Page 14 of One More Dare
I know Cam is just being nice, but for some reason, I don’t love that idea. I want Porter’s attention on me, so I can continue to prove to him I’m not a bad person and maybe become his friend. I don’t want him to hit it off with Cam and forget I’m there.
“I don’t know, man, do you remember anyone you met on thenight of your twenty-first? Maybe we can save the introductions for another time?”
“Cam doesn’t remember anything from that night,” Decker counters.
Cam nods along. “Too true. Well, have fun with your new bestie.”
I chug the rest of my drink and push back from the table before walking toward the bar.
“What now, Will?” Delilah asks with another smirk as I approach.
“You know that kind of attitude turns me on, right?” I wink.
“You are too much.” She fully laughs this time. “But really, what can I get you?”
“Two more shots. Whatever he just had.” I point at Porter.
“Oh,” she says, sounding very amused. “You got it.”
“New friend,” I explain to her for some reason. “Guess tonight is his birthday.”
“Okay, well, here’s the shot for you and your new friend.” She looks far too entertained right now. Maybe she knows him and he’s told her he isn’t exactly my biggest fan.
“Thank you.” I ignore whatever that was, grab the drinks, and walk toward him. Hopefully this isn’t weird, but even if he says something about us not actually being friends, I’m sure I can just laugh it off. It takes a lot to embarrass me, and he’d still get a free shot out of it.
As I approach, his eyes lock on mine, and he gives me a curious glance. “Well, hello?” he greets, tone raising at the end like it’s a question. He steps forward, away from his friends to meet me, so that must be a good sign. His friends eye me curiously, especially the short Asian girl who Porter was just talking to, but I keep my attention on him.
“Hey! I might’ve overheard it’s your birthday?”
One corner of his mouth pulls up. “You heard right.”
“Well, then, this is for you.” I hold out one of the shot glasses.
He eyes it curiously. “What is it?”
“Not sure. I just told Delilah to pour whatever shot you guys did a minute ago.”
“Are you hoping to get me drunk so you can have your way with me, Will?” he teases, and I can’t hold back my grin as he takes the shot from my hand. He’s funny, and right now, he’s being more uninhibited than I’m used to.
“Nope, still straight, remember? But if I wasn’t, I don’t think I’d need anything to get you into my bed.” I wink, and this time I catch myself doing it, but I’m not going to act weird about it.
“Oh, is that right?” Porter laughs, sounding amused. “Soundsverystraight to me.”
“Very,” I agree, and the way he’s smiling at me makes me want to push my luck even more. Maybe tonight really can be the first step in us becoming friends. “Alright, birthday boy, we’re doing the shot my way. Link your arm through mine.”
He doesn’t hesitate, stepping closer to put his right arm through mine so our elbows are locked, and I smile even bigger that he goes along with my suggestion so easily.
“Happy twenty-first to my new friend,” I cheer before I lift my shot, tip it back, and Porter follows my lead. I shiver when it goes down. I don’t know what that was, but it was disgusting, and I’m sure my face is doing absolutely nothing to hide my opinion.
“Promise me next time you buy a shot, you’ll go with something actually good, like tequila? Two of those shots is enough for a lifetime,” Porter adds with a similar look of disgust off his face.
I cough again. “What the hell was that? I thought you’d like it if it was your birthday shot.”
“No idea, it was Josie’s pick. She probably thought it was funny,” he explains while rolling his eyes.
He doesn’t actually seem upset, and I latch onto the idea of “next time.” “I’ll make sure to figure out what your favorite drink is before I buy you anything in the future.”
Our gazes lock as we smile at each other, and it really does feel like an important moment. The guarded hesitation he usually has around me is nowhere to be seen, and his carefree joy is infectious. No wonder he has so many people out tonight to celebrate with him. “Well, I can let you get back to your friends. I don’t want to monopolize your birthday.”
