Chapter 5 John #2
He looks ecstatic, despite the fact that he confirmed he’s straight only a few hours ago.
Then he grabs the second shot and knocks it back.
I can’t even begin to imagine a truly drunk Chad, but it seems like he’s heading that way, if he’s not already there.
I need to get the fuck out of here before he becomes my responsibility.
Chad shouldn’t be my anything.
He slams his second shot glass down then looks at the two untouched shots still sitting in front of me. His eyes go wide, and he grins.
“No,” I warn immediately.
“Yes,” he whispers as he reaches for the shots.
“Chad. No,” I attempt more firmly, biting my tongue so I don’t scold him for being such a brat.
“Blake and Liam are fucking, it’s only fair I get to have their drinks to fill the emptiness in my heart.
” He pouts dramatically, but his tone still sounds so positive I have no idea if he actually feels that way.
It’s enough to have me pausing, though, and before I can stop him, he does the two shots back-to-back.
He coughs, then wipes his mouth as he shivers before his smile returns in full force.
“Let’s go to the sex club!” he shouts. “Wait, no. Gay strip club? Lessss go, John.”
There’s no fucking way I’m bringing him anywhere other than back to the penthouse to go to sleep.
“We’re not going to a club,” I attempt to spell out clearly.
When everyone else in our group went off to do their own thing, I had hoped I’d be able to slip away and find someone to help me forget all about the eternally optimistic brunet with a perfect body who won’t stop touching me.
But all my plans to hookup tonight are now ruined because I can’t possibly leave Chad alone when he’s like this.
Someone needs to make sure he gets home safely.
“But you promised,” he complains, sticking out his bottom lip.
“I didn’t promise you shit,” I say with a short laugh.
“Hmm. Pretty sure you did.”
There’s no hope in getting him to listen.
I look over the balcony and see Kieran, Jace, and Ash, all in just about the same positions as they were last time, and Liam and Blake still haven’t emerged from the bathroom.
I hate group texts, but I reluctantly pull out my phone and type a text to the group chat I’ve barely talked in.
John
Chad’s drunk. Someone bring him back to the penthouse.
“So have you been to a club like this before or will this be your firsstime?” he asks, slurring his words even more than before as he tries to look over my shoulder to see who I’m texting.
“Back up.” I growl so he stops touching me. It’s too much. “You’re in this fucking group chat so there’s no need to be that close to me.”
“Yes, sir. So aggressive,” he teases.
I ignore his comment, refusing to allow him calling me sir to affect me. I stare at my phone screen, willing anyone to respond.
No one does. Fuck. Of course they don’t; Blake and Liam are fucking in the bathroom, Kieran and Jace are grinding on the dance floor, and Ash is sandwiched between two attractive guys who look like they’re in their early forties.
I wait another few minutes, doing my best to block out Chad’s rambling and the way the club lights make his smile light up even more. Eventually, I admit my hope of anyone else getting Chad back tonight was stupid.
Maybe if I just drop him off at the penthouse, I can go out after and then I won’t have to worry about anything happening to him. He’ll be where he needs to be, and I can find someone to hookup with.
“Fine. Let’s go,” I say harshly, grabbing his arm to haul him into a standing position.
“Ohhh, I like it when you manhandle me,” Chad jokes.
“I’m not manhandling you,” I scoff, dragging him through the busy club. The second we get outside onto the street, I let go of his arm, and he stumbles.
“Why’d you let go?” Chad whines, gripping my arm again.
“Because you’re a grown man. Do you seriously need me to hold you upright?”
“YessIdo,” he agrees immediately, like it’s one word.
Before I can respond, a tall blond man turns around and shoves Chad, practically shouting at him. “Yo! What the fuck, watch where you’re going, shithead!”
“Sssorry, didn’t mean to, man” Chad slurs with wide eyes as though he’s actually afraid of the guy, who I’m assuming is also drunk and feeling cocky. Chad is far too pure to ever look so helpless, and something in my chest twists at the sight of him looking afraid of upsetting this guy.
“You almost hit my girl,” the man shouts back, clearly not wanting to let this go.
“Hey, asshole, leave him alone. It was an accident; he’d never intentionally hurt anyone,” I say, stepping in front of Chad so I’m standing between them.
“Ohhh, I see,” the guy says, looking between us, smirking as if he’s got us all figured out. “What, your bitch can’t stand up for himself?”
