Because, Brett... [BxB]

Chapter 18: Night Out With The Boys

Our usual hangout is Fide, Seth's club. It feels weird, in a way, to be going there knowing that he's often there sorting out affairs. Not tonight though. I made sure. He's been out of town for the past few days on business and only gets back late tonight. What better way to spend that time than partying?

When we arrive outside the club, it looks packed like always. It's no wonder Seth has such a beautiful house. He'd clearly found a gap in the market — his being one of only two gay clubs in the area if you discount the strip club I work at. The queue to get in goes for miles and, as usual, everyone else starts to make their way to the back. I tug on Elijah's shirt before he can walk too far though and call out to the rest of the guys before strolling up to the bouncer.

"Hey, can we get in?" I ask.

The man glances over the top of his clipboard, a wall of muscle and bulk. His dark eyes flit over my figure before he asks, "Name?"

"Brett Howe."

"You're not on here. Go queue like everyone else." He returns his gaze to the clipboard, dismissing me completely.

You know how it is with friends, you want them to think you're cool. I find myself suddenly very conscious of Elijah, Alex, Aiden, Michael and Seb standing behind me. "I'm Seth's boyfriend. You think you could make an exception?"

"Nope. Seth hasn't mentioned anything about a boyfriend."

A man from inside emerges, whispering something into the bouncer's ear before his eyes catch mine. A smile draws onto his lips and his fingers slide through his blond hair. Still, he wears a suit and I can't help but think he looks out of place, too poised and handsome for a common club.

"Fancy seeing you here," Lewis comments. The wall between us casts me a suspicious eye and Lewis must notice because the next thing he says is, "They're with me."

With a little hesitation, we're let through. "Who knew you had connections with people in such high places, huh?" Aiden sniggers. He slings his strong arms over both Lewis and me, catching us in near-headlocks. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see Lewis visibly recoil. He flinches and stiffens under Aiden's touch as if he were the barrel of a gun placed to his temple, though plays it off with a light-hearted smile and laugh. Forced.

I too chuckle, gently jostling Aiden away. I know I'm not doing it for my own comfort though, Alice said Lewis has OCD and I don't want to accidentally trigger anything. Aiden, unnoticing of my ulterior motives, grins, hanging back to speak with Alex.

Elijah and I have a running theory that the two are involved. They're always touchy, when one is offended so is the other, and sometimes I catch Aiden gazing at the stage in a trance when Alex dances. Plus, they once stumbled out of the backstage bathroom together doused in the scent of cum and sweat, unable to really pass off any of the excuses they spouted.

"So these are your friends?" Lewis asks as he leads us through a corridor and towards the VIP section.

I nod. "Yeah."

"They seem cool. I'm surprised Seth didn't have anything to say about you going clubbing with guys that young and hot though." He shrugs and slips his hands into his pockets.

Would Seth have a problem with me going clubbing?

"He knows who my friends are."

"Ah."

Is he implying that I'd be unfaithful? The glances he sends my way and then to my colleagues bug me. Ocean eyes bore into the side of my head and once I'm sure the conversation has fizzled out, I slow my pace to instead walk in step with Elijah. His arm slips around my shoulder like always, and once inside, we break off to go to the bar. Alcohol. Tonight that's my answer. No worries. No questions. No thoughts about Lewis — my possible future brother in law — potentially being an asshole. I'm going to get drunk. I'm going to dance. And I'm going to have a good time.

This lasts for about an hour. By this point, I'm too drunk to dance alone, I'd trip, stumble, fall and inevitably injure myself. Elijah sticks close by, he asks me if I want a drink of water constantly but I decline every time because I love the buzz of the moment. Occasionally Seb stops to swing by our seats at the bar. He eggs me on, ordering more drinks and he even manages to drag me back to the dance floor at one point. I fall against him a lot but he takes it on the chin, hoisting me back up and I giggle like a teenage girl because I can't quite believe how out of it I actually am.

It's probably about 1 AM when I decide I need to go to the toilet otherwise I'm going to wet my pants. Elijah offers to go with me, but I wave him off. If this goes horribly wrong and I miss the urinal or some stupid shit like that, I definitely don't need Elijah there to see it.

Pushing the door with the picture of the little man on the front open, I sway my way over to the stalls, deciding I'll probably have more luck if I sit down. It's only when I'm about to stumble into the closest one that I hear the heavy door to the bathroom open once again. Footfalls signal someone's entrance and I disregard it as I step into my stall and slam the door closed behind me. For a few seconds, I fumble with the lock like the drunken idiot I am. It's sticky and doesn't quite align so I have to force it, pushing my weight around on the door to try and get the angle right.

Then I hear a knock on the door on my stall.

"Hello?" I ask. Though it probably doesn't sound as clear cut as I think it does.

"Is everything okay? You keep banging against the door." The man's voice is deep and I instantly recognise it. Lewis.

I place a hand against the wall to steady myself and draw the cubical open. His toned arms are crossed over his chest and he leans casually to the left of the door. Blue eyes trail down me and it seems to take him a minute to realise it's me. Unless I'm the one imagining things.

"You look like you've had a little too much to drink." He comments. I shrug, barely taking it in as he steps towards me, yet I back up into the stall a little. "You probably won't even remember most of what happens tonight. Will you?"

Another step forward and another step back.

I don't mean to trap myself here with him but it's so painfully obvious when he kicks the stall closed behind himself. "No. . . Lewis." I slur.

"Just this once." He says, motioning with his finger to keep quiet and his other hand raises to cup the side of my head. His touch feels warm, human and comforting. Before I know what's hit me, his lips are on mine and he sucks the life from me, not demanding like Seth, but as though he's trying to memorise every contour of my face and mouth. My skin tingles with pleasure and want, induced by alcohol and this man's overwhelming presence. It's a miracle I find it within myself to pull away. Yet I do, disgust written on my features and I lay a heavy hand across his cheek before shoving past him and out of the cubical.

"You're disgusting." I spit behind me. To try and cheat on Alice with her own brother is a new kind of low that I certainly won't be keeping to myself.

Once I'm back outside, I take it upon myself to track down Elijah. He's still sitting at the crowded bar, watching the world go by, but stands to help me once he spots me. Despite how sober I feel now, I must not be showing it so much on the outside. When his shoulders are within grabbing distance, I wrap my arms around him. I breathe heavily into his shoulder and try to combat the sickness I can feel starting to rear its head like an ugly beast.

"I need to pee still." I murmur to him. He nods, understanding and just as I go to back up so we can find a new toilet, I feel my stomach turn. The music slurs into mush and all I can focus on is the wave of sickness washing over me. I cover my mouth with my hand, but it's too late. Sick spews everywhere. On Elijah, on me, on the floor, on the cute guy that was standing to the right.

"Oh shit!" Elijah gasps but I can only groan. Screeches erupt and I realise just how awful this is. All I can do is follow Elijah as a pile of limbs as we head back to the toilets. To the best of his ability, he cleans us both up before we sneak out a fire exit.

Fifteen minutes later, Elijah all but carries me into his apartment. He gets me ready for bed, cleans my teeth, dresses me in some of his own pyjamas and forces a glass of water down my throat before eventually laying me down to rest in his bed.

A.N. I was really struggling to write. Please critique where you feel necessary.