7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Trey
When we get to Austen’s building, the room is already packed, despite it being early.
Waiters parade around with trays of hors d’oeuvres, and I nearly piss myself when Paul talks Andre into trying one of the apps that looks like literal grey shit.
Hudson laughs beside me as he and the others are out of drinks.
“Anyone want a refill?” I ask.
“Fucking yeah,” Andre says, shaking his head. “That tasted like shit.”
Alex rolls his eyes as Mack says, “That’s what you get for being an idiot.”
“Amateurs, all of you,” Alex groans.
“Alright, stay put, I’m going in,” I say as Andre nods at me.
“I’ll come with,” he offers, and we both take off for the drink cart, getting a good look at the place as we go.
“Who would have thought he’d actually do it?” I say, glancing at the overhead lights that look like they should be displayed in a museum and not some brick building that’s full of so much bright color.
“Yeah, I know, it’s crazy. Who starts a video game company? After a divorce, too?” Andre says, shaking his head.
Something about his words make me feel unsettled, but I push it aside as we get in line.
“I’m not surprised. About the divorce part,” I admit.
Andre raises an eyebrow at me.
“Really?”
I shrug. “I mean, he always put more into Savannah than she did with him. It wasn’t exactly a secret.”
Andre’s eyes look a little glazed, and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or something else. He’s been weird all afternoon.
Maybe Hudson’s right. Maybe we have all changed…
though, I’m still not sure how I feel about that.
Change is inevitable. That’s one thing that is repeated in every self-help book I have read—and I’ve read a lot.
But that doesn’t mean I like it. Sometimes, I just wish some things would stay the same.
Sometimes it feels like the world around me is moving at the speed of light, and I’m just slow as fucking molasses.
“Marriage isn’t easy,” Andre says, his voice low. “It takes work. Austen put in the work and didn’t get it in return.”
I twist my lips to keep my mouth shut before I say something I will regret.
Everyone I know says that, and I swear, it’s like a kiss of death.
I get that you have to make an effort, prioritize the other person and all, but in my opinion, if you have to work at something—like Austen worked at being with Savannah—if you have to force it, maybe it isn’t really love, but convenience.
But what do I know? I’m no expert on relationships, clearly.
I just know there was always a difference when Austen was with Savannah than when he was with Cameron, and being as he’s with Cameron now, I think that detail is pretty obvious as to which one was easier.
Call me crazy, but love should be as easy as breathing.
Marriage, kids… all that should be a product of that ease, that connection that fuels you, not forced like some box you have to check off on a list of accomplishments or something.
Which is definitely what dating nowadays feels like.
Everyone’s got a laundry list of requirements, and no one takes the time to actually connect with you.
There’s just… no chemistry anymore. Just expectations, and if you don’t meet them on the first date, you’re screwed and likely to go home alone.
But maybe I’m just cynical because I’ve been single for the last five years and it’s made me bitter.
Sure, I’ve hooked up with people, but it’s not the same. Sex has just… lost its luster. Especially when I’m in a new place every other week.
We move up to the counter, and Andre orders his drink and Paul’s, and I put in an order for three beers for Huds, Alex, and Mack.
I pay for the drinks while Andre attempts to carry three, and I do the same.
When we get back to the table, I pass out the drinks. Hudson looks at me with narrowed eyes as I slide him his drink.
“What?”
Hudson stares at me, his gaze flitting from my eyes to my mouth and then my glass of champagne.
Then I remember our previous night, hanging out at the bar. Where I got a little tipsy and chatty.
“I’m good. Promise.” I laugh. “Champagne is basically like alcoholic soda, anyway. It won’t even affect me.”
Hudson smirks. “Uh huh.”
Paul’s booming voice cuts through the air as he hollers out, “Brewer!” and we all turn to see Austen across the room, dressed in a suit and tie.
With Cameron.
His boyfriend.
Austen smiles, and it’s the most genuine look of happiness I’ve ever seen. Almost like he didn’t expect us to be here, but he’s happy we are.
“Did you tell him we were coming, Alex?” I ask, nudging him with my shoulder. Alex smirks.
“No.”
I let out a laugh, shaking my head.
Fucking asshole.
Still, I can’t help but smile, because the fact Alex put this together—purely to surprise his brother—maybe change isn’t so bad, after all.
Austen comes up to us, Cameron lingering behind him with a grin of his own. Paul is the first to give him a heavy bro hug, then he moves to Andre, then to me.
“Congratulations, man,” I tell him as he beams with excitement.
