Do Me a Favour - Alex Turner

42. Karaoke

(Alex's POV)

As we arrived at the pub, the lively atmosphere washed over us, promising a night of fun and laughter. The moment we stepped inside, Lana was swept away by the girls. I watched her go, a smile tugging at my lips as she joined their animated chatter.

Left to my own devices, I turned to the guys. Jamie, Matt, Nick, and Miles were already making their way to the bar, so I followed suit. We ordered a round of drinks, and soon enough, we found a corner where we could talk without having to shout over the music.

Jamie took a sip of his beer and then looked at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, Alex, we haven't had a good conversation in a while because of all the drama. I'm starting to forget what it's like to talk about something other than relationship issues."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, hasn't it?"

Jamie nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me about it. And to be honest, I'm getting tired of only talking with Katie." He didn't notice Katie coming up behind him until it was too late.

She smacked him lightly on the arm, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh really, Jamie? Is that so?"

Jamie jumped, nearly spilling his drink. "I didn't mean it like that, Katie! You know I love talking to you."

Katie rolled her eyes but smiled, planting a quick kiss on Jamie's cheek before heading back to the girls.

"Nice save," Matt said, laughing.

Jamie shrugged, grinning. "What can I say? I'm a smooth talker."

We all laughed, the tension from the past few days slowly melting away. It felt good to just hang out with the guys, to share a few drinks and forget about everything else for a while.

"Anyway," Jamie said, turning back to me, "how are things with you and Lana? You two seem pretty solid."

My eyes drifted over to where Lana stood, laughing with the girls. She looked radiant, her smile lighting up the room. I couldn't help but smile myself, feeling a warmth spread through me. "She's amazing," I said, my voice filled with genuine admiration. "She's smart, funny, and she just... gets me, you know?"

The guys exchanged looks, grins spreading across their faces. "Oh, look at him," Jamie teased, nudging Matt. "He's got that lovesick puppy look."

"Yeah," Matt chimed in, chuckling. "I've never seen him like this before. It's actually kind of adorable."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. "Oh, shut up, you guys."

Miles joined in, raising his glass. "To Alex and Lana, the couple that's making us all believe in love again."

We all laughed, clinking our glasses together. As I took a sip of my drink, I couldn't shake the feeling of happiness that had settled in my chest. Despite the teasing, I knew my friends were genuinely happy for me, and that made all the difference.

"Seriously though," Jamie said, his tone softening. "We're happy for you, man. You deserve this."

I nodded, grateful for their support. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot."

*

T

he girls rejoined us, their giggles and high spirits signaling they'd been enjoying some cocktails. Lana, in particular, seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, her laughter infectious as she slipped back into my side.

"Look at you lot," Jamie said, grinning. "You sound like a bunch of schoolgirls."

Katie stuck out her tongue at him, then laughed. "We're just having fun, Jamie. You should try it."