9. Porter
PORTER
“Hi, I’m Josie!” my best friend says to Will, who’s dancing beside me with plenty of space between us, as she approaches us.
Her tone is awfully nice after giving me such a hard time about being friendly with him the other day.
But who am I to judge? Even if he’s attempting to make up for his past mistakes now, I did forgive him pretty quickly.
“Will,” he introduces.
“Mhm, I know about you,” she says in a tight yet overly cheery voice that’s so fake. I bite back a laugh because it’s very classic Josie. “And I’m sure you remember our sweet, dear friend, Abbey.”
“Josie!” Abbey warns, reaching out to grab her arm.
“What! I just want to make sure he remembers why he’s now gotten multiple drinks thrown on him,” Josie directs to Will with a shit-stirring grin.
I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, but part of me kind of wants to defend Will. On the other hand, Will’s a big boy, and he can stand up for himself.
Besides, I don’t owe him any loyalty.
“Water under the bridge, seriously. No hard feelings.” Abbey offers a quick, small smile.
“For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I learned a lot about setting clear expectations from you.”
“Well, that’s good then,” Abbey dismisses, then turns to talk to Ty—the winter break crush that seems to be going very well.
Will leans in so only I hear him. “Okay, now I see what you meant about the strikes. Please tell me there’s nothing else I did to already earn a third one?”
“Nope,” I answer quickly, going up on my toes to speak near his ear in the crowded bar. “That’s why I’m giving you the chance to redeem yourself in the first place.”
“Ready for another shot?” Josie interrupts, giving me a questioning look as her eyes bounce back and forth between Will and me.
“As long as it isn’t that same disgusting concoction as last time.”
She smirks, heading to the bar with Carrie while Will and I keep dancing. They really seem to also be hitting it off, and I try to shake off the loneliness that’s attempting to creep in. I’m single by choice. It’s better that way. Easier. Safer.
“Tequila this time. You’re welcome!” Josie announces, pulling me out of my head, and I plaster on a smile.
“Thank youuuu.”
We say “cheers,” and I take the shot, slamming it back before going right back to dancing with Will as Josie and Carrie join us. A moment later, Abbey and Ty join too, hands all over each other and looking all doe-eyed.
Ugh, not to be an asshole and make everything all about me, but the last thing I want is to see all my friends swooning over a person they’re falling for while I’m stuck with someone who seems to really want to be my friend.
Actually, fuck that, it’s my birthday—today is all about me.
“I need another water or I’ll die of thirst,” I announce dramatically to Will.
“Can’t have that happen. Come on.” He wraps his hand around my forearm and leads me back to the bar to order us both waters.
I try not to think about how great it is that he’s here with me and taking charge while my friends are all coupled up.
It’s bringing out unwanted thoughts, and the alcohol is doing fuck all to keep them trapped down where they belong.
His weird flirty sense of humor isn’t helping either.
He’s probably like that with everyone. Hell, some of the stuff I say to Josie probably sounds flirty when it obviously isn’t, but it’s not like I’ve actually known him for long, so the level of comfort I’d normally associate with that kind of banter isn’t there for me and makes it feel more like actual flirting.
Even if I know he’s just being nice.
He hands me the water, and the second the cool liquid hits my lips, I feel relief, chugging nearly half of it before stopping for air. “You’re really nice, you know that?”
“Am I?” he asks, looking genuinely invested in my answer.
“Yeah. You didn’t have to hang out with me all night just because it’s my birthday. You came here with your own friends.”
“Eh, they don’t care. Trust me. I live with two of them, and they’re all my teammates, so I see them plenty. Besides, I’m having way more fun with you.” The words must slip out of his mouth before he realizes what he said because his pretty blue-green eyes go wide for a second.
“Well, it’s nice to have someone to hang out with since my friends all seem to be coupled up with their new partners.” I ignore the ache in my chest at the admission. I don’t want to be the only single friend, but it seems the spring semester of junior year has different plans.
“Relationships are overrated. Not my thing,” Will dismisses.
“Kind of had a feeling with all the drinks you’ve had thrown in your face,” I deadpan.
“Hey, it’s only happened twice,” he defends. “And to be fair, the first time I wasn’t clear and learned my lesson. Last time, she thought she could change my mind. I’m glad to see Abbey’s long forgotten about me.”
