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“You thinkhisboyfriend is any better than Daire? The guy’s six-five and has a dick the size of an elephant trunk.”
Caleb made a face. “I don’t even wanna know how you know that.”
Grinning, I linked my fingers through his and tugged him forward so his lips hovered over mine. I stole a quick kiss and then said, “Tell you what. We’ll both promise to be on our best behavior. No other guys, or girls for that matter. It’ll just be a fun night out with friends. It’s still your birthday weekend, so we can make it all about you.”
“You had me until that last part.”
“Okay, we’ll make it all about you when we get back home,” I amended.
“That’s more like it.”
“Mhmm.” I grazed my lips along his jaw and back down to his mouth. “So you agree to the terms?”
He angled his head and leaned in toward me, but I drew back to wait for his answer. “I agree.”
“Good. Then shut up and kiss me.”
THIRTY-NINE
caleb
I EYED THE tray of shots with lime wedges going around the VIP and backed away.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” I said, holding tight to my beer. They weren’t getting me again. I’d be abstaining from tequila for the rest of my life.
“Oh, live a little, birthday boy,” West said, grabbing one off the tray and forcing it into my hands. “It’s just a kamikaze.”
I narrowed my eyes on the contents of the small glass. “It looks like there’s tequila in this.”
“It’s vodka,” Travis clarified from where he stood across the circle from me with a put-on smirk on his face. “You know, theotherclear liquid.”
I had to admit, it was kinda hot battling it out with Travis, only the two of us knowing what was really going down between us. The way he looked at me now just felt different, a more teasing, heated glint to his eyes that set my body on edge.
But in front of the others, the barbs were still there, though I could see the suspicion as they looked between the two of us.
I brought the shot up and lifted my brows at everyone. “What, you’re not gonna sing to me?”
“What, you think you’re special or something?” East said before his lip curled. “Fine, you want a song, how about a cheers instead.” He cleared his throat and held up his glass. “To Caleb, who thought he was too good for us but came slinking back and now wants us to make a big deal about his birthday. Happy fuckin’ birthday.”
He gave me a shit-eating grin and threw his shot back, but the rest of the group all just stared at him.
“That was kinda shitty,” Preston said.
Gavin nodded. “Yeah, I’m not drinking to that.”
“It was just a joke.” East rolled his eyes.
“Jokes are usually funny,” Gavin said.
“When did you all get so sensitive? Jesus.”
West clapped his hand on East’s shoulder. “I’ll take this one.” He lifted his glass. “Caleb, happy birthday. Even though you almost sabotaged my relationship with JT by talkin’ shit, I’ll forgive and forget as soon as you and Travis do.”
JT’s jaw practically hit the ground as he turned to face his boyfriend. “West, what the hell?”
West winked at me and downed his shot, and okay, there was still some pent-up hostility some of us needed to work through, but that didn’t matter to me. As long as Travis and I were good, who gave a shit about anyone else?
“Well, I have something to say,” JT announced, facing my way and giving me a genuine smile as East groaned behind him. “Caleb, you were the first person who befriended me when I started at Astor, and I couldn’t ask for a better best friend. Especially one who tried to get me to see the red flags I couldn’t, because that’s what someone who cares about you does. I’m glad you’re in my life, and I’m glad you’re hanging around this group again so I don’t have to deal with petty assholes by myself.”
