Page 36 of Spilled Coffee

“Who’s your friend?” Abbey chimed in from across the booth, her smile wide and flirtatious as she eyed Devon from head to toe with appreciation. “He’s kinda cute.”

Brick didn’t take his eyes off Ethan long enough to respond immediately and waved her off without looking back. “I’ll be right there,” he said curtly before addressing Devon with renewed focus. “We were going to take him with us,” he said, his voice carrying just enough edge to make clear exactly what ‘taking’ meant. His gaze lingered on Ethan’s slouched form as he added, “but it doesn’t look like he’s going to keep up the pace tonight.”

Ethan didn’t respond when Brick clicked his fingers and his head lolled forward, his chin almost brushing his chest.

“Hey…” Brick tightened his jaw, and concern flickered in his eyes as he crouched slightly, trying to meet Ethan’s gaze. “You okay, buddy? Do you want to go home?”

Ethan still didn’t reply and Devon stepped in as though the situation were nothing out of the ordinary. “He’ll be fine with me,” he said with a soft laugh that carried just enough charm to disarm any suspicion. “I’ll get some water, sober him up, then share a cab. No big deal.” He gestured to two men in leather jackets leaning casually against the bar. “Those guys are friends of mine. They can give a hand if I need it.”

Brick hesitated, uncertainty written across his brow as his lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes darted between Ethan and Abbey, who was now tugging impatiently at his arm. “Are we going?” Her glossy lips jutted out in a pout that would’ve been cute if it weren’t so insistent.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” Brick’s tone was cautious, but edged in relief. “I mean, he’s not exactly light work tonight.”

“No trouble at all.” Devon flashed an easy smile, the kind that seemed practiced but effective. “There’s no need for him to cramp your style. Those two look quite the handful.”

His words were friendly enough, but there was something that felt a touch rehearsed. Brick glanced back at the girls, who were giggling at something on Lisa’s phone, their voices high-pitched and tipsy. “Yeah,” he let out a reluctant sigh. “Handful’s one word for it.” He offered Devon a quick half-smile then frowned at Ethan. “Thanks, man,” he said sincerely. “Sorry—I didn’t catch the name?”

“Devon,” Devon replied, extending a hand that was steady and firm.

Brick took it, giving it a brief shake before nodding. “Brick... it was good to meet you. Any friend of Logan’s is five-by with me.”

“Likewise.” Devon gave a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Maybe we’ll catch up sometime, grab drinks with Logan?”

Brick shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck as if unsure how to respond. “Uh... sure. Though this ain’t really our usual spot.” He gestured vaguely toward the bar. “Ethan… he had some flyer—free shots—so here we are.”

“Brick…” Abbey whined, as she tugged harder on his arm, her expression shifting from pouty to exasperated. “Are we going? We’re bored.”

“I’m comin’ now,” Brick replied, his gaze lingering on Ethan for a beat longer. “When he sobers up, tell him to call me.”

Devon clapped Brick on the shoulder with just enough force to feel familiar without overstepping boundaries. “Don’t worry, he’s in expert hands.”

Brick loitered a second before finally letting Abbey and Lisa drag him away. Their laughter quickly lost in the throng of bodies on the dance floor.

Devon turned back to Ethan, who was slumped in his seat, barely conscious. He lifted his chin and tilted his face toward him. “Hey, you okay?”

There was something almost predatory in the curve of Devon’s lips as he leaned in close and pressed them firmly against Ethan’s mouth.

Ethan’s eyes fluttered, but there was no response. He didn’t react, not even a twitch.

“Shit,” Devon muttered as he pulled back, frustration flashing across his face. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as he tried again. “Hey, Ethan… you hear me, brah?”

There was still no response aside from the shallow rise and fall of his chest. “Just fuckin’ great.”

Devon groaned as he drained the last of his beer in one long gulp and slammed the empty bottle onto the table. Fishing his phone from his back pocket, he scrolled through his contacts.

Hitting call, the line connected after only two rings. “Hey…” he spoke with a mix of irritation and urgency. “It’s Devon... Yeah, I know it’s late,” he said sharply before lowering his tone. “But I think you might have a problem.”

CHAPTER 18

Devon’s late-nightsummons had pulled Logan out of an uneasy slumber, and now plunged him into a chaotic neon-lit world.

He surveyed the room, and his gaze was immediately drawn to Devon’s imposing silhouette near the VIP entrance.

The velvet-draped alcove stood as a serene haven amidst the chaos in the main club and he swiftly navigated a path through the crowd, his jaw clenched tightly, sweat slicking his skin like a suffocating film.

He bounded up the few steps to the entrance then followed Devon to a booth at the back where Ethan lay in a crumpled heap, head drooping listlessly, a pitiful wreck.

“Christ... how much did he fucking drink?” Logan moved closer. “You let him get this wasted? I know your style, what did you give him?”

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