Six

Tate

All I’m saying is, Marcus is the thousandth person tonight to ask me if we’re finally dating.” Fletcher sits back down next to me on the couch, handing me a Dr Pepper. “It’s not like we planned this costume ahead of time. I always wear a jersey. If we wanted a couple’s costume, I think we would’ve been a little more—”

“Unique?” I pop open the can.

“Exactly. I wouldn’t make you figure out a costume idea around a group costume I do with my team every year. What kind of boyfriend would I be then? I’d totally stop doing the costume with the guys.”

I raise an eyebrow, and his shoulders slump.

“Okay, maybe I wouldn’t. But that’s only because it’s tradition. We’ve been doing it forever; I couldn’t just give that up.”

“You’re such an idiot.”

“The way I see it is Liv lets Brooks stick with the hockey team tradition, so the chances of me finding a girl who won’t are slim to none.”

“Liv also only lets Brooks stay at the party for an hour or so before saying she’s bored and wants to leave.”

He pauses, looking at me, then down at his beer, before taking a sip.

“You’re not wrong there.”

“Hey, lovebirds.” Marcus drops in between us on the couch. “What happened to the rest of the clan?”

“Marcus.” I groan.

“Brooks left with Liv a while ago.” Fletcher ignores his comment completely. “Brinley left with Alex about an hour ago, Zeke is probably getting laid, and I don’t know where Declan went. One second, he was here, and the next, he was gone.”

“That leaves two of your roomies still unaccounted for.”

“Jax has been dodgy all night,” I begin.

“Because of Brin’s new boyfriend?”

“Correct,” Fletcher responds. “And I think Jere’s already in bed. His back was bothering him, so he took his meds, and I think he hit the sack.”

“And what about the two of you? You gonna be hanging around for a while longer?” Marcus leans forward and sets his beer bottle on the coffee table.

“I do live here, so…”

“And, if anything, I’ll sleep on this couch once everyone is gone,” I add. I don’t bother mentioning to Marcus that if I stay the night, I’ll most likely sleep in Fletcher’s bed with him because I know it’ll lead to a whole interrogation. But we grew up having sleepovers.

To us, it’s not weird. However, the first time the guys found out I stayed over here and in Fletcher’s bed our freshman year, they were convinced for six months that we were secretly dating.

“Is there a reason you’re bugging us, Marcus?” Fletcher raises an eyebrow, turning his body towards him.

“Actually, there is. I was hoping Jax was around because I know he’d be down, but I was talking to this guy, but he came here with one of his best friends, and she keeps ruining our conversations, and I was hoping that—”

“You want me to go flirt with her.”

“I think you’d really like her. She’s right up your alley. Her name’s Becca, she’s a gymnast for Rockford, and she grew up around hockey because her brother plays in Columbus—”

“Her brother’s in the NHL?” Fletcher adjusts on the couch, slowly becoming more interested in what Marcus is saying.

“Yeah, for the Blue Jeans or whatever.”

“Blue Jackets,” Fletcher and I say in unison.

“So, are you in?”

Fletcher shrugs, then stands up as if that’s his response to Marcus, and they disappear back toward the beer pong table.

“Yeah, don’t mind me, I’ll just be sitting here. Alone.”

I didn’t even want to come to this party in the first place, but Fletcher told me I didn’t have a choice, especially because it was Brinley’s party. Which it wasn’t. It was never her party; it was a party to try and make Ember and Declan happen.

And since they’re nowhere to be found, it obviously worked. This means the only reasons I even came to this party, have ditched me for better options.

Fletcher is flirting with some random girl named Becca, and Brinley is off with Alex… or maybe she’s home by now.

God, I wish I were home.

But Fletcher picked me up, so the only way I can get back to my place is by having someone drop me off or getting an Uber.

I sigh, stand up, and walk into the kitchen for some more food. From my view in the kitchen, I can see Marcus making out with some guy and Fletcher talking to a girl, who I’m assuming is Becca.

She’s exactly his type.

She’s got beautiful golden blonde hair and a beautiful smile, and she’s laughing at whatever he just said.

And they look good together.

Which is fucking annoying.

But he seems into the conversation.

And she seems into him.

“Fuck me.” I take a handful of pretzels and jump onto the counter.

I need to get out of here soon, or else I’m gonna sit here all night and eavesdrop on Fletcher and this girl. Who knows, I might even go over there and make a complete fool out of myself. It wouldn’t be the first time my emotions got the best of me while Fletcher was off doing something he had every right to do.

“Hey, T.” Jeremy opens the fridge and grabs a water. “Where’s Fletch?”

“I don’t know.” I lie. “I think Marcus took him somewhere for wingman duties.”

Jere takes a sip of his water, but his eyes stay on me. “He just left you?”

Jere knows better than anyone that parties aren’t my thing. I go to them because Fletcher loves to hang out with people. His house was practically a party every day of his life. So, it’s no surprise he enjoys the chaos. Honestly, I think it’s one of the reasons he was so stoked to live with the guys.

I, on the other hand, am the complete opposite. I grew up in a calm that most people never know in their lives.

So, even though I can be pretty outgoing, this is not my thing. Especially when I don’t have enough time to prepare.

“Yeah.” I shrug. “It’s whatever. I’m probably gonna leave soon anyway.”

“Isn’t he your ride?”

Right. That’s why I’m still here.

“I was just gonna Uber or something.”

Jere gives me a soft smile. “Come on. I’ll drive you home.”

“No, I couldn’t—”

“Don’t argue with me, T. You’re gonna lose.” He holds out a hand to help me off the counter.

“Thanks, Jere.”

He wraps an arm over my shoulder as we walk toward the front door.

“Anytime.”