“Okay, so there are two reasons.”
I laughed and kept walking, leading the way down the stairs and into the dim lighting of the subway station. We didn’t have to wait long as the train pulled up and the doors opened. It was just a quick ride on the R down to the party, so neither of us bothered to go for a seat. Instead, we found a spot in the center around one of the stripper poles.
Okay, it wasn’t actually a stripper pole, and guaranteed, you’d pick up some kind of disease if you rubbed yourself too thoroughly on one, but it sure looked like that’s what it should be. I’d have to talk to the MTA.
My phone buzzed in my pocket again. Pulling it out carefully, I tilted the screen slightly away from Kline so I knew he wouldn’t be able to read it.
Cassie: Has the Eagle landed?
Cassie: I will castrate you if you don’t answer me.
Fuck. I typed out a quick reply.
Me: The Eagle is in flight.
Cassie: What? What the fuck does that mean?
I shook my head and smiled.
Me: It means we’re en route. If the Eagle had landed, you’d be able to see him yourself because he’d be there.
I glanced up to see Kline staring at me in question.
“It’s Cassie,” I explained. “Just harassing me about using the last of the toothpaste.”
He narrowed his eyes. Fuck him for being so smart.
“Oh, look,” I said, jumping to turn toward the door. “Our stop.”
“What’s going on with Cassie?” he asked as we weaved our way through the moderate crowd and off the train car.
“What do you mean? She’s still holding out, and so am I. You know how it is.”
“Come on. Enough with the innocent bullshit. I don’t care how strong-willed you are; there’s no fucking way that chick would still be living with you if you didn’t like it.”
I shrugged but let my lips curve into a smile as we jogged up the concrete steps and out into the busy intersection at 34th Street.
“She always surprises me. I think I know what she’s gonna do, but I never actually do.”
“And that’s it? The thrill?” he asked skeptically.
Not wanting to get into the details, but knowing he was one of my very best friends, I gave him the bare minimum. “It’s not just the thrill.”
A smile transformed his face.
And then, my friend Kline, a man who complained relentlessly about my one-eyed blinks, winked at me.
Georgia’s angry eyes scoured me through the glass wall between us and the patio as Kline took his time ordering a drink at the bar.
He’d actually cheered up after I shared the little glimpse into my soft heart, and I wasn’t about to ruin it just so everyone could yell the word “surprise” five minutes sooner.
Plus, I had been missing my friend.
But as Cassie started to gesture with a knife in her hand, I knew I didn’t have much time to stall anymore.
“Thanks,” Kline thanked the bartender before taking a slow sip of his scotch—no lime. I smiled.
The bar was filled with people seeking post-work solace, and quite a few men and women looked like they were on the hunt for their next one-night victim. I’d been one of those people not too long ago, small-talking my way into the panties of whatever woman caught my eye.
It was actually funny how different they all looked to me in such a short time. Sexy smirks were now desperate fake smiles, and what I once considered banging bodies held none of my interest.
“Do you ever wish you could drink it the way you used to?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. The answer was in all the little things I’d never been able to see before.
“Not even a little,” he replied without hesitation. It wasn’t about the drink, but the life. We were both really happy guys. We were both content in our habits, hobbies, and careers, but some holes go unnoticed until something comes along that fills them.
“Come on,” I gestured overzealously as he put the glass to his lips again. “Let’s go out on the patio.” I saw Georgia and Cassie turn their backs to the window out of the corner of my eye.
“I guess time’s up, huh?” Kline smirked, and I narrowed my eyes.
“What are you talking about?” I asked in an empty attempt to continue our ruse.
“My wife. She’s ready for me. You’ve killed enough time.”
“How’d you know?”
He scoffed, and I smiled. Clever fucking bastard.
“If I hadn’t known two weeks ago, I would have known as soon as I saw my wife’s ass through the windows.”
I laughed because, yeah, Georgia had a pretty memorable ass. I’d imagine the man who spent hours of his time paying it personal attention was highly attuned to it.
Well, whatever. If he hadn’t known, I probably never would have convinced him to come. He played the part of being dragged along well, but Kline Brooks didn’t do fuck-all he didn’t want to. “Just don’t tell her you knew.”
“Unlike you, I don’t have a death wish or a need to be right out of principle.”