The promise.

The party- Jace.

Riley invited me to her birthday party, when I laid Avery to bed.
I was off to go. The music pounded through the house, a relentless bass line that seemed to shake the very walls.
The party was in full swing, with people dancing, laughing, and enjoying the buzz of alcohol and youthful energy.
Finally, I spotted her near the kitchen, talking with a couple of people I didn't recognize. Her eyes lit up when she saw me approaching, and she broke away from the group to meet me halfway.
"Hey, you," she said, slipping her arms around my waist.
"Having fun?" "Always, when I'm with you," I replied, leaning in to kiss her.
"Come on, there's someone I want you to meet," she said, grabbing my hand and leading me back towards the kitchen.
"His name is Miles, and he's a friend of a friend. Really cool guy."

As we reached the kitchen, I saw a tall, well-built guy with dark hair and an easy smile chatting with a few other partygoers. He turned as we approached, his smile widening.
"Jace, this is Miles," Riley introduced us.
"Miles, this is my boyfriend, Jace."
"Hey, man," Miles greeted me, extending a hand. "Good to meet you."
"Good to meet you too," I said, shaking his hand.
"Enjoying the party?"
"Yeah, it's great," Miles replied.
"I don't get out to these things as much as I used to, but it's nice to cut loose once in a while." As we chatted, I noticed another guy standing a little apart from the group, nursing a drink and watching us with an intensity that felt almost out of place in the casual, festive atmosphere.
He was about my age, with short blonde hair and a lean build. His eyes, however, were what caught my attention: they seemed to be constantly shifting, taking in everything around him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"That's Thomas," Miles said, following my gaze. "He's a bit of a loner, but he's a good guy once you get to know him."
"Hey, Thomas," I called out, raising my voice to be heard over the music.
"Come join us!"
Thomas glanced over, hesitated for a moment, then made his way towards us. Up close, his expression seemed even more guarded, but he managed a polite smile.
"Hey," he said, his voice low and reserved.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too," I replied, extending a hand. He shook it briefly, then turned his attention to Riley.

"So, you're into photography," Thomas said, his tone shifting slightly to her. There was a spark of interest in his eyes now, but it felt a bit too intense.
"Yeah, I love it," Riley said enthusiastically.
"I've been doing it for a few years now. Jace here is my favorite subject." Thomas's gaze flicked to me for a moment, then back to Riley.
"That's cool. Maybe you could show me some of your work sometime." "Sure," Riley said, her smile never wavering.
"I'd love to."
The conversation continued, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Thomas was polite enough, but there was an undercurrent of something else in his demeanor, especially when he looked at Riley.
It wasn't just interest; it was almost possessive.
Miles seemed to sense it too because he kept throwing Thomas subtle looks, as if trying to gauge his mood.
Despite the uneasy vibe, we managed to keep things light, talking about music, hobbies, and plans for the future.
As the night wore on, the party showed no signs of slowing down. Riley excused herself to use the bathroom, and I found myself alone with Miles and Thomas.
"You two seem really close," Thomas said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
"Yeah, we are," I replied, matching his tone. "She means everything to me."
Thomas nodded slowly, his expression unreadable.
"That's good to hear." Miles clapped Thomas on the shoulder, breaking the tension.
"Come on, man, let's party and have some fun. Leave the love birds alone"
Thomas managed a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Was he jealous of me and Riley or something?

The night was still buzzing with energy as the party reached its peak. I had just stepped outside for some fresh air when I saw Miles standing on the porch, looking out into the night. He glanced back as he heard the door open and smiled.
"Needed a break?" he asked, offering me a cigarette. I shook my head.
"Yeah, it's getting pretty loud in there," I replied, leaning against the railing.
Miles lit his cigarette and took a drag.
"So, how did you and Riley meet?" I smiled at the memory.
"We met at the park, I guess we just clicked."
"That's cool," Miles said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
"You seem good together."
"We are," I said, nodding. "Are you okay tho, you seem a bit off?" I asked him.
'Miles shrugged. "It's been a rough few weeks."
"Yeah? What's been going on?" Miles hesitated, then sighed.
"Family stuff. It gets complicated."
"I hear you," I said, empathizing. "Family can be tough."
He nodded, looking thoughtful.
"You know, it's rare to meet someone who's genuinely happy with their life. It's refreshing." I chuckled.
"Thanks, man. I try to appreciate what I have." Miles smiled, a genuine one this time.
"That's a good way to live."

A few weeks after the party, Miles and I had become good friends.
One evening, we were hanging out at my place, talking about everything and nothing.
"You know what we should do?" Miles said suddenly, his eyes lighting up.
"We should go on a road trip." I raised an eyebrow.
"A road trip?"
"Yeah, man. Just hit the open road, see where it takes us. No plans, no schedules. Just freedom. Just for a week, celebrating the summer!" The idea was tempting.
"That sounds amazing. Riley would love it too." Miles grinned.
"Perfect. The four of us. You, me, Riley and Thomas. It'll be epic."
We started planning, talking about places we could visit and things we could do. The excitement was palpable, and for a moment, it felt like nothing could go wrong. Thomas wasn't really my person, but he was Miles' best friend.