My hand slipped away from Dev’s as we approached the supply house. After one too many dirty looks we had gotten over the past few nights we decided it might be best to not broadcast our relationship until we knew who we could trust first. 

The last thing I wanted was to see Dev getting beat up by some homophobic asshole. I was used to it. My dad wasn’t certain I was gay before he walked in on me and Dev but he always had his suspicions and tried his hardest to beat the gay out of me before it fully formed. Dev’s parents didn’t have any clue though. They didn’t look at him if they didn’t have to so he has been out of the closet ever since I kissed him when we were 12. 

Poor sheltered Dev didn’t see the harm in being out but I knew how shitty people could be and the last thing I wanted was more trouble. Peter said to keep our heads down and just do our jobs so that’s what we were going to do. No scandals, no fights, just work. 

I didn’t bother knocking when we stepped foot on the porch and simply walked in. Peter was sitting on the couch counting the money the rest of the runners had already dropped off and the other idiots were nowhere to be seen. 

“You’re back early,” he said as he wrapped a band around the cash. “Seems like you’re getting the hang of it.”

“Well, it’s a lot easier when you know where you’re going,” I sighed as I placed our bills on the table in front of him. 

It took a few weeks but with time and effort, we had cut our run time almost in half. Now that we were a bit more used to everything, the drugs, the cost, the routes, everything seemed to be falling into place nicely and I could see us eventually being happy here once we got better schedules. 

“It also helps that James isn’t one for bullshitting around with people,” Dev teased and I rolled my eyes. 

“If they want a therapist then they are going to have to start tipping.” Peter laughed as he grabbed the cash and did a quick count of it before nodding. 

“It’s all there,” he said with a wide smile. 

“So we’re free to go then?”

“If you want,” he shrugged. “Or you can come with me. I’m heading to one of Drake’s clubs, get drunk, maybe get lucky. A lot of us are going to be there if you wanted to meet other runners. We try to get together at least once a week to catch up.”

“I don’t know,” I sighed. It had been a long day, first shopping around for new clothes and food then coming straight to work and walking around for hours, trying to avoid every cop in sight. “Maybe some other time-,”

“I’ll go,” Dev offered his hand lightly brushing mine, a silent promise that he would only go if I agreed. “It sounds like fun. It’s been far too long since I’ve gotten drunk.”

“You being drunk is the last thing we need,” I scoffed. 

“The club is safe,” Peter offered as he stood up, picking up the gun on the side table and slipping it between his back and belt before tugging his shirt under it to hide it. “Drake has bouncers working there. No pervy old man is going to spike his drink the second you stop looking. Besides, with you being his scary guard dog boyfriend I doubt anyone is going to go near him.”

My heart stopped beating as I glared at Peter. He seemed just as relaxed as I had always seen him as if he didn’t just come out and say the one thing we were trying to hide. 

“We aren’t dating,” I spat out harsher than needed. Dev shot me a glare but my eyes were focused on Peter.

“You aren’t,” he asked as he looked between the two of us. “I mean, I don’t care either way. Gay, straight, both; you do you man. I just saw the way you two were hanging on each other on jump-in and assumed. Sorry about that I guess. Either way, you should still come. I’m buying if it makes a difference.”

“I don’t have a fake ID,” I said, mostly trying to think of excuses to not go anymore.

“Drake employs the bartenders. As long as you let it slip that you work for him, they don’t card you. Just don’t make a fool out of yourself or the bouncers will haul your ass out and even I can’t save you then.” Another excuse was on the tip of my tongue when Dev gripped my hand and forced me to look at him. 

“Just a few drinks, please?” His eyes were bright with a light I hadn’t seen since the night I was kicked out and he was lying on top of me. I missed this Dev. The Dev who asked for things and wasn’t worried about money or food. The Dev that despite everything, loved life and wanted to experience more of it.

It had been so long since I had seen that Dev and the pout he was giving me was enough to make me sigh. 

“A few drinks but we aren’t staying long.” Dev smiled widely as he took my hand and followed Peter out the door. Peter only laughed with a light shake of his head. 

“Whipped,” he mumbled but stopped laughing when he saw my glare. “Sorry, didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

Dev’s fingers lightly brushed against the back of my hand as we followed behind Peter. The club wasn’t far thankfully but the line wrapped around the building and the buzz of the music could be felt through the door. 

I sighed at the thought of having to wait this long just to get a drink but Peter simply walked around everyone, his eyes set on the door. 

“What’s up David,” Peter said to the rather large bouncer at the door. The man had a stern glare on his face but upon seeing Peter he smiled, a light blush covering his cheeks when Peter reached down to the red velvet rope. Peter’s fingers lightly danced along the soft material but his eyes never left David’s while David watched Peter’s hand move as if it was the only thing in the world that mattered. “Have room for three more in there?”

“We’re at capacity.”

“What’s three more,” Peter teased. I watched as his hand wrapped around the rope lightly before sliding his hand up and down slowly. The smirk never left his face as he leaned in closer to the man in front of him. 

David blushed hard as he took a step back and forced himself to look Peter in the eyes. It occurred to me that I should probably look away but Dev’s hand found mine and squeezed it harshly. 

I tore my eyes away from the men just long enough to see Dev watching them just as intently as I had. When I looked back Peter had all but pushed David up against the wall. Peter was standing on the tips of his toes and David was staring down at him like he was the only thing that mattered in life. 

