Chase was blushing, and something about seeing him flustered made me squirm in my seat.
“Oh my God,” Benji said. “Look at them. They’re so smitten.”
“We’re not smitten,” Chase and I said at the same time.
Which only made everyone laugh harder.
“Smitten or not, you are adorable,” Priya said. “Both of you. It is kind of gross how adorable you are.”
“I think it’s nice,” Jacks said. “They’re happy. Happy is good. Everyone should be happy like that.”
“Jacks is a secret romantic,” Benji stage-whispered.
“I’m not secret about it. Ijust think—” Jacks paused, his brow furrowing. “People should have what you two have, the ‘looking at each other’ thing and the ‘defending each other’ thing and the just, I don’t know, ‘being happy to be in the same space’ thing. That’s good. It’s what everyone wants.”
Silence fell, comfortable and warm. Priya stared at Jacks, her gaze assessing, yet also approving. I knew that look far too well.
Mark raised his beer. “To Finn and Chase, and whatever this is.”
“To Finn and Chase,” everyone echoed.
And when I looked at Chase from across the table, he was looking back at me with so much affection in his eyes that I almost forgot how to breathe.
The gang started leaving around three. The bar opened at four, and we still had setup ahead.
Mark went first. Then Jacks, who had an opening shift at the bar. Benji and Priya, now joined at the hip, prepared to leave as they arrived together. Benji hugged both of us, giving us sloppy kisses on each cheek like some drunk European.
Priya pulled me aside.
“I approve,” she said. “Chase is a good man. Donot screw this up, Finnigan O’Hara.”
“O’Brien,” I corrected.
“It was aGone with the Windreference, thank you very much.” She scowled. “Just lock that man down. Good ones are rare.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I am serious, Finn. That man is in love with you. I can see it all over his face. If you feel the same way—which I think you do—don’t let fear or doubt get in the way.”
“I’m not afraid—”
“Are you talking back to me? Tome?” Her brow shot up so fast it could’ve injured someone. “I know you, Finn, better than most, and I am a doctor. It is my job to see what people refuse to tell me. Youareterrified. It is plain as day.” She squeezed my arm. “But I believe he is worth the risk. Trust me.”
Then they were gone, and it was just Chase and me standing in the suddenly quiet house.
The backyard was a disaster, but the kitchen was worse. Dirty plates and cups lay scattered everywhere, empty beer bottles stood like soldiers across the coffee table and kitchen island, and half-eaten platters of burgers and fries needed to be put away.
“Well,” I said, looking around. “That was—”
“Great,” Chase said. “It was great. Your friendsare amazing.”
“They like you.”
“You think?”
I laughed. “Chase, seriously? I think Priya wants to date you now. And Jacks was sizing up the place for curtains.” I started gathering plates. “Believe me, you’re in with the gang. Each of them told me so . . . multiple times . . . very emphatically.”
“That’s good,” he said as his hand found its way into his tangled mess of hair. The windy backyard had done a number on all of us, but Chase most of all. “You need to get to the bar, don’t you?”
