Page 11 of Clandestine

Our friendship is a comfortable one. Much more so than…whatever you might call Colby and I. Jackson knows that while I can appreciate a sexy man, I simply don’t swing that way during solo adventures. I’ll play with a dick here and there during group activities, but overall, I don’t experience consistent attraction to men.

“In another lifetime, my love.” I push off of him and lean against the wall, my eyes roaming over Hale and willing hers to meet mine. I’m quickly becoming greedy for the deep hue of her brown eyes on me. Her attention feels like a gift I want to keep unwrapping.

“Anyways, I’m going to get food, anyone hungry? We need to hit the hay soon. Long day tomorrow.” Colby suggests.

“Fuck yes, I saw a little diner on our way through town. Burgers?” I look between the three sets of eyes, or try to, but Colby’s gaze is locked on the still undressed Hale.

“Sounds good to me.” Colby begins stuffing his wallet into his pocket and grabs his phone off the tiny hotel desk.

“Sure, but uh, could I maybe finish getting dressed here?” Hale quips, finally tearing her eyes from mine, her bottom lip neatly tucking between her teeth. I wonder if she’s thinking about the girl who was pressed against me earlier.

“We’ll wait for you in the car,” I say as I shoo the boys out of the room with me. But not before sending a smile her way that has her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

NINE

HALE

The four of us make it to a small diner that’s still open at nine at night, worming our way inside to grab a booth. It’s a super cute place, and the decor reminds me of cotton candy. We grab the corner booth, which is much too large for just the four of us, though it’s deserted in here anyways. The teal cushions of the seats are surprisingly comfortable as I slide in, followed by Sydnee on my right, Jackson next to her, and Colby on my other side.

Just like that, I’m squished between three rockstars on a Thursday night.

I grab a menu from the center of the bubble gum pink table and begin looking over my options. The mental debate is between waffles or a burger when the waitress comes by.

“Can I start you’ns with something to drink?”

I speak up before everyone else. “I’d like a chocolate milkshake, please.”

“Water is fine with me,” Colby says.

“Do you have sweet tea?” Jackson asks, like the sweetheart he is.

“We do.” She nods.

“I’ll have a glass of that then, please.”

“Water for me as well.” Syd smiles politely to the waitress.

“Perfect, I’ll give you’ns a few to look over that menu.” Placing her pen and notepad back in her apron, she sashays away.

“Thank you,” I call out behind her as she rounds the bar.

Well, is it called a bar? It has stools sitting against it. I don’t know.

“Shit, I’ll be right back. Mom is calling me.” Jackson stands from the table “If the waitress comes back before I get off the phone, I want a bacon double cheeseburger with the cheese fries,” he says, then jogs out the front door. I can barely see him through the diner window if I lean enough to my right, and then he steps out of my view entirely. Not being able to have eyes on both of my boys makes me nervous. It’s so easy to settle back into claiming them, though they were never truly mine. Still, I don’t need to end up on some cheesy late-night dateline show, giving an interview.

“And what do you want, Hale?” Colby says smoothly, not bothering to look up from the menu. I glance over to see what page he’s studying.

“I’m thinking about the waffles. I’m feeling my sweet tooth.” I push my hair behind my ear, continuing to observe the menu.

“I think I am, too.”

“Since when do you have a sweet tooth? I don’t think you have a sweet bone in your body anymore.”

Colby just hums under his breath, still not bothering to look up at me, but suddenly there’s a hand on my thigh. I look over at Syd, down at her hand, then back up to her face, but she doesn’t look at me either.

When the waitress returns, she asks for my order first.

“I’d like the chocolate chip waffles, and can I add banana slices to the top?”

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