“The play by play I was promised?” He puffed dramatically to the room.

Joe waved Brayden over to a seat at the bar top where he stood, Naz in the other seat. Luke stood behind the bar and grinned wickedly at Brayden as he sat down in the remaining stool."Jasmine is a certified killer; I swear to god.” Luke started. “So, you and Lily disappear, which B-T-W everyone except James, who’s so cooked right now I can’t believe he stood up, noticed. Luckily Jasmine was quick on the scene, making it pretty clear what your mission was.” Luke’s hands were flying wildly around himself. “Jasmine just lays into James, asking him where he learned to be such a bum, if he had any manners at all, just eviscerating his person. And James is just sat there staring at her like a fucking mute, he’s so confused. And Jaz is still obliterating him when Naz coughs, and Jaz finally gets to the fucking point.” Laughter and murmured agreements spill out in the room."So of course, no one is talking now, we’re just watching this aggressive bullying happen. When Jaz yells: “Are you fucking stupid? Lillian looks so hot and all you can do is put down how she looks every other day? She’s your ‘dream girl’ now? Not all the time? The girl who loves you, for some fucking reason… isn’t the girl of your dreams? You’ve been together 6 years, and you can’t even string your two fucking braincells together to realize she’s the best thing that will ever happen to you, and you keep basically saying you don’t even like the way she looks most of the time?” And Jaz is in his face and Naz is literally holding her back before James FINALLY asks where Lily even is. Then he stumbled off the stool he was on to go find her.” Luke finishes breathlessly.

“Not to mention the way we all realized he’s going to find you two together and we all start to panic, before Alex hears you coming THROUGH the storage room like a ninja.” Joe adds."No literally, Nathan turns the music up without prompting, which is just so amazing, and Alex guides you under the stairs to safety, like a literal hero!” Luke exclaims."I can’t believe I missed that!” Brayden groans, faking it completely.

He didn’t regret those stolen moments for a second."So, is she mad? Did she figure it out?” Nathan pipes up."She’s Lily, of course she figured it out, but you guys know her, she at least wasn’t mad when she shooed me under the stairs.” Brayden shrugged. “However now she has to deal with his drunk ass, which who knows if he is apologizing or if he’s just bitching about Jasmine to her.” Brayden rolled his eyes.

A shot appeared on the bar before him, with Luke’s grinning face behind it. Several more followed."Shots for everyone!” He shouted as Brayden threw his back with a sheepish grin.

Everyone returned to their own conversations and a new game of beer pong started.

"You know – I think we’ve all fallen for you now.” Naz grinned beside him. “Now all you gotta do is turn her.”

“Thanks. I really needed to win you guys over.” He muttered thankfully.

“Us too!” The brothers, arms slung over shoulders preened from behind, swaying back and forth.

Brayden beamed at them joyously, before another shot with a wink came from Luke and Brayden was gobbling it down.

Jasmine’s face entered his now blurred peripherals.

“And where have you been?” He slurred at her happily.

“I was sent to time out, which is several bong rips and fresh air outside.” Jasmine replied.

Brayden considered and nodded shrewdly, “Smart.” He concluded.

“They’re just getting the hero drunk back here, aren’t they?”

“Yep!” Naz and Luke replied in unison.

“Has Lily come back yet?” Brayden whispered conspiratorially. “It’s been like 20 minutes, he can’t still be bitching, can he?” Glancing between all the listening eyes.

“I’ll go on a mission for you buddy, don’t worry.” Luke swayed and grinned. “They’ll never suspect a thing.” With a wink he trotted off to find the couple.

Even over the din of conversation and music Brayden heard Luke exclaim.

"The party is inquiring after its host!”

Brayden laughed out loud with Naz, falling over themselves in the bar seats. Minutes later Luke appeared with Lillian in tow, looking no worse for wear as Brayden inspected her.

“Freaking bum fell asleep on her and she couldn’t escape.” Luke muttered as he passed Brayden.

Brayden looked over at Lillian who had followed Luke to the bar and offered her his most flirtatious smile. She winked back at him and took the shot offered to her by Luke, and the second.

“You have time to make up for, don’t get stinge.” Luke proclaimed, handing her a third shot.

Brayden pushed the water someone had poured him towards her.

“Shot of water then tequila?” He posed.

“Fair.” She remarked as she downed several mouthfuls of water and took her third tequila shot, accompanied by salt and lime this time."The lime was a reward for sticking to it. You’re our heavy hitter, and we’re trying to get you loaded this year.” Joe appeared from somewhere, slinging an arm over her shoulder, handing her one of her preferred coolers.

Brayden watched her lean into Joe, and he supported her comfortably. His quizzical look earning him a wink from Joe. Naz leaned over Brayden’s shoulder to whisper.

“They used to date, before her and James did. You don’t know?” Brayden’s eyes widened in shock. Water threatened to fly up into his sinus as he choked on the water he’d been sipping. He glanced between the two. Lillian’s laugh reverberated in his ears, and he blushed at his obvious jealousy."We were what? 17?” Joe turned to her.

Lillian nodded in reply.

“Don’t sweat it man, it was 8 years ago, we just managed to stay friends. Now we’re just… comfortable.” Joe said in earnest.

Lillian agreed with a grin for Joe, but when her eyes fell on Brayden, and glittered especially for him, he realized that all those smiles he thought were for everyone else, might have only existed for him. Everyone else in the area rolled their eyes and laughed. Joe dropping a quick peck on the top of her head as Luke gave him another shot and then he was gone.

Before Brayden’s mouth could stop his brain, or whatever way it was supposed to go he blurted out:"Oh my god! You lost your virginity to him! Are you v-card buddies?” His question was genuine, but loud.

Lillian blushed indignantly.

“Yep!” Joe called from somewhere in the room.

Jasmine stifled a laugh along with Naz and Luke. Lillian rolled her eyes and nodded as well. Brayden’s drunk brain refused to feel embarrassed for asking, so he laughed to.