While the Sun Shines

29.

"Blake, you realised that Small World is not a team game, right?" Lara asked. "Because you cannot tell me you didn't already read every single rule before coming here tonight." 

Blake grinned at Lara. "I mean, obviously I knew it's not a team game. But Nick and I are still a team. We have a reputation to hold high after Tichu—at least one of us should win."

Nick's cheeks flamed as Blake briefly touched his shoulder, and Lara raised an amused brow. He felt Mia and Carson's eyes on him too, and it was just wonderful. They'd all been seated at the Ace of Spades together at the table for a whole of five minutes before everyone seemed to have caught on that something was going on between him and Blake. 

Well, maybe they hadn't caught on and Nick was imagining it because he was on edge. And maybe it was a completely one-sided thing because he was the only one getting beet-red every time Blake so much as looked his way. But still, they were off to a great start. Lara in particular wasn't going to stay out of it if she noticed any tension. 

Nick quickly occupied himself with taking the Small World board out of the box and setting it up so he didn't have to make eye-contact with anyone. Carson and Mia helped him while Lara got up from her seat. 

"I'll get us all some beers," she announced. 

"And one glass of Sambuca for Nick," Blake added as he also rose from his seat. 

When Nick looked up at Blake in surprise, he grinned before turning to walk with Lara to the bar. Nick saw Lara lean closer to Blake and whisper something in his ear. She glanced at Nick over her shoulder and giggled. Great. 

Nick did his best not to dwell on Blake and Lara and the gossiping they were undoubtedly doing at the bar. To distract himself, Nick grabbed the rule booklet and tried to explain how the game worked to Mia and Carson. About halfway into his explanation, Blake and Lara returned to the table. Nick's eyes went wide as he realised Blake didn't bring a glass, but an entire bottle of Sambuca with him. 

Blake placed the bottle in front of Nick almost triumphantly, and laughed when he saw Nick's perplexed expression. "Look, I need to get you drunk to take out the largest competition." 

"Hey! You just said if one of us wins it's okay because we'll still be the winning team," Nick protested. 

"Sure," Blake replied. He sat down opposite Nick with his glass of beer in his hand. He swirled it like it was wine, took a small sip, and smiled at Nick from behind his glass. "But I still would rather have it be me." 

A smile tugged at Nick's lips, but then he remembered they were surrounded by people and he bit back his joking 'I'm going to buy you a bottle too then" and averted his gaze rather than replying. Thankfully, the game was all set up and Mia got impatient. She glanced at Nick and Blake. 

"Since you guys know the game best, I think one of you should go first," she suggested. 

"I'll go first," Blake promptly replied. He looked at Nick. "I'm invading you," he said with a completely straight face. 

"Yeah, I bet you would," Mia said. 

Lara and Carson both snorted while Blake jokingly rolled his eyes at the remark. "And I bet you'd like to watch," he shot back, making Mia's eyes go round as she let out an embarrassed giggle.

Nick felt Lara looking at him to check his reaction, and that was his cue to pour more alcohol into his glass. A lot more. It was nice of Blake that had gone out of his way to get Nick one of his favourite drinks, but Nick honestly didn't care what was in his glass at this point. He just wanted it down the hatch as fast as possible to get that buzz and to stop feeling like his head would explode from all the blood flowing to it.