Hello, Chase. Thank you for having us.”
I abandoned the grill and headed inside to find Benji already in the kitchen, setting down four bottles of wine with dramatic flair.
“I brought wine, four different bottles because I didn’t know what you’d want. I got red and white and rosé and this one that’s sparkling becausebubbles make everything better, like me.”
Jacks snickered. “Like you. Right.”
Benji shoved Jacks playfully. The mountain barely budged.
“Where should I chill these?” Benji asked, motioning to the three non-red bottles like Vanna revealing letters onWheel of Fortune.
“Fridge is fine,” Chase said, looking shell-shocked.
Benji swept past him and started rearranging the carefully organized fridge to make room for the wine.
Priya caught my eye and smiled. “Your boyfriend looks terrified.”
“He’s not my—” I stopped. Was he my boyfriend? We’d still yet to define whatever we were. Hell, we hadn’t even told each other how we felt. I knew Chase was into me. No one could fake the way he looked into my eyes. Still, it would be nice to have a bit of confirmation, some label to wear for all to see. “He’s just nervous. You’re all terrifying.”
“We are delightful.” She moved past me toward the backyard. “Come on. It should be fun to see how long it takes Benji to make him crack.”
The afternoon unfolded both as I’d feared and hoped. My friends descended on Chase like a pack of well-meaning but starving wolves.
Benji asked about everything. His childhood, family, coming out story, favorite movies, even whether he preferred cats or dogs (Chase said dogs, which was the right answer based on Benji’s enthusiastic response). Benji asked if Chase had ever cheated on anyone, if he’d ever broken someone’s heart, and if he believed in soulmates.
“Jesus, Benji,” I said at one point. “Let the poor guy eat. This isn’t a trial.”
