X - Y - Z

EIGHT - HAZEL

"Cabs ah heah! Cabs ah heah!" I quietly tell the room after ending the confirmation call I just received. Okay, maybe I'm actually yelling. It's hard to say.

"Ha! What the heck kind of accent is that?" asks Foster with amusement shining in his beautiful eyes. His eyes are like deep pools of sex and happiness. That makes sense right? Sure it does.

"Don't mind her. She's been binging that old show Jersey Shore on Hulu this week," Exley says with a major eye roll. "I was wondering why you insisted on calling a cab instead of letting them Uber it. You've probably been waiting to say that all night long", he chuckles while giving me some side eye. Eye roll and side eye... what the fuck? I can't help but giggle after that thought.  He then proceeds to yawn, stretch and place his arms on the back of the couch behind Harvey and I since we're sitting on either side of him.

I waggle my brows at him while chuckling some more. Damn I should not have drank so much. It feels good right now, but tomorrow is going to a bitch. I can already tell. I've only been drunk like this a few times, and the hangover was never worth it.

Graham heads to the kitchen with an armload of snack food. Luckily everyone's been tossing their beers as they go so the mess is really minimal. I couldn't care less about that right now, but he's sweet to help with the clean up. Graham is a pretty serious guy. He spent most of the night quietly observing. Of course he sang along some and chatted with everyone, but he's definitely the most reserved of the group. I wouldn't call him shy by any means. He just doesn't talk for the sake of talking... or smile for the sake of smiling. But damn, when he does smile....just, damn.

"Hazel? Haaazzzellll?" Leo's face is so close to mine all of a sudden. I can tell he's saying something, but all my fuzzy brain can focus on are his perfectly shaped lips, the bottom one a bit fuller than the top. I shake my head to try and get my shit together. I know I'm drunk, but geez louise. 

"Hmmm?" I question.

He chuckles while standing upright again. "I said we had a lot of fun tonight. Thanks for having us over. As you proclaimed, the cabs are here, so we're gonna to get going," he tells me while smiling at me indulgently. He clearly thinks my inebriated state is quite comical.  Of course, I am a bit more drunk than everyone else. Just a smidge....

"Oh," I giggle out. "I had blast. We should definitely all hang out again! And I'll see you for my tattoo if I don't hear from you before then." I hope to hear from him before then. That's two days from now. I really enjoy being around him. Them. All of them...Leo just smiles and tells me that sounds good.

"Come on Harv. Let's roll. We shouldn't keep the cab waiting," Foster says effectively pulling Harvey and Ex out of their conversation. I wonder what they were talking about? I already plan to ask Ex what his deal was earlier, but I think I need to add Harvey to the conversation topic list as well. A slightly drunk Ex is a forthcoming Ex. I can't help but snicker at my thoughts.

They all wave as they head out the door, each bidding their own farewells again. Once the door closes and the apartment is silent, I can't help but let out a content sigh.  Hearing a gulping sound, I look over to see Ex is finishing off his beer. He's not looking at me, so I spend a minute just taking him in. He was always a good looking guy, but he's gotten more handsome with age. His features are more mature and his jawline is sharp. He used to have such a baby face, and now he rocks a neat beard. It's nice a full, but he keeps it trimmed fairly short. It's manly and....sexy? A deep reddish brown that contrasts so nicely with his dark blonde hair. I wonder if he'd still have a baby face if he shaved it off. Honestly, I don't want to find out. The beard suits him well.

He was also kinda lanky in high school, but he's very muscular now. He's not quite as bulky as Foster, but he's solidly built for sure. I guess that comes with the territory given his chosen career path.  I mean he's at the gym a minimum of 8 hours a day at least 5 days a week, usually more than that. He definitely lifts, bro. An uncontrollable snort comes out of me at that hilarious thought. I've really been watching too much Jersey Shore.