“Absolutely,” I say with a nod. “I think I’m ready for a drink or several, though.”
“Thank God,” Tray says with a sigh. “They’re watching us like vultures, and I’m two seconds away from screeching ‘ca-caw’ at them all.”
Snorting out a laugh, I find that it’s difficult to stop once I start. They usher me out as I hold my stomach, shaking my head as I finally get a hold of myself.
“It would have been worth it,” Michael grunts, setting us all off.
“There’s a bar around the corner, I think,” I mention. “I made sure I knew where the closest one was when we parked.”
“You were keeping your options open, huh?” Kier asks, smirking.
“You know when you need to face a fear, even when you’re pretty sure that shit still smells like it?” I ask as we walk to the bar.
Kier rolls his eyes but nods, amused.
“That’s what this is like,” I tell him.
“You’re awfully philosophical tonight,” Michael drawls, opening the door to the bar. “Let’s get some alcohol in you to stop that immediately.”
Grinning, I know he’s right as we shuffle in. There aren’t a lot of people from the reunion here, since we left early, and we order bottled beer from the bartender once we make our way over.
A girl I recognize as Shayna pours our drinks, the one who outed me at school. She pales as I raise my brow at her, surprised she stayed around. It doesn’t appear as if many people grew a pair to leave.
Sometimes what you know keeps you in a town like this, and others it’s because you failed to leave at all.
“Fancy seeing you here, Shayna,” I murmur as I take my beer. “Did you ever leave?”
“I tried,” she says shakily as she takes Kier’s credit card. “It didn’t work out. I ended up getting married, and then divorced. I couldn’t leave after that. We have a little boy together.”
“Congratulations on the kid,” I tell her. “I’m sorry the marriage didn’t work out.”
“What about you?” she asks nervously. “Are you still, ah gay?”
Tray stares at her as if waiting for a punchline, and I sigh. None is coming.
“Yes, Shayna,” I say. “I’m afraid it’s terminal. Come on, are you for real? I’m never not going to be gay.”
“Boyfriend number one,” Tray says, finally having enough as he toasts her with his beer before taking a sip.
Well, fuck me. That’s sweet.
“Boyfriend number two,” Kier says with a shrug. “We live to corrupt gorgeous male twins. Watch out.”
Even Michael smirks at his words, throwing caution to the wind. What’s the worst that could happen, anyway?
I’m drinking on an empty stomach, and I can feel it beginning to hit me as my anxiety bleeds away. The four of us find a pool table to play at, and ignore the rest of the bar as we laugh and hang out.
It’s the first time in months that we haven’t fought, and I have to say that it’s nice. Maybe we can turn things around now. Tray even throws his arm around Michael and kisses his cheek to celebrate when he wins a game, and I find that it doesn’t bother me.
Grinning, I put up my pool cue because I have to take a piss.
“I’ll be right back. I have to hit the restroom,” I explain, pointing toward the back of the bar.
“Not to be weird, but do you want a buddy?” Kier asks, chewing on his lip.
“Nah,” I say with a laugh. “Nothing ever happens in this town. Why would that ever change?”
The guys nod and go back to their game, and I head back to the restroom. There’s no one back here, no line to use the toilet. If this was where we lived, people would be breaking their seal and talking shit. It wouldn’t be done in a mean way, just joking around.