His Drug Of Choice

7 - You By My Side

Two middle fingers for the haters
Life's only getting greater
Straight up from nothing we go
Higher than the highest skyscraper
No Little League, we major
The proof is in the paper 🎼🎤
- Kehlani & G-Eazy

Ron's POV

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of purple and gold as my favorite people enjoyed the current moment in the upper lounge. This beautiful moment would be engraved in my mind forever. I couldn't be happier.

I had finally confessed my feelings to Clay, and to my delight, she gave me the green light. Our relationship was now poised between excitement and uncertainty. I was both nervous and brimming with anticipation. Larah and Nate were in the living room, smooching away on each other.

"Get a room, you two," I remarked, making my way to the kitchen area where Clay was.

"Getting a room means going upstairs. We don't have time, Sir," Nate responded, grabbing Larah's hand and leading her to the group upstairs.

"Do you think pancakes are a good choice for this setting?" Clay asked.

"No, baby, but I think whoever wants them will have them. Linda prepared more than enough, so it's better they have them," I said.

"That's good. You know what I think this moment needs?" she said enthusiastically.

"Chasing everyone away so that it's just you and I?" I teased. We both laughed.

"You're so wrong for that," she said between her snorty laughs. "This moment needs barbecue. What do you say we start preparing?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.

"Well, I am happy with whatever makes you happy," I said, reaching out to her waist, pulling her to my chest and kissing her shoulder. "As long as I get to have you by my side."

She pecked my lips and smiled at me without saying a word. Seeing the warm hues of light rays dancing over her glowing face brought joy to my heart. The sight was beautiful. We locked eyes and stayed like that, content. I finally broke away, running a hand through my hair. I'm certain my cheeks flushed with a mix of joy and excitement, and she saw it.

"Sorry, we got caught up in the moment," I said.

"And what a moment it was!" Clay added, looking radiant.

"Let's join the others, baby. We'll order in." We left for the upper lounge.

When we got to the lounge, my gaze still lingering on her, I found myself smiling like a maniac, which made Larah grin knowingly.

"Okay, now that you're finally here, let's make this weekend unforgettable! Where should we start?" Luca chimed in, eyeing me with that familiar challenge of brainstorming something ridiculous yet memorable.

"How about we play '30 Seconds'? It's chaotic but hilarious," Larah suggested, glowing with enthusiasm. I turned to her and nodded in agreement.

"Great idea! Let me grab the game from my study." As I departed, Larah clapped her hands. "All right! Teams. Girls versus Guys, what do you say?"

"Fine by me," Nate replied, a competitive glint in his eye. "But we'll totally crush you! No mercy!"

While Nate, Luca, and Nico strategized, Clay's gaze drifted to me as I returned with the board game. I bet she knew how badly she had me lost in those brown pools of hers.

"Who wants to start?" I asked, setting up the game on the coffee table. Clay, Larah, Briah, and Candice were on one side of the room, while the guys took the other. Larah shot up to the centre holding a die.