“Thanks,” he says as he leans in to hug Hudson next, who doesn’t let go right away. He says something to Austen I can’t decipher due to the low tone of his voice, but whatever it is, Austen looks pleased to hear it.
Austen gives Mack a genuine smile before Alex tells him how fucking cool this whole place is, and I don’t miss the pride in his voice.
He definitely seems different. More open, I guess?
I remember Alex being a dick most of the time, especially to Austen.
And he’s still a dick, don’t get me wrong. But…
I’m starting to think maybe beneath the asshole, he’s not as much of an asshole as he makes himself out to be.
“Cameron,” Mack greets.
I freeze as I watch him extend his hand. Hudson shifts beside me, brushing his arm against me. He shifts into my space. I don’t move, transfixed by the flush of warmth running through me by the sight of Mack’s extended hand.
He and Cameron never got along that well, and you can feel the tension in the air. This could go either way, honestly.
“Mack.” Cameron carefully speaks, taking his hand. He shakes it, and I see the smile form on Austen’s face. He grins with pride.
And dare I say, love ?
Yeah, he never looked at Savannah like that.
The sight makes my cheeks burn as I realize no one has ever looked at me like that.
We all chat for a bit, Austen telling us about the property and the proposed launch of his game. Cameron wraps his arm around him, and I don’t miss the way Austen grins when he does so, or the smitten look in Cameron’s eyes when he stares at Austen like he’s the thing worth celebrating.
And maybe he is.
I can’t imagine it was easy to get divorced, move to New York, come out with a boyfriend , and open a fucking business in the span of a year.
All I’ve done in the last year is work.
When Alex spots their parents, he gets antsy and takes off, leaving Austen and Cameron to entertain them. Paul and Andre excuse themselves, leaving Hudson and I at the table, with our drinks.
He looks a little frazzled.
When did that happen?
“You good?” I ask, realizing even though everyone’s vacated the table, he’s still in my space.
It’s kind of nice, actually.
“Actually, I, uh… think I need to get some air,” he says, tugging on his collar. “It’s hot in here.”
Disappointment swells inside me, though I don’t know why.
Part of me wants to go with him. I could use some air, too.
But I get the feeling he wants to be alone. He looks like I feel at the moment.
Overwhelmed.
“Okay,” I say, fighting the urge to frown.
It looks like he wants to say something, but thinks better of it.
“I’ll just, uh… hold the fort down, I guess.” I take a sip of my drink as he lets out a heavy sigh. I think he’s going to ask if I want to come with him, like he did earlier at the hotel, but he doesn’t. Instead, he just takes a step back, away from me.
I feel the difference the minute he does. The warmth disappears from my side, reminding me staunchly of how some things never change.
I watch as he walks away, saying nothing, and I’m reminded of another time. Another place.
“You good?” I ask as Hudson slips his hands into his pockets.
“Great,” Hudson says, his voice clear as a bell. But his eyes tell a different story.
The neon lights cover him, lighting him up in shades of blue. Part of me wants to go with him to make sure he’s okay. I mean, I’m sure he is—we’re all adults here, after all. But I still worry about him. Vegas is a big place. Anything can happen.
But Hudson doesn’t need a chaperone.
He needs to get laid.
And so do I.
So, I watch as he turns to the girl waiting for him just outside the ropes of our VIP.
“I won’t wait up,” I tell him with a wink.
I think he’s going to say something, but whatever it is, disappears and he leaves me in his wake in the VIP section.
Alone.
I shake off the weird feeling, not sure why I’m thinking about Vegas, right now of all times. Maybe it’s just being around the guys. Brings up old memories, I guess. It’s one of the most memorable we have, after all.
I pull out my phone and message Mandy to let her know I’m still alive and haven’t been kidnapped by some crazy New Yorker.
I send a few selfies for proof of life, but she doesn’t respond.
I scroll through my phone, getting lost in social media until I feel Hudson’s return.
I look up, and panic hits me when I see his wide eyes.
“What happened?” I ask. He looks like a deer in headlights, and I can’t help but feel worried.
“Uh… I don’t know… Alex…” He looks off toward the hallway, then back at me.
“Is Alex okay?” I ask.
Hudson’s worried expression shifts into disbelief.
“Um, I just… I think he was… him and Mack were… I heard something, and I just don’t know.”
“What are you trying to say?” I ask.
He looks even more panicked.
“Relax. Breathe.”
I hold his gaze, taking a deep breath of my own, and Hudson does the same. He lets it out slowly.
“Good. A few more times.”