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“Our limo awaits!” Alex shouts, raising a fist in the air.
Seth slows his steps, leaning in close. His breath tickles my ear as he whispers, “Did he really bring a limo?”
I roll my eyes. “No, Seth.”
Seth shrugs. “Well, you can’t blame me for asking.” He nods at Lucas’s back. “This asshole had one for us in Paris.”
Lucas turns around, a stern look on his face, making Seth bristle in response. “I can hear you, you know.”
Seth chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head while I shake mine. “Sorry,” he murmurs.
Lucas doesn’t say anything as he turns away, but I can tell he’s still irritated. I can see it in the way he tenses his shoulders and fists his hands. Honestly, despite everything going on with his family, he’s been doing well these days. Our manager, Jason, wants to give him more hours at the café. At home, he’s splitting his rent with Alex, and they seem to be doing fine as roommates. At least, I haven’t heard any arguing so far. He hasn’t complained about his classes, which have already been paid for by his parents. But I can still tell Lucas lacks the self-confidence he once had when he was living off his family’s money. I wish there was something I could do. He should feel better now, knowing he’s earning a living, but, sadly, I don’t think he sees it that way.
We follow Alex through the airport and toward the parking lot, pausing for a brief moment so he can validate his ticket at the machine. Hunter leans against it, while Seth looks around, probably for Alex’s ride. Lucas continues toward the parking lot, his steps slow so we can catch up easily to him.
“I think I’m going to need an energy drink,” says Hunter with a groan.
“Yeah, man, why are you so exhausted?” Seth asks while giving him a look. “It’s not like we did much.”
Hunter shakes his head while the machine spits out Alex’s ticket. “I haven’t been able to sleep very well.”
I frown, wondering what could be bothering my easygoing Hunter. It’s not often things get to him, but when they do… I grimace, not wanting to complete that thought. I haven’t thought about that terrible semester in a long time, and I don’t want to think about it now. Sure, Hunter comes off chill, but it doesn’t mean he is. He’s good at hiding things. I want to ask if he’s spoken to his therapist about his insomnia, but I keep my mouth close as I follow Alex and Lucas toward the car. Hunter is a grown man. If I ask him, it might sound a bit patronizing. I don’t want him pulling away from me now, during our final few months together.
“Don’t worry,” I say cheerfully, wincing at how high pitched my voice gets. “There will be plenty of energy drinks where we’re going.”
Seth stops in front of Alex’s car—a white SUV of some sorts. His mouth hangs open as we all jump inside, with me sitting in the middle.
“What the Hell is this?” Seth asks while waving his hands at the car.
“Our ride,” calls Lucas from his place in the front seat. “Now get in.” He slams the door shut, but Seth still refuses to budge.
“Is this a Cadillac?” Seth asks, his voice shrill.
“I don’t know,” Alex says while buckling his seatbelt. “It’s my dad’s.”
Seth scowls, trudging forward and taking the seat next to me. I wince as he slams the door shut with unneeded force before shoving his seatbelt on. “Fucking rich bastard,” Seth mutters, making me shake my head.
And so the unrelenting war between Seth and Alex begins. I was just beginning to think that maybe we could go one day without hearing Seth’s snide comments.
“You know you like it,” says Alex, glancing over his shoulder and giving Seth a wink.
Seth bristles, his mouth opening and closing as he thinks of a retort. Instead, a frustrated sigh leaves his lips and he scowls at Alex’s back as he turns the car on and some French punk rock music blasts through the speakers. Seth gives me a look as Alex zooms out of the parking lot, making me laugh in response.
This will definitely be an interesting trip.
“Can we turn this fucking noise off?” Seth shouts over the music as we drive onto the highway.
My gaze goes to the New York skyline. I don’t know why, but it always makes my heart flutter. I’ve spent my whole childhood here, yet it still always takes my breath away.
“What?” Alex shouts.
I grimace as the music grows louder, my eyes flying to the front and watching with disdain as Alex turns the volume up. Seth groans, pressing his hands against his ears while scowling up at the ceiling. My attention turns to Hunter, sitting on my right with his eyes closed, his head pressed against the window. He must desperately need rest if he can find a way to sleep in all this noise. I snake my hand around his arm and rest my head against his shoulder, ignoring Alex taunting Seth and Seth’s cursing.
It’s good to finally be together again.
After an hour of driving and being stuck in traffic, Alex parks the car in another parking lot. Seth slams the door shut, breathing in the polluted air deeply while shaking his head. “Finally,” he gasps. “I didn’t think I could take any more of that garbage.”
Alex chuckles and pats Seth’s back, earning a deep glare. “Oh, please. It wasn’t all that bad.”
