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“Thank you, bro,” I said, raising my glass to his. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
We both downed the champagne and I looked around the large conference room where we had just led a meeting with about twenty people. I never thought my life would be where it is now. I should have been proud. I was, but the nagging hole in my heart felt like it was pulsing.
“Let’s cut out of here early