grandeur [hs au]

chapter 6

"Do you bring all your clients to Wanderlust?" Emma teases with a playful shove to my shoulder. I return a scoff and eye roll.

When I offered to bring Harry out with me tonight, I wasn't thinking about any potential berating from Emma and Gi.

"Em, it's not a big deal." I meet her gaze over the liquor-heavy mixed drink I'm sipping as I await Harry's return with more shots. I had offered to go buy us all the next round, but he insisted on covering it. Emma and Gi were wooed by his "chivalry" and to be honest I think that was his goal. Mission accomplished, as they're still swooning.

"You guys couldn't even keep your hands off each other long enough to come to girls' night alone?" Emma teases with a laugh.

"Oh my gosh," I laugh. "He's literally going through a breakup right now. Have some decency."

"He's going through a breakup and you let him buy a round?" Gi tutts at me and wags her finger before dissolving into giggles.

"I didn't see you complaining! And I tried to stop him," I defend.

"Well, at least you know he's single now," Emma shrugs before taking the last sip of her own drink. "The brooding look is kind of hot." I kick her under the table we're sitting at. The booths at Wanderlust are more reclusive, tucked into the back of the club. Each bears its own curved white seating and too-tiny table, booths separated by fogged glass panes for privacy.

"Well, he seems nice," Gi offers. Even though she was late as promised, we've all been here long enough to make small talk. Thankfully, my friends could tell Harry was down, so they filled most of the conversation with little things about themselves so he didn't feel pressured to talk.

I really love Emma and Gi. They're thoughtful, reliable, strong, intelligent, and fun. These two are everything I could want in friends.

I think I get extra lovey when I'm drunk.

"Thank you guys for letting me bring Harry along," I tell them a bit too loudly. The liquor from our earlier shots has definitely sent relaxing waves throughout my body.

"Oh course," Gi waves away. "We're always a safe haven for broken hearts. Remember the Jack situation?" We all shudder at the name of Gi's ex. She went to surprise him one weekend and found him with another girl. The rest of that weekend is kind of a gap in memory for all of us with how drunk and high we were.

"Do you know anything about Harry's ex?" Emma asks curiously. "Was she a bitch?"

I suppose I don't really know much about her, not even her name. Even though I feel like I've become a bit closer to Harry over our past odd experiences, I don't know much about him either, at least not factually. I can't help but feel there are some things we have connected on even in so little words. There's some connection there under the surface that I don't understand. Still, there is so much to get to know about him, and I want to.

I wonder where in England he's from with his accent. I'm curious where he met his girlfriend and what really made them break up. How long has he lived in Boston? How did he discover photography?

I finally snap out of the winding road of thoughts about Harry when I realize Emma and Gi are staring at me expectantly.

"I, uh, don't know much about her." I shrug. Gi looks at me seriously in a way that catches me off guard.

"Caro, you know I love a bit of fun, but who is this guy really? What do you know about him?" she quizzes. Her questions create a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach that I try to ignore.

"What, you beg me to bang half the Wanderlust clientele - who are strangers - but I can't share drinks with Harry?" I defend back, sharper than I meant to. I'm not sure I even meant to say all the words that came out. Emma is quiet while watching our exchange.