Page 19 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

I took Gabe's hand, tugging him into a hug and clapping him on the back. When I pulled away, Ryan was waiting for his turn. I did the same gesture for him and joined them on the bench, stretching out my legs.

“What have you two dorks been up to since I left?” I asked playfully.

“Oh, the usual,” Gabe replied.

“I've been working on codes while this one impresses his boss just by existing,” Ryan joked. “I swear, he's gotten every promotion he's ever applied for.”

Gabe shrugged. “What can I say? My boss likes me.”

“That's good! I'm sure that bodes well for your career,” I praised. “It's such a nice day out. I can't believe how much things haven't changed around here.”

“Actually, there were a number of developments downtown,” Ryan said. “But it's mostly been the same old place.”

“Do you remember the park behind Checotah High?” Gabe asked. “We used to sneak back there with a few beers and try to slam them back before curfew. That place changed.”

Ryan laughed. “We shotgunned just about everything from beer to soda.”

“Gross,” I recalled. “I did that my senior year, too, but definitely not with soda.”

“And then we had one of the guys chug that thing of milk,” Gabe continued.

“Oh, he threw upeverywhere,” Ryan said through chuckles. “It was the worst thing ever!”

“I think that was John! His stomach ached for three days after that.”

I shook my head. “We never did that in my day.”

“Tough talk, old man. Whatdidyou do?” Gabe inquired. “I remember you were a mean pitcher with baseball. I even went to a few games.”

“I was in better shape then. You two must have been sophomores at the time, right?”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, we still ran in the same circles, but you were older, for sure.”

“Do you remember when we streaked across the football field over Christmas break?”

I laughed. “Classic.”

“Oh, yeah! That's the year we found out just how much John was packing in his pants,” Ryan joked. “Which wasn't much.”

“You weren't packing much either from what I remember,” Gabe retorted.

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. That didn't stop me from getting a girlfriend.”

“That's not what I heard.”

“What about you? You were always pining after girls you couldn't have.”

“I eventually got the girls I couldn't have.”

I perked up. “You mean like Clara?”

An awkward silence draped over the bench like an old coat that needed to be washed. I cleared my throat and rubbed the back of my head.

“Which, speaking of,” I added. “Nobody told me you two were dating after I left.”

Gabe me a quizzical look. “I didn't know that no one told you, man. I thought that was just common knowledge.”

“I didn't have a clue.”

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