“Don’t think you left that much of an impression on her,” I joke. “She seemed to have forgotten all about that when I brought up running into you at Bo’s party.”
“Ouch.” Will slams his hand against his heart in a joking manner. “But good. I was a dick, and she deserves better.”
“Porter! Come on, another shot!” Josie calls out to me, stealing my attention.
“Birthday duty calls.” I turn to head toward Josie, assuming Will might take it as an out to go back to his friends, but once again, he surprises me. He steps next to me at the bar, and eyes the shots in front of us.
“Put it on my tab, Delilah.”
“Okay, Mr. Money Bags.” I twist to give him a look.
“What? It’s your birthday, and I want to do something nice for my new friend.”
“Are we officially friends now? Have we upgraded from partners for an assignment?” I ask with a laugh, suddenly nervous that he’ll dismiss the question. Shit. I think I actually want to be friends with Will Carter.
“I’d sure like to be,” he responds immediately, easing my doubts. “But I think that’s up to you, birthday boy. I’m the one with past sins to make up for.”
I hold up the shot. “To new friends.”
“To new friends,” he enthusiastically repeats with a huge smile.
The tequila goes down smoother this time, and I think the alcohol is really starting to catch up to me. I’d already planned to be hungover tomorrow, though—Josie’s been reminding me to get someone to cover my shift for weeks—so I think I’m doing my twenty-first birthday right.
“More dancing?” I prompt.
“If that’s what you want. Let me just go check in with my friends for a second, and I’ll meet you out there.”
“Sure.” I turn, leaving him at the bar, and tell myself it’s not a big deal that he didn’t immediately follow. I walk out onto the dance floor, pretending I don’t care what Will’s doing.
An attractive man’s eyes rake over my body and heat floods my veins.
Yes! This is what I need. Not to be worried about what my new straight friend is doing.
Moving toward this new mystery man, I say nothing, just start dancing without a word.
My hips sway without a shred of self-consciousness.
I know my stomach is on display, and he’s probably getting a little peek of my tattoo and maybe even my lace, but thinking about that just makes this more fun.
The man steps behind me, hands grazing my bare skin. We’re far from the only people dancing this closely in here, and I love the feeling of him pressed against me. His big, masculine hands grip me, holding me in place. Yes, please.
The music is moving through me, the haze of the alcohol pumping through my blood. I’m feeling myself, feeling a hard cock pressed into me. This is how I should be spending my birthday—with a hot man who wants to fuck me.
“Hey, happy birthday, man.” My eyes snap to Greg, my coworker, who hands me a drink. “Won’t get in your way, but wanted to get you something. Have funnnn.” He trails off, leaving me with a shot.
I smile as he walks past me, grinding my hips into the man behind me while his hands continue to caress me.
I tip the shot back, and my eyes lock on Will’s at his table when I swallow it down, only spilling some.
He bites his lip, looking at me with uncertainty as I shake my wrist, wanting to get the sticky liquid off me.
Will must decide I need saving because he briefly shakes his head and then he’s stalking toward me. Damn, why is that so hot?
I step out of the mystery man’s embrace without really thinking it through, and he lets me go easily. Before I can second-guess what the fuck I’m doing, I’ve already walked to meet Will halfway. He’s just so nice to look at. Why am I always drawn toward men I shouldn’t be?
“Willllll,” I drag out his name. Maybe I am more drunk than I realized. “Hi.”
“Hey, birthday boy,” he responds, smiling at me. “You doing okay?”
“Define okay?”
“I think that answers that,” he mutters.
I attempt to give him my best scowl, but he just laughs. God, he really is attractive, and it’s pissing me off that I can’t stop noticing.
“I think… I might be drunk.”
“No way. Never would’ve guessed, you’re hiding it so well,” he deadpans.
“Do you want another drink thrown on you?”
He bursts out into laughter at that. “I’m just saying, I watched you spill half a shot down your arm and shake it off. My friends told me I should let you enjoy your birthday, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to come check in on you.”
“First off, the shots are free. It’d be rude to turn them down. And second, I didn’t need to be saved from that hot man’s erection rubbing against my ass.” If that’s too much information for him, oh well. I won’t apologize for my sexuality, nor will I hide it.
“Wasn’t trying to cockblock you. I just know you’re drunk, and I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”