“Watch your fucking mouth,” I seethe. I don’t want to fight this idiot, it’s absolutely not worth it, but I also don’t want him to think it’s okay to assume things about people, or be an asshole for the sake of trying to seem tough in front of his girl.
“Come on, Kevin, let’s go. Leave them alone,” the girl with him starts saying as she tugs on his arm.
“You heard her,” I encourage while still glaring at him. Chad crowds in against my back, and I reach my left hand around to grab his arm, for some reason needing to confirm that he’s okay.
“Fuck you both. Good thing my girl’s here, or you’d be really sorry,” he spits out before turning to leave.
I don’t need to get the last word in so as soon as I watch him actually walk away, I turn to Chad. He’s staring up at me and, for some reason, it looks like he’s about to burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, burying his face in my neck. I let out a deep breath, letting my heart rate return to normal as Chad holds onto me, and I wrap one arm around his back. “Thank you, John. No one’s ever stood up for me before like that.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised because it was literally the most basic decent thing I could’ve done.
“Yeah, I can’t believe you did that.”
Should I not have? “It was nothing. That guy was just a drunk asshole trying to act like he had a big dick,” I say, soothing Chad still as he finds comfort in me.
“Just… means a lot.”
I grunt and peel myself off him; that was a lot of him pressing himself against me, and this night has been confusing enough.
His affection is more than I can handle, but it seems like it wasn’t enough for Chad.
As soon as I start to walk, he links his arm with mine, saying, “Still need you.” Before I can think of a good reason to give him other than you’re too hot and too straight to keep touching me this much, he spots a restaurant up the street and announces: “We’re going there!
” as he steers me toward it. The closer we get, he lets his hand slide down my arm like he’s unable to maintain his grip, but then he laces our fingers together.
It’s too much. “Chad? What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
He looks down at our hands, then up at me, again like he’s confused by what I’m even asking. “What?”
“Why are you holding my hand? That’s not helping you stand at all.”
He shrugs, smiling at me with amusement shining in his big, blue eyes. “I just like touching you. I’m an affectionate drunk, and you defended me from that mean man who wanted to hurt me. You got me all in my feels, so it’s your fault, really.”
If anyone else tried to pull this, I’d be furious.
I’m annoyed with myself for not immediately pushing him away, but I keep telling myself that Liam would be pissed if I let anything happen to him.
I’m sure drunk Chad would accidentally wind up in another fight or getting his innocent self into some crazy shit.
So, yep, definitely doing this for Liam because him and Blake would be upset if something happened to Chad. The adoring way Chad is staring up at me is irrelevant and not affecting me at all.
He squeezes my hand again like I need reassurance. What for? I have no idea. Then he pulls me forward to the restaurant he must’ve had his eye on.
“This looks amaaazing,” he sings as we approach the restaurant.
“It’s just a burger place,” I point out.
“Per-fec-t.” He nods with drunken authority, saying each syllable like it’s a separate word. “I need meat in my mouth.”
I squeeze my eyes tight for a moment, taking a steadying breath because does he not hear the words out of his mouth? As we get closer, I realize the line inside is backed up to the door. People are packed in, shoulder to shoulder, clearly having the same late-night ideas as drunk Chad.
“Do you really want to wait in this line?” I check, wondering just how hungry and drunk he is.
“Yes, we need to eat!” he insists.
I gesture at the line with my free hand. “This could be awhile.”
“I don’t care. I have you to keep me company.” He looks at me with a huge grin, then leans into my shoulder while still holding my hand.
“And that’s good?” I prompt, so beyond confused at this point.
People don’t usually beg for my company, especially people who are so outgoing and popular. They usually avoid me, and Chad is one of those people who seems to draw the attention of everyone in whatever room he’s in. His happiness is infectious and it’s as if everyone wants to bask in his glow.
I know I’m not like that. And I’m fine with who I am. I’m just confused why he seems so drawn to me when he’s the one everyone else is constantly gravitating toward.
“Yes, John. I like hangin’ out with you. I’m soooo excited to finally spend time together this weekend. You’re my bestie-in-law, like I said.”
I bite my lip to prevent a smile at his ridiculousness. “That’s not a thing.”
“It is,” Chad insists with huge, pleading eyes to accompany his ever-present smile. “You’re marrying into my best friend’s life. Wait, no, not you. Your best friend is marrying my best friend. God, he’s so happy with Liam.”