Elliot

18 - The Party

The sound of the doorbell pulled Nate out of his thoughts, and Alec gave him a final pat on the shoulder before heading to answer it. Nate took another sip of his drink, straightened his vampire cape, and braced himself for the influx of guests. The idea of a crowded apartment buzzing with conversation didn't thrill him, but at least he knew everyone coming—no surprises, no awkward introductions. That alone eased some of the tension that had been gripping him all day.

The first to arrive were a couple of Alec and Mias friends from university, dressed as a cowboy and a skeleton. They came bearing bottles of wine and a tray of cookies shaped like bats. Mia swept in from the kitchen, her flowing witch costume fluttering dramatically, to greet them with hugs and compliments on their outfits. Her energy was contagious, and for the first time that day, Nate felt a flicker of genuine amusement.

More guests trickled in over the next half hour, filling the apartment with laughter and music. A group of Mia's friends from her book club arrived dressed as characters from a popular fantasy series, their elaborate costumes drawing admiring comments. Nate found himself smiling despite himself as he made small talk, his initial irritation at the whole event fading into the background.

He stayed near the edge of the room, sipping his drink and observing as Alec worked the crowd effortlessly. His brother's vampire costume—a sharp suit paired with a dramatic cape—was drawing plenty of compliments, and he seemed to thrive in the spotlight. Mia, too, was in her element, flitting between groups with a radiant smile, her witch's hat bobbing with every animated gesture.

As Nate leaned against the counter, the familiar faces and easy camaraderie gradually lightened his mood. These were his people—friends who knew him, who wouldn't press him about things he wasn't ready to talk about. The comfortable familiarity of it all reminded him why he'd agreed to the party in the first place.

Alec appeared at his side, holding a plate piled high with snacks. "Feeling better?" he asked, his voice low enough not to carry over the chatter around them.

Nate shrugged but allowed a small smile. "Yeah. This isn't so bad."

"I told you," Alec said with a grin, shoving the plate toward him. "Now eat something before you turn into a real grump."

Nate rolled his eyes but took a handful of chips, the salty crunch grounding him. He watched as Alec was pulled away by another friend, leaving him momentarily alone. A third wave of guests arrived, filling the apartment with the lively hum of conversation and bursts of laughter. Nate's shoulders, which had been tense as a coiled spring, began to loosen as he recognized familiar faces. Mia flitted between the groups with an easy grace, a perpetual smile on her face as she welcomed each guest.

He lingered in the kitchen, half-heartedly rearranging the snack table, as the sounds of the party swirled around him. Every time the doorbell rang, his chest tightened just a little more, anticipation and dread tangling together in a way he couldn't quite untangle.

And then it came—the knock that wasn't like the others. Firm, deliberate, a sound that seemed to echo louder in his mind than it should have. Nate didn't have to look to know who it was. That's when the doorbell rang again. Nate froze, his grip tightening on his drink. He knew who it would be before Alec even reached the door. Elliot. And if Elliot was here... so was Aaron.

Elliot's entrance turned heads immediately. Dressed in a sleek, glittering black dress with fringe details, he looked like he had stepped right off the stage of Chicago. Aaron followed closely behind, wearing a sharp suit with a red pocket square, his arm resting casually on Elliot's lower back as they laughed together. The pair exuded effortless charm, their coordinated outfits drawing admiring glances from the other guests.