Chapter 5 John
JOHN
This alcohol needs to kick in immediately.
Dance clubs are at the very bottom of my list of places I’d choose to go, but this weekend isn’t about me. It’s about being here for Liam and, by extension, Blake. So here I am.
Liam slides up beside me against the balcony rail, drink in hand. He’s quiet for a moment, just looking out over everyone dancing below us. “Thanks for coming, man,” he says, nudging my shoulder lightly. “I know this isn’t your scene.”
“Not even remotely,” I agree. “But I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“How’s your new place coming along?” Liam asks.
“I’m really glad I got it. It’s got good bones, just needed someone willing to put in the time,” I say with a shrug. “Looks like that’s me.”
“You know I’m down to help whenever you need a hand,” he offers. “You’re always helping out around the farm. Let me know when I can return the favor.”
“You don’t need—”
“I want to, John,” Liam insists.
“Alright. I will,” I promise, and we fall into a comfortable silence, the kind only old friends can share without needing to fill it.
At least, the kind of friends I like to have. After watching Blake and Chad’s relationship, I’ve realized just how polar opposite Liam’s and my friendship is. Not better, just different. Ours suits us.
Behind us, Kieran and Jace are talking louder and louder about dancing as they come up behind us to look over the balcony too.
“Come on, babe, you told me you went to clubs all the time when you first moved to New York,” Kieran says. “Doesn’t it look so fun down there?”
“I did,” Jace agrees, sounding amused. “If you want to go dance, we can.”
“Hell yes, show me what I missed all those years apart,” Kieran yells, pulling Jace toward the stairs.
“I’m coming too!” Ash shouts and follows them, leaving Blake and Chad at the table together.
Liam huffs a laugh beside me. “You want to go join them?”
“Not even a little.”
“Great. Me neither.” We clink glasses without looking at each other as we watch them making their way onto the dance floor below us.
I should’ve known the quiet wouldn’t last, though, with who’s still up here.
Chad and Blake have been chanting “Shots!” multiple times since we got here.
Right as I take another sip of my drink, Chad pops up between us, throwing his arms over our shoulders, and I think the drinks he had in the penthouse are already catching up to him because all his weight is leaning on us.
I’m hyperaware of everywhere he’s touching me, and I try to ignore the way his easy smile makes something twist in my gut.
“Okay,” he announces, already yelling over the music even though he’s way too close to my ear. “I have a very important question.”
“What’s up, Chad?” Liam asks, far more used to Chad’s antics than I am.
I assume he has a soft spot for Chad because he’s his fiancé’s best friend and they’re so similar, but I’ve been surprised by nearly everything that’s come out of his mouth today when he was sober, so I can only imagine what he’ll be like tonight.
Chad turns, pointing between the two of us. “How the fuck did you two become friends?”
I blink. “What?”
“You”—He lays his head on my shoulder, keeping it there to look at Liam—“and you, how did this happen? Because you”—He lifts his head to stand more upright again as he looks at me—“are… well, you have this whole sexy biker baddie vibe.” He drags his eyes over my outfit.
“And Liam is more of a… lumberjack-looking farmer. Explain.”
Liam eyes Chad curiously for a moment, and I actively dismiss his comment about my looks.
He confirmed earlier today that he isn’t interested in men.
And even if he was, Chad is… Chad. He’s probably the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met, so it doesn’t matter that he’s also the most attractive.
He’s way too bubbly and outgoing for us to ever get along.
And the way he’s been staring longingly at Blake and Liam all weekend has me convinced he’s either secretly in love with his best friend, or he’s jealous of what they have and he wants to be in a committed relationship too. No, thank you.
So many reasons for me to stay far away from the hot man who won’t seem to stop touching me.
Thankfully, Liam answers him. “Our teachers paired us up in school because we were both quiet, and they probably hoped we’d bond over it and become friends.”
“Everyone else was annoying, and we got along without needing to talk all the time,” I add as I shoot a pointed look at Chad. Seriously, he’s been up my ass all day, and he’s the last person I want anywhere near my ass.
But as usual, he’s completely undeterred by my comment. He just beams at me like he’s thrilled I answered him at all. “You can pretend to be annoyed by me all you want, but I know you love when we hang out. I’m great.”
