I could never lie to Nina and I fucking hated it. I hated that she could see through me like no other ever could. She was the only one that could ever see through my bullshit, and she was never afraid to call me out on it. I guess I was the same with her. If she ever needed honesty, she always knew that I would tell her straight.
No lies. No bullshit. Just the truth, no matter how ugly that may be.
I flicked my eyes over her head, relieved when I saw James coming toward us. I wasn’t in the mood for serious conversations. All I wanted to do—for now, anyway—was to switch my thoughts off and enjoy my life.
“May I?” He grinned down at Nina as he took her in his arms.
“Sure.” I bent down quickly and kissed her cheek before I left them to it. I made my way to the bar, relieved when I saw my fan club, as Nina put it, had moved on to the dancefloor with their own partners. I wasn’t in the mood to get hit on by girls. Women had a habit of looking at my tattoos and would think I was fair game, a challenge for the night… A bad boy for them to tame.
They had no fucking clue how untamable I was. Or how unavailable. I had been with my fair share of menandwomen; I wasn’t afraid to say that. I never wanted to use titles like gay or straight. I had always been just Luke. Take me or leave me. Just as I am.
I often made fun of how whipped James, Alex and Thomas were by their wives, but fuck, it was something I wanted and also something I knew I’d never have. To have someone that is yours andonlyyours. I lowered my walls down once with one person, and it was something I would never do again.
Falling for someone once was a mistake… Twice would be a nightmare I would never wake from.
* * *
The party was still in full swing a couple of hours after the bride and groom had left. We had all waved them off as they climbed into James’s red1967 Ford Mustangand drove away. They were staying at their home tonight, but they had plans to go to Chicago for a honeymoon in a few weeks after they had wrapped up some of their work.
They loved working together and I think sometimes their love and passion for creating culinary masterpieces often got in the way of that. It would be nice for the two of them to have some uninterrupted blissful time off. James had slipped me a key for me to crash at their place if I needed to, which was good of him. The two of them were like family and I was glad that us living in separate countries and having an ocean between us didn’t change that.
I had only ever been close to one blood relative and Tye was gone now. I made my own family with my friends and I don’t think that would ever change.
I clapped Thomas on the shoulder before I grabbed his hand and lifted it, before placing it around my shoulders.
“Come on, lightweight,” I joked. I slowly lifted him, cringing at how heavy he felt. He was terrible at holding his drink. It’s why Thomas hardly drank. “Let’s get you upstairs.” I wrapped my arm around his waist and began leading him to the doors. As I walked us, stumbling every few steps across the lobby floor toward the elevators, I was glad that we had the sense to book a room here at the hotel for the night to give James and Nina some privacy at their home.
As the lift began to travel up, I leaned Thomas against the wall.
“I think I’m going to vomit.” He groaned and placed his hand over his mouth.
“You throw up on me—” I said, pausing to flick my eyes to the numbers light up the closer we got to our floor, “—our relationship is over.”
He chuckled and stumbled toward me. “You love me really.” He swung his arm around my shoulders and gave me a sloppy kiss on my cheek.
“Ugh.” I grabbed his hand and held him tighter as the elevator doors opened to our floor. “Dude, you fucking stink.”
“But you do love me,” he stated.
I rolled my eyes at him as I walked us down the corridor. “Yeah, yeah. I still love you.”
I grabbed the key card from my trouser pocket and waved it in front of the card reader, and we stumbled through the door. “Here we are.” I pushed him down on the bed, shaking my head when he flopped onto his back. I kneeled down and untied his shoes before I reached for the buckle on his trousers. “Lift up for me, man, and you can get into bed.”
He quickly did as I asked, groaning at his change of position.
“There we go.” I pulled his trousers off and tossed them toward the bottom of his bed. “Sleep on your side.” I left him in his shirt and loose tie before I pulled the blanket over him, chuckling when I saw he already had his eyes closed.
It was a sad state of affair when you were responsible for undressing your best friend.
I walked to the window, unknotting my tie as I did. Stripping out of my shirt, I stared out at the city lights. I couldn’t help but feel excited for the first time in a long while. I was determined to see as much of America as I could.
My first stop was New York City. I planned to spend a couple of weeks there, tick off all the sights of the city I wanted to see. I’d probably get a job and pick up some bar experience. Maybe make a few contacts while I’m here.
I felt the time had come for a change and I was determined to enjoy my time here.
Maybe the city that never sleeps would give me some new experiences.
CHAPTERTWO