Georgia mutters.
Silas jerks his head toward me. “Then there were two. Looks like it’s you and Archer, babe. I know Archer is up for some BFF bracelets.”
“Pfft,” Finn says. “They hate each other.”
“Do they, though?” Silas asks, leveling his eyes on me and stroking his cheek.
Finn is oblivious to his insinuation. Grace and Lola share looks before peering at Georgia.
Georgia raises a brow, her gaze meeting mine. “Do we hate each other, Archer?”
I lick my lips before taking a long draw of my Jack and Coke. “You tell me. I think you’ve moaned how much you hate me aplenty.”
“Moaned it?” She cocks her head to the side.
I nod.
“Wrong.” Georgia delivers a devious smile. “You know what name I do like to moan?”
I shake my head. “Hard pass.”
That devilish smile widens. “Chase.”
Grace spits out her drink.
Lola shoves her face into Silas’s shoulder to hide her laughter.
“What am I not getting?” Finn asks the crowd before focusing on Georgia. “You have a new boyfriend?”
“Gross.” Georgia exaggeratedly shudders. “Chase was some douchebag I had a one-night thing with.” She’s answering Finn but staring at me. “Totally didn’t deliver bedroom-wise, if you know what I mean.”
“Keep that from your brother,” Finn says, all brotherly like. “He’ll lose his shit if he hears about you hooking up with some random dude.”
You have no idea.
With music blaring around us, I take in the club. Dancers are hanging from the ceiling, doing acrobatic shit. We’re on the top floor, a balcony-like layout, overlooking the sea of people dancing to the electric music the DJ is bumping. We talk—I randomly throw in comments—and suck down liquor.
Our waitress returns with a glowing tray of drinks and shooters in her hands and drops them off. Silas slips her a hundred, and she blows him a kiss. Lola and Georgia grab a shooter, and Georgia holds one out to Grace.
She waves it away and yawns.
The girls knock their shots back.
“I’m exhausted.” Grace glances at Silas, pouting out her lower lip. “Do you mind if I leave early?”
“You go ahead, Teacher Grace,” he replies. “Teach those brats their ABCs.”
She rolls her eyes and smacks his arm.
Georgia lifts up, and her ass points in my direction when she slides her phone from her back pocket. “I’ll book us an Uber.”
My back stiffens, though it shouldn’t.
Don’t leave yet.
Her presence, sipping on her drink and laughing with our friends, has been my entertainment for the night. I’m not ready to end that yet.
Not ready to go home to an empty bed and think about her.
Grace stops Georgia from unlocking her phone. “Nope. Finn is driving me home. He has to leave early, and his house is on the way to my parents’. Stay and have fun.”
Silas snorts. “Almost your bedtime, Finn?”
“Hell yeah,” Finn says with a nod. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“Are you sure?” Georgia asks Grace, chewing on her bottom lip. “I have no problem with going home.”
If she leaves, I’m dipping.
Grace shakes her head. “I’m going to my parents’ for the night anyway.”
“Okay. Make sure you text me when you make it there, okay?” Georgia says.
Grace nods, and she and Finn say their good-byes.
“And then there were four,” Silas says, relaxing in his seat and throwing his arm over Lola’s shoulders.
“Oh my God! Archer?”
My back stiffens as my name is yelled over the music.
Here we go again.
I swallow and raise my chin to find Meredith and her two friends walking toward us.
Keep walking.
Pretending I don’t see them, I lean forward and make myself a drink. As I do, my gaze sweeps to Georgia, who’s giving Meredith a death glare.
“Can we join you?” Meredith asks.
“We’re pretty full over here,” Georgia replies at the same time Silas shrugs and says, “Sure, whatever.”
Georgia’s icy stare shoots to Silas.
Silas, confused, sends me a curious glance, raising a brow.
We’re all looking at each other, not knowing what the fuck is going on.
Meredith chooses Silas’s answer and gracefully strolls into our section.
Georgia slides off the couch. “I just remembered, Lola and I have cute guys to meet on the dance floor.”
She bumps into my knee while walking toward Lola. Lola stands and grabs her hand, and my eyes are glued to them as the only reason I haven’t left disappears through the crowd.
I down my drink, but it doesn’t help the dryness in my throat.
So I make another drink.
Meredith sinks down next to me. “Uh-oh,” she coos, sliding in too close for comfort. “Looks like Little Miss Jailbait is still crushing on you.”
“Jailbait?” I tighten my grip around my