Chapter 4

Chloe chugged another massive swallow of liquor.

"Troy, are you hammered? What kind of stupid question is that?"

She tried to laugh it off.

But the cheers around the table only grew louder and rowdier.

Chloe’s face darkened by the second.

Not once did she look at me. Not a single glance.

"Alright, that’s enough," she mumbled.

Julian refused to let it drop. He wrapped his arm tightly around Chloe’s waist.

"Don't be mad, Chloe. Troy is just curious."

He turned his smug eyes on me.

"Ethan, don't hold it against them. Chloe and I grew up together; we joke around like this all the time."

"Unlike you. You probably never even set foot in a bar before meeting her, right?"

The table exploded with snickers.

Chloe said nothing. She simply picked up her glass and downed another drink.

Liam wobbled to his feet, holding a pint glass brimming with draft beer.

"Ethan, let me toast you, man. Don't take it to heart!"

As he spoke, his foot suspiciously slipped.

An entire pint of ice-cold beer dumped straight over my head.

It soaked through my white T-shirt, clinging wet and freezing against my skin.

"Oops! My bad, Ethan! Totally an accident!"

He offered a hollow apology, but his eyes were dancing with cruel amusement.

Chloe frowned slightly. "Liam, what are you doing?"

Her tone was airy, devoid of any real reprimand.

A wave of nausea hit my stomach. I couldn't stomach another second of this circus.

"Have fun. I'm going back."

I turned to leave.

As I passed Julian’s seat, a foot kicked out from under the table.

I tripped violently, crashing forward as my knees slammed onto the hard wooden deck with a sickening thud.

A flash of white-hot pain blinded me for a second.

"Oh no! Ethan!" Julian shrieked in exaggerated shock.

Chloe knitted her brows. "Why can’t you watch your step?"

She bent down, reaching out to help me up.

"Don't touch me."

I shoved her hands off and pushed myself up from the floor.

Troy, the ever-loyal minion, jumped back in to stir the pot.

"Since Ethan took a tumble, let's play a game so he can make up for killing the vibe!"

He spun the empty beer bottle.

It whirled around before pointing dead at my chest.

Julian clapped his hands, giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Ethan, how about you crawl around the table like a puppy and bark twice? Then we'll call it even. Deal?"

The entire circle stared at me, smirking, waiting for the show.

I looked at Chloe.

Her eyes darted away, her face written with dread—afraid that I’d cause a scene and embarrass her.

"Babe," she coaxed in a hushed whisper. "It’s just a game. Don't take it so seriously."

"Just play along, and it'll be over."

Play along? Crawl on the floor like a dog to entertain her little crew?

I reached for the glass on the table, tilted my head back, and drained it.

"I don't crawl."

Julian’s face fell. He tugged on Chloe’s sleeve, whining, "Chloe, look at him. Such a buzzkill."

His eyes darted around, settling on the small stage in the center of the lounge.

"How about Ethan goes up there and dances for us? That counts too!"

"He has such a great body, he’d probably look so hot shaking it up there."

On the stage, a couple of male dancers in tight shorts were gyrating under the strobe lights.

I heard Julian intentionally drop his voice just enough so I could catch it:

"Look at that stone-faced prick, acting all high and mighty."

"Tonight, I’m going to make sure he learns who actually belongs at Chloe’s side."

Troy snickered back, "You're a genius, Julian. Let's see him act smug after this."

So that was the game.

I slowly turned my head toward Chloe.

She was leaning in close to Julian, whispering something fond, a doting smile playing on her lips.

She didn't even notice my gaze.

In her eyes, I was nothing more than an inconvenient pest.

I reached down, picked up a full glass of red wine, and stood up, stepping toward the stage.

Julian assumed I had surrendered. A triumphant smirk stretched across his face.

"Ethan came around! Go on, Ethan! We're all waiting!"