Friends

Part 13

You laugh with all the guys, all of you gathered around the small restaurants table, the guys being extra amusing tonight as they celebrate your promotion, Devin even giving a toast that made you blush.

Chris sat beside you, his hand on your thigh beneath the table most of the time, and you weren't sure if he needed reassurance you were there or what his issue was; he'd been weird since you'd gotten home earlier.

You'd noticed the bandages on his knuckles, but you hadn't asked, and you'd pretended not to notice how the guys sent Chris nervous glances when they thought you weren't looking.

Something had went down while you were gone, and they were trying to hide it from you.

But, you didn't want that worry to ruin your happiness, not today, not when everything had been going so well.

So, you just enjoy yourself, though your smiles grow a little more strained the more the night goes on and Chris's mood appears to only be getting worse.

By the time you all leave the restaurant and go home, Chris isn't speaking at all, and Devin and Balz are doing their damnedest to make sure you're entertained, keeping your attention away from the grim giant as you all walk towards your apartment, Ricky stuck carrying all of your leftovers.

You laugh at Devin, letting his fingers tangle through yours as he pulls you forward, dancing backward playfully. He twirls you around through the cold air, his gloved fingers keeping yours warm.

It was getting late, so the sidewalks weren't overly populated, just a few stragglers here and there as Devin drags you around like a ragdoll, only stopping when you're out of breath.

"Aww," he pouts at you as you pant for breath. "Don't give out already, (Y/N)!"

"You're," huff, "going," huff, "too fast!"

"You're just slow," Devin teases, amused. "You need to build up some stamina!"

"Hey, give the girl a break," Balz chuckles, patting you on the back as he catches up. "She's spent a couple nights with Chris, she's probably exhausted after all that exercise! He's a stallion, that one." he winks.

You face immediately goes red as you straighten, almost mortified.

Oh god.

They didn't need to bring that up every chance they got!

The guys laugh at your expression, and you feel cool fingers slip through yours. You glance up, seeing Chris give you a wry smile, and you relax slightly.

Was he getting over his bad mood?

He'd really started to set you on edge.

"Look!" Ricky suddenly gasps, and you all look up.

"Snow!" Devin grins, his face lighting up like a child's at Christmas. "It's snowing!"

The first snow of the season.

You gaze up with the rest of them, watching as the white lazily drifts downward, cold as it melts on your face.

Chris arms suddenly slips around your shoulder, hugging you to his side, and you feel his lips press into your hair.

"Do you think we're gonna get snowed in here?" Ryan asks, sounding worried.

"Nah. It's just light." Ricky responds. "I checked the weather before we left."

"So you knew it was gonna snow this entire time?" Devin sounds offended.

"Uh, yeah. I didn't know you were gonna go all fucking snow-crazy."