“There’s no room,” David all but whined and Peter’s smirk only grew. 

“Even for me?” My stomach turned sour when Peter batted his eyes. The teasing had stopped and I was quickly losing interest. I looked back at Dev, a light smile gracing his face as he looked down at my groin. I scoffed as I nudged his shoulder but the annoyance fell away as he laughed lightly in my ear. 

“Just this once,” David sighed as he picked up the rope to let us in. Peter’s smirk widened as he slid inside, brushing a hand lightly over David’s chest.

“I’ll make it up to you later,” Peter promised in a low whisper. I watched David’s eyes as we walked past but his attention stayed on Peter. I really thought I was going to throw up when I faced forward to see Peter swaying his ass with every step. 

The music had been loud outside but now that we were inside it was almost unbearable. I could feel the vibrations in every bone of my body and I wasn’t sure I liked it. 

Clubbing was never really my thing. The alcohol was nice and before Dev and I became official it was an easy way to get laid but ever since then I was fine getting my cheap beer and sitting at home to get my buzz in peace. 

“So you and David,” I teased, mostly to fill the gap in the conversation as Peter led us to another roped-off area. Several people were packed together in the small area, some sitting at tables with several loose pills hanging around, others chose to sit on the couches, and if there wasn’t enough room, a few of them sat on other’s laps.

“You gay,” he asked in a low whisper, his voice becoming stern again, before making a few people move off the couch so there was enough room for the three of us. 

“No,” I answered instinctively but by the look in his eye, I could tell he knew I was lying.

“Then neither am I,” he said with a shrug. “What do you two want to drink?”

“Something fruity,” Dev said as he leaned back onto the couch. 

“Straight vodka,” I sighed. Peter lost any sense of sternness as he waved over one of the waiters with a new smile plastered on his face.

My tongue got caught in my throat as I took in the waiter coming our way. 

“Eyes on your own boyfriend,” Dev scoffed in my ear. I nodded but my eyes didn’t leave the man walking towards us. He was wearing a crop top. His abs were on full display and the sleeves of the shirt let his arms bulge out of the soft material. 

“What can I get you cuties,” he asked as he leaned over the gate. My mouth went dry when he looked at me but when his eyes trailed to Dev I frowned. 

“I’ll take a scotch on the rocks,” Peter said with a sigh as he leaned back to take out his phone. 

“Sex on the beach,” Dev said with a light smile. The man smirked as he leaned in closer to the couch, his eyes slowly looking Dev up and down before a soft hum left his throat. 

“Vodka. Like three shots. Right now,” I said quickly before he had a chance to say anything else to Dev. 

“Aren’t you two a bit young for this,” he asked with a sad smile. “Come on Peter. At least try and hide the fact that you’re just bringing kids in here. The cops are going to start sniffing around if you aren’t careful.”

“I’m always careful,” Peter waved off. “Besides, they work for Drake. Put their shit on my tab.” The man looked like he wanted to argue but thought better of it before he had the chance and walked away. “Not gay my ass,” Peter scoffed. “If you’re trying to hide it, you might want to try being a bit more discreet when checking out other guys.” I glared at him but it seemed to do nothing.

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you,” Dev teased as he leaned into my side. 

“I’m not jealous.”

“Then what would you call that whole getting in front of me thing right then when a hot guy was checking me out?”

“I call it possessive.” 

“I call it looking for a three-way,” Peter chuckled. “He’d be down for it, I speak from experience.” I turned to glare at him again but Dev caught my face before I could. 

I expect to see a small frown on his face but he’s smirking and that’s almost worse. 

“A three-way,” Dev asked as he leaned close to my ear, his voice barely being heard over the loud music. “What? Do I not fuck you enough? If you needed more all you had to do was ask.”

“It’s not that,” I scoffed as I pushed him away from me, trying to ignore the blush staining my cheeks. I didn’t like it here. This was Dev’s scene. He was used to the flashing lights, the music, the people, the teasing. I was normally the confident one and now that our roles were reversed I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

“Then what is it, baby? What is that dirty mind thinking about,” he asked. I stared into the eyes, feeling like I was getting lost in them. He was still smirking and his fingers trailed down my arm teasingly. My heart stopped beating for a second and thankfully the waiter came back before I had to answer that question.

I took the shot glasses from the trey and knocked each of them back, one after the other before standing up from the couch and looking around the roped-off area.

“Everyone here is a drug runner,” I asked Peter as I looked around. 

“Mostly. Some work for Drake in different areas, warehouse mostly. A lot of them come after their shift.” I nodded as I took a step away from my boyfriend and boss. 

“Where are you going,” Dev asked as he sipped on his drink.

“We’re here to meet new people right,” I asked with a shrug. “So I’m going to go meet people. You good with that?” Dev only smiled, clearly being able to tell that this was just happening so I could avoid the conversation we were having only seconds prior. 

“Have fun,” he called out as I slipped through the crowd.

I didn’t remember much of that night other than the fact that we did not stay for only a few drinks and when Peter finally cut us off I could barely stand.

I did remember the look of pure joy that Peter had as he walked us through the club and onto the street. I had been hanging off of him while Dev trailed behind us, the three of us laughing the whole way back to the apartment over random things. I could have sworn there was a promise to do this again; drunk James seemed to be more fun than the stuck-up, sober counterpart but I couldn’t be sure.