I grunt and turn away from his annoyingly symmetrical face and notice Jace and Kieran below us, dancing together, both with massive smiles on their faces. It’s obvious how completely in love they are.
Ash is across the dance floor from them, sandwiched between two strangers, looking like he’s having the time of his life as they dance with their hands all over him. He’s clearly the center of their attention, and he’s loving it.
Did I ever look like that with Luke? I can’t really wrap my head around how happy and carefree everyone here seems to be. But that’s not just a here thing; I gave up on being happy a long time ago.
“You guys having fun?” Blake asks, cheeks flushed, probably from all the shots he and Chad have had since we got here.
Liam smiles back at him and leans in for a quick kiss. “Yeah, of course, baby.”
Blake’s grin widens. “Good, but now it’s my time for fun. I’m ready to get all hot and bothered.”
Liam raises an eyebrow. “Dancing?”
“Nope.” Blake winks and pulls Liam toward him. “You know what I want, come and give it to me, babe.”
Liam smirks then shakes his head in resignation and follows his fiancé without protest. I can’t blame him.
Blake is a very attractive man, and he never hides how eager he is to bend over for Liam.
I wish I knew less about their sex life, but those two have never had impulse control a day in their lives.
Chad watches them disappear into the small hallway leading to the bathrooms, eyes wide, his muscular, solid weight now resting on me. “Oh my god,” he says dramatically, turning back to me. “They’re totally sneaking off to hook up!”
“Well, they didn’t exactly hide that,” I point out dryly, guiding him back toward the table so he can sit down. I thought Blake was pretty clear.
Our waitress comes back and asks if we’d like anything else, and Chad asks for four shots. He must be thinking that Liam and Blake will return soon, but I’m not going to waste my time telling him he’s delusional.
A few minutes later, she’s back with the shots. Chad takes them and hands me two, keeping two in his hands.
“Uh, I’m good,” I say, setting them down on the table in front of us. I’m about to leave and don’t intend to be drunk at the next club I have in mind.
“Whaddya mean?” Chad’s eyes go wide. “You have to do shots: it’s a bachelor party.”
“I’m heading out,” I explain.
“Where could you possibly be going?" Chad asks, clearly alarmed. It’s actually kind of wild how he manages to still look so good despite his bloodshot eyes.
“Nowhere,” I say dismissively, trying to brush off his never-ending questions.
“Noooo. You can’t go back to the hotel alreadyyy,” he insists. “It’s soo early.”
“I’m not.” I let out a big sigh.
“Then where the hell’re you going, John? You can’t leave me, I’ll be all alone.”
“You’re not alone, everyone else is still here. And this isn’t my scene. I’m going to a different kind of club.”
“A different… kind of club,” he repeats slowly, probably trying to piece together what I mean. I regret my answer immediately. He looks so intrigued, and I really don’t want to hear whatever the fuck is going to come out of his mouth next.
I say nothing in response, hoping he’ll drop it. But of course he doesn’t. Only looking more excited, as if he’s figured out something important.
“Wait! Are you bi too? Is it a gay club? Oh fuck, am I not supposed to ask that?”
“I’m gay,” I confirm as I roll my eyes. I’ve never given a shit if anyone knows that. “But I’m not going to a gay club.”
“Oh. Well, what other kinds of clubs are there…?” he wonders aloud, pausing to tip back one of the shots. “Club… Club… what a weird word, club,” he says slowly, really enunciating the B. “Wait. Are you going to a kink club? You do have a dick piercing.”
He looks so proud of himself as he smiles at me. Meanwhile, I’m doing my very best to focus on maintaining my blank stare. The phrase “kink club” coming out of his mouth immediately inspires countless fantasies that this man has no right to star in.
“Come ooon, you have to tell me,” he insists. “Actually no, don’t tell me! Juss bring me with you! I love surprises.”
I sigh, rubbing my forehead as he pops up from his seat.
I am not drunk enough to deal with this.
Why the fuck would Chad want to go to any of those places with me?
If I thought Blake was a lot when I first met him, he’s got nothing on Chad.
Chad acts like he’s never heard the word “no” in his life and simply can’t comprehend that he won’t get exactly what he wants at all times.
He really is a spoiled little princess, and I want to hate him for it, but he’s just so unflappably cheery and nice all the time, it’s hard to actually dislike him.
“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!”