Page 184 of Fame & Chaos

Inside, we settle into the man cave while Chad instantly claims the Xbox like his life depends on it. Aston and I are sprawled across the red leather couch when Johnny walks in.

He pauses in the doorway, looking between us. “Guys’ night?”

“I think it’s more of a subtle cheer-Caleb-the-fuck-up intervention,” I mutter.

Johnny smirks while Aston sighs dramatically. “Are we really that obvious?”

“Yes,” I deadpan. “Painfully obvious.”

“Oh well,” Chad calls out from the gaming chair. “At least tonight we get to fart and burp and be disgusting without the girls yelling at us.”

Right on cue, he lets out a monstrous fart that echoes through the room, and we all stare at him in horror before bursting out laughing.

“Jesus Christ, Chad,” Johnny chokes out. “What the hell did you eat?”

“Dunno.” Chad shrugs proudly. “That’s just natural talent. Been holding it in all day because Ella was around.”

Aston and I laugh harder while Johnny gags dramatically.

And for one brief second… I almost feel normal again.

Almost.

“How are you really doing?” Johnny asks once the laughter dies down.

Immediately, the heaviness crashes back into me. Indi’s face flashes through my head so vividly it physically hurts. “Not great,” I admit quietly. “I miss her.”

Johnny nods knowingly. “Breakups suck, mate. But if something’s worth fighting for, life usually finds a way of working itself out eventually. No point forcing things.”

I stare at the floor and nod slowly.

“Right,” Johnny says suddenly, clapping his hands together. “What food do you idiots want?”

“Chinese!” Chad yells instantly.

We all stare at him.

“What?” he says defensively. “I want vegetables.”

That sends Johnny into another fit of laughter.

“Okay, Chinese it is. I’ll order.” He turns toward the door.

“Johnny,” I call after him.

He glances back.

“Call Boozeline too, yeah?”

His grin widens immediately. “Now it’s a proper party.”

The second he disappears, Aston turns toward me, frowning. “Should you really be drinking?”

“What? Are you, my dad?”

He lifts his hands in surrender. “I’m just saying… last time you got drunk, you made some pretty catastrophic choices.”

Fucking fair point.