Bryce

 

I stumble through front door of my apartment and head straight to the liquor cabinet. To say I am shaken is a huge understatement, because my hands are shaking so badly that I spill some of the alcohol on the dark wood bar top. I try to raise the glass to my lips, but I can’t get it stable enough. Slamming the glass down, I walk over to my couch and bury my face in my hands.

 

Don’t cry, Bryce. Don’t.

 

Telling myself not to cry has never worked. I feel the uncomfortable lump in my throat and the emotions building in my chest. It feels like a bath cork plugging a geyser. I need to let go, so I do. There was no way I thought the night would end this way when I was still at Dylan’s party.

 

The night started well enough. It was to be expected that my little social butterfly would flit from person to person all night, making sure everyone was having a good time.  I was relieved to see Oly and Gale when I first arrived because, between the two of them, I would always have someone to talk to or to sit with in comfortable silence. They would happily provide a buffer for any unwanted or excessive social interactions.

 

Dylan would spend most of the time on the dance floor with Amy, Alice, Raya, Amber, and whomever wanted to join.  Gale would join them too, but he would dutifully return to Oly’s side for a quiet recharge. Sometimes Oly would join Gale on the dance floor, but most of the time he returned to the booth where he was frequently approached by admirers who eagerly laughed at his jokes and soaked up his advice.

 

Honestly, Gale gave off the same energy as Oly. Aside from Dylan, I considered these two my best friends, but everyone loved and looked up to Oly and Gale. Not just because of their talent, but also because they had a way of making everyone feel comfortable and acknowledged.

 

They were also pretty darn cute with each other, and even though they never confirmed being a couple, I felt a little envious of their public displays of affection that night. Not even sure why I let myself entertain that thought. Dylan was someone else’s boyfriend.

 

I decided that I needed to stop drinking for the night since that thought caused my eyes to sting. No need to become an emotional wreck in public. Also, I was keeping an eye on Dylan and…was that his third shot? Looked like I’d be driving him home later.

 

Oly was in the middle of telling me about the fight sequence from his latest action film. I didn’t hear Gale speak, but he must have called Oly’s name because he immediately stopped talking and gave Gale his full attention.

 

“Oly. Isn’t it chilly in here?”

 

Gale looked up at Oly with big, round eyes and Oly immediately shed his leather jacket and draped it over Gale’s shoulders like a cape. Gale snuggled into the jacket, and I could swear that he breathed in Oly’s scent before resuming his conversation with Raya and Daniella. The two women had flocked to the table to gush over Gale’s make up and trade tips.    

 

Gale was all of twenty-eight, but his short stature and cute expressions made everyone treat him like a baby chick. Oly babied him the most, but you could tell he also respected the man. He never belittled, shamed, or underestimated his younger companion. He was Gale’s biggest supporter.

 

I caught Raya’s eye and she gave me a smirk and wink. Raya and I had a brief flirtation, but she kindly informed me that I was cute, but not her speed. I wasn’t even offended. I was just grateful she even gave me the time of day because she was a force to be reckoned with. She carried herself with such poise and certainty that no one questioned her ability to speak on any issue and run multiple businesses while being one of the world’s most recognized pop singers.

 

Raya’s smooth, dark complexion always seemed to be lit from within, as if she’d swallowed a small sun. Maybe that was why her presence seemed both magnetic and terrifying. If you took a moment to speak to her, though,  you would find she was down-to-earth. She rarely had conflict with anyone.

 

In my brief time on her arm, Raya’s only discord was with women who were intimidated by her or men who underestimated her. I was so proud of the way she would handle both situations. Raya was all about empowering other women and she usually ended up with a new friend whenever a woman became defensive with her. As for the men, Raya let her actions speak for her there too. The men ended up impressed or moved out of the way.

 

I realized then that I was still watching her. Raya had an edgy style that was envied and copied by many. For the party, half her hair was braided to her scalp in an intricate pattern and half fell in long waves on her shimmering bare shoulder. I watched as she tossed her hair back and I admired her lean, tattooed arms; the many silver rings on her fingers; the diamond and pearl studded nails.

 

Of course, I also noticed the low cut of her satiny black dress. (It appears the girls had all planned to dress in black today.) I was busy admiring the buttery chocolate skin of her decolletage when Raya caught me looking. She gave Gale a wide, dazzling white smile and then whispered something into his ear. His lips thinned for a second, but he nodded anyway.

 

Raya kept her eyes on me as she gracefully arose from the table, the fabric of her slinky black dress accentuating her curves. My heart slammed in my chest as she slinked toward me like a tigress stalking her prey. Was I sweating?  

 

I gulped as she got closer. She had a look in her eye. Had she changed her mind? Maybe I needed something other than Dylan filling my head.

 

Right before she reached me, Raya turned towards Oly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

 

“Let’s dance, pretty boy?”

 

Oly blinked twice and then immediately glanced at Gale. Gale patted Oly’s arm with his tiny, delicate fingertips, his brow scrunched and a pout on his lips.

 

“Oly, bring me a bottle of water when you come back, please.”

 

Oly nodded, seemingly receiving more information than I did from that request. He followed Raya’s swinging hips onto the dancefloor. She looked back at me and grinned. Once they were on the floor, Raya showed off her moves and Oly kept a respectful distance as he matched her rhythm. That was fine with Raya as she was able to move freely, her satiny dress twirling around her. 

I guess Raya figured she’d give me a show if I was going to watch. Who was I to decline such a gift?

 

I felt a presence next to me as I watched Raya. Daniella smiled up at me and handed me a plastic cup. I thanked her and took a drink. 

One of the perks of working in the entertainment business was being surrounded by beautiful people. Daniella was a supermodel turned actress with a likable girl-next-door personality. It was easy to talk to her, but when she slipped her hand into the crook of my arm, I realized she was being a little more than friendly.

 

My face got hot and I instantly looked up at Raya who was now dancing with both Oly and Gale to an upbeat, rave-inspired pop song. When had Gale gotten up? The three did not pay me any attention, but my eyes scanned the room further and met Dylan’s narrowed eyes. He immediately looked away and spoke to Amy. She looked at me with wide eyes and then turned back to him, speaking into his ear frantically. He crossed his arms and legs, and his foot bobbed impatiently.

 

My baby was upset. But why? 

Though I was sure it had nothing to do with Daniella and me, I gently removed her hand from my arm. Before I could respond to Daniella’s curious gaze, Gale plopped down into the booth. As soon as he sat, Evan appeared and pushed Daniella and me apart to almost crawl into Gale’s arms. Without question, Gale accepted the younger man into his embrace and patted his back like a mother soothing her giant child.

  

Evan is by no means big, but he loves to call himself fluffy. I would never tell him, but he reminds me of Marilyn Monroe with his beautiful smile, his chubby cheeks, soft curves, and coquettish personality. He and his best friend, Miles, are opposites physically, but they both are polite and soft spoken unless triggered (which happens often) or possessed by each other’s chaotic sense of fun.

 

Earlier Miles and Evan got into a big fight, which was typical, so it made sense that he was seeking Gale’s comforting energy. Somehow Gale was seen as both a parent and a baby in our group.

 

Oly returned to the booth and handed Gale the bottle of water he asked for. Gale thanked him. Did Gale just call Oly ‘babe’? If Oly noticed, he didn’t show any surprise.

 

Raya suddenly appeared and took Daniella’s hand. She whispered into her friend’s ear. Whatever she said made Daniella frown and then look at me with a regretful look.

 

What is happening here? I suddenly had a headache. I should have known then that the night would end with more pain.