Aren't you happy for me?

4) I think I'm going home

Over the next weeks, Dec and Stephen became even closer and Ant had really never seen Dec like that. He was happy, genuinely happy. Of course Dec had always been quite a bubbly person anyways, but he blossomed even more and didn't even stop grinning anymore.

Ant was only happy that they still saw quite a lot of each other. He had feared that Dec wouldn't have time for him anymore now that he had Stephen. Luckily, that wasn't the case. But more and more, Stephen was with them whenever they met.

It wasn't that Ant didn't like Stephen, after all they had socialised quite a lot before, but now it was different. Whenever Stephen was with them, Dec had to split his attention of course and Ant understood that most of it focused on Stephen then, but it hurt him nevertheless.

It was Stephen who had suggested to go bowling and at first, Ant hadn't wanted to because all the others had cancelled, so it would only be the three of them, again. But Dec had begged him to come along anyways and so he had agreed.

"Oh God, did you see that?!" Dec exclaimed excitedly. "A strike! My first strike!"

Ant smiled at him and opened his arms to welcome him into a hug, but of course Dec ran towards Stephen who wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and lifted him up in the air, spinning around with him. Dec giggled and laughed and then kissed Stephen excitedly.

Ant let his arms drop to his side and sighed before walking over to them. "Well done, Decky" he said and patted his best friend's shoulder who was still entangled in the arms of his boyfriend.

The whole game went on like this and Ant was very annoyed by the end of it. On top of that he became last and it bothered him because he had always been good at bowling.

Dec had suggested to get a drink on the bar afterwards and Ant had protested and had wanted to go home but Dec had insisted and Ant couldn't say no to Dec.

Now he sat on this barstool next to Dec, but his best friend's attention was once again focused on his boyfriend. Dec giggled with him, nuzzled his neck, kissed his cheek and Stephen had his arm around Dec's waist, stroking it lovingly with his thumb.

Ant knew it was only normal and logical that they were like this, after all they were a couple and they didn't even do stuff that was inappropriate in public, but he just longed for spending time with Dec like before. Talking about football, having a drink, playing golf together, watching their favourite show, just spending time together, just the two of them.

Now Stephen was with them all the time and even if he wasn't with them, Dec had no other topic to talk about. Ant knew they were still in this pink lovey-dovey phase and he couldn't even blame him for that. Dec was happy and every time Ant saw this sparkle in his eyes his heart skipped a beat, Dec was just so gorgeous.

"Ant? Earth to Ant!" Dec pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Hm?"

"Hey Mr. Grumpy" Dec giggled and Ant smiled at him. Dec was just the cutest, he couldn't even be angry at him. After all, he didn't even do something wrong, he was just in love. "We were thinking of going somewhere else, what do you think? Stephen here wanted to find you someone."

"Nah, I think I'm going home" Ant sighed.

"No, please Ant" Stephen now said. "It'll be fun. We can go to this new club, I heard they have a lot of nice girls there."

"No, you two go" Ant said and put on his best smile. "You need some time together, I don't want to disturb."

"Ant, you don't-" Dec started.

"It's alright, really" Ant interrupted him and smiled even wider to convince them.

"You sure?" Dec asked carefully and looked Ant in the eyes.

'Gosh, those beautiful eyes' Ant thought and for a moment he lost himself in them. He pulled himself together though and nodded and hugged Dec.

"I am sure, have fun, okay?" he managed to say, shook hands with Stephen and off he went.

Ant walked home instead of taking a taxi and he had a lot of time to think. He was hurt and he knew it was silly. He also knew that neither Dec nor Stephen were to blame in this.

Ant knew he was to blame for this himself. He knew he tortured himself, he knew Dec deserved Stephen. He knew Dec was happy with Stephen. And he knew it was silly to want Dec for himself.