Page 169 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

Henry

“Iswear, if I have to look at another spreadsheet, my eyes are going to start bleeding.” Archie groans dramatically by my side.

“Tell me about it. My brain is fried.”

We stroll shoulder to shoulder down the main road heading towards the water. I take a sip of the coffee we grabbed from Sunshine & Coffee. We could have made coffee at the bar, but we both needed a change of scenery and to stretch our legs, and Sunshine & Coffee brews the best in town. We pass a few shops, then reach the waterfront. The pier with all its yachts and restaurants is off the right, but we turn left, strolling along the foreshore towards the dock where the fishing boats berth.

As I breathe in the briny sea air and sip my flat white, I can feel the tension slip away.

Archie nudges me with his elbow. “Nothing like a stroll by the sea to clear your head, eh?”

“You got that right.” I take another long sip of coffee.

We meander down the dock where we settle on a bench. People watching is a favourite pastime of mine. An elderly gentleman walks his mastiff, or maybe it’s the mastiff walking him. A group of tourists pass, stopping briefly to take a selfie with the boats in the background.

“So what do you think of the new bartender? How’s he working out?” Archie asks after a moment.

“Lucas? He’s great. He makes a mean cocktail and the customers seem to like him.”

“Good to hear. I just hope he’s reliable and wants to stick around. It looks like it’ll be a busy summer.”

Archie and I opened the bar together last year. Azure is our pride and joy. A lot of late nights and hard work went into making it the success it is today. I love everything about it—the live bands on weekends, the buzz and laughter of a packed house, how popular it is with locals and tourists alike. It feels good, knowing Archie and I have built something special from the ground up.

Archie’s phone pings with an incoming text notification. He glances at the screen and frowns. “Ugh.”

“Liam?” I ask.

“Yep.” Archie types out a quick reply and pockets his phone. “He wants to get together this weekend to talk.”

“And by talk he means…”

“Try to get back together.” Archie shakes his head. “When’s he going to get the message I’m not interested?”

I nudge him with my elbow. “Look at you, fighting them off in droves, and I haven’t had a proper boyfriend in years.”

“Lucky you.” He nudges me back. “Trust me, you aren’t missing much. Be thankful you’re all about the one and done—more fun and less heartbreak.”

I smile tightly, gaze drifting to the waterfront just in time to land on a couple holding hands walking by. My heart gives a little pang. As much as I love playing the happy single guy, the life of the party, there are times I desperately want what they have.

I brush the longing aside and finish the last of my coffee. “We should get back. I need to finalise the roster for the week.”

Archie nods. “Yeah, guess our break is over.”

We continue along the dock, the cries of circling gulls echoing overhead, and a group of tourists push past oblivious to our presence as they laugh and talk about the morning they’ve spent out on the water. The dolphins never fail to impress the visitors to our little part of the world.

Up ahead, I catch sight of Austin’s boat and my feet come to a standstill.

Austin is standing on the deck next to Kat, pulling his T-shirt over his head. My mouth goes dry at the sight of his broad tanned shoulders.

Beside me, Archie lets out a low whistle. “Now there’s a sight that makes talking a walk worthwhile. Can’t say I mind the view.”

We watch appreciatively as Austin peels off his shorts, leaving him in nothing but a pair of Speedos. He immediately steps to the back of the boat and dives into the bay.

“I wonder if we can line him up to do a strip show at Azure?” I say. I’m only half-joking, but we’re not that kind of establishment.

Archie chuckles. “Good luck with that. Now, as much as we’d both love to stand here ogling Austin all day, we should really get a move on,” Archie says. “The lunch rush will be starting soon.”

I sigh, tearing my gaze away from the sight of Austin stroking through the water. “Argh. Duty calls.”

---