“Thank you,” I say, sighing in relief.
“Is there any other reason you don’t want to go to our usual spot tonight?” he asks skeptically.
“Nah.” I shrug, trying to remain casual. “I just thought it would be fun to do something new.”
It’s obvious that he still doesn’t believe everything I’m saying. “Okay,” he responds, unconvinced. “Because the last few times we’ve gone to The Pour House, you’ve left early.”
“I think I’ve just been overwhelmed… with school lately.”
He looks at me suspiciously, but lets it go. “Alright, there’s a new club in Cap Hill that Derek and I have been wanting to try. I’ll let him know, and then we can go there.”
I give him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Sam.”
“I’ll pick you up around eight?” Sam offers. I nod as he starts walking in the opposite direction. “Wear something cute!” he calls after me before disappearing from sight.
Sam and Derek showed upat my apartment twenty minutes late, but when they saw what I was planning to wear—a simple light blue sweater and jeans—they both pushed me back inside.
“You are not wearing that,” Sam scoffs. “You were the one who wanted to go dancing, so you have to dress appropriately for it.”
Sam is wearing a flowing white shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, paired with black leather pants. On anyone else, it would look ridiculous, but he sort of has a sexy pirate thing going for him. Derek is wearing a see-through pink fishnet shirt with whitewashed jeans, which complement his darker skin tone. Standing next to each other, they look like they’re both attending completely different events, but I see them both shooting each other suggestive looks out of the corner of my eye, and I know they probably hyped each other up while they were getting dressed.
A small pang goes through my chest. They only care about each other when they’re together. Not what anyone else thinks of them. Not about whether their outfits clash. Not if they match the expected vibe of the venue they’re going to—just each other.
I tug at a fraying strand of my sweater. “What’s wrong with this?” I ask feebly, already knowing his answer.
“The only skin showing is your face,” he deadpans.
I consider pushing back, but I know it’s pointless. Sam won’t budge until I change, or he’ll threaten to leave me here. “Fine, fine, I’ll change,” I groan.
Sam is already digging through my closet before I concede. He tosses random articles of clothing my way, and Derek helps scoop them up off the floor before ushering me into the bathroom.
I’m shoving myself into a dark blue silk dress with a small slit up the thigh as Sam and Derek yell things through the door at me. “So why, exactly, are we going dancing instead of sitting at our table at the bar?” Derek calls.
I adjust the spaghetti straps on my dress to avoid any possible nip slips. “Because we wanted a change of scenery.”
I open the door and tug down the hemline of the skirt before Sam hikes it back up. “Yes,wewanted a change of scenery,” he agrees, giving me an accusing look.
Derek hands me a pair of black strappy heels and my leather jacket, then shrugs. “You know I’m down for anything, I was just curious.”
I glare at Sam as I tug the hem back down. “You know it’s just going to ride up as soon as you start walking, so why bother?” Sam taunts.
“Iwanted to wear jeans,” I point out. We’re all dressed in completely different styles, but considering the club is on Capitol Hill, we won’t stick out at all. That part of Seattle is about as open and welcoming as you can get, no matter who you are or what you look like. It’s one of my favorite things about the area.
“Derek and I are together; we have to live vicariously through you. And living through you won’t be any fun if you’re dressed like you’re forty.”
My mouth falls open in silent outrage. “I did not look forty,” I insist.
I look to Derek for assistance, but he shrugs. “This looks way cuter,” he says, giving me an encouraging smile. “Plus, it has more of a dancing vibe than the sweater.”
I sigh. “Fine. Let’s just go. First rounds on me,” I say as a peace offering.
“Can we take your car?” Sam asks as we’re making our way out of the apartment.
“Youoffered to pickmeup.”
“Well, we Ubered here because Derek doesn’t have a car, and I just got a notice saying my tabs are expired.”
I scrunch my eyebrows at him, but I’m already digging through my purse for my keys. “When did they expire?”
