Page 25 of Because I Liked A Boy
Hunter doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t even glance around. He moves like the attention is his to command, dropping the tray onto the nearest booth and sliding in beside me. His thigh brushes mine as though it’s inevitable. His arm stretches along the backrest, knuckles dangling just close enough to skim my shoulder if I leaned an inch.
“See?” he says, voice low, like it’s just the two of us in the room. “Told you I’d get you that drink.”
“People are staring,” I mutter.
He takes a pull from his beer, unbothered. “Let them stare. We’re friends, not fucking.”
It should sting. Should make me want to roll my eyes and push him off. Instead, heat curls traitorous and low, and I hate how much I like the way he says it. I should be relieved. Friends is safe. Friends is simple. But the word burns hotter than it should, twisting sharp in my chest, and I hate that part of me wants it to mean something else.
Before I can answer, Ruby and Theo appear—her glowing, him grinning—carrying a tray stacked with shot glasses, salt, and lime.
“Perfect timing,” Ruby says, sliding into place. “Hope you’re ready, Belle. House tradition.”
Theo drops the tray with a thud, eyes sparkling. “No excuses. Everyone drinks.”
Ruby smirks. “Salt, shot, lime. Don’t embarrass yourselves.”
Hunter takes his time, rolling his shot glass between his fingers before sliding one in front of me. His grin is lazy, dangerous. “Think you can keep up, Princess?”
I arch a brow, salt already slick on my hand. “I’m from London. Drinking’s my middle name.”
Ruby shrieks with laughter. Theo coughs into his lime. Hunter just looks atme like I’ve said something filthy instead of funny.
“One,” Ruby counts, already lifting hers. “Two. Three.”
The burn hits hard, sharp, alive. Ruby whoops, Theo winces, and I laugh as I slam mine down, the glass clinking against the table.
Hunter taps his empty against mine, his voice low and smug. “Not bad. But we’re not done.”
Ruby’s practically glowing as she sets up the next four. “Round two. Let’s see who’s still standing.”
Theo groans. “I came here for a beer, not liver failure.”
Ruby arches a brow. “Coward.”
Hunter slides a glass toward me, eyes never leaving mine. “Still game, Princess?”
I lick the salt off my hand, slow, just to spite him. “Told you. Middle name.”
The tequila hits, fire racing down my throat, and I laugh too hard, too free, the sound strange and startling in my own ears. For once it doesn’t feel heavy. For once it feels good.
We slam the second back. The tequila bites, heat racing down my throat. Ruby cheers, Theo mutters a curse, and I can’t stop the laugh that bursts free.
Hunter doesn’t look away. He downs his in one smooth tilt, then sets the glass upside down on the table. “Careful,” he murmurs, grin tugging. “Keep drinking like that and I might actually start believing you’re trouble.”
“Believe what you want,” I shoot back, reaching for another. “I can handle it.”
By the fourth round, I’m buzzing. Loose. Alive in a way I haven’t felt in months. Ruby’s laughing so hard she nearly spills hers, Theo’s gone pink from trying to keep up, and Hunter—Hunter’s still steady. Green eyes locked on me, smirk deep, like watching me unravel is his favourite game.
I point my lime peel at him. “Admit it. Didn’t think I could keep up.”
He chuckles, slow and dark. “Didn’t think you’d make it this fun.”
The night blurs warm and loud. Ruby hauls me back onto the dance floor, shrieking when Dance The Night kicks in, neon lights pulsing pink across the crowd.
“Come on, Belle!” she yells, spinning me until my curls whip my face. “This is ours!”
I let her drag me under the lights, our drinks long gone, laughter spilling out between lyrics. The bass thrums through my chest, heat rolling over my skin. For the first time in months, I don’t care who’s watching. Ruby’s grin is wicked, her arm hooked through mine as we shout the chorus into each other’s faces, bodies moving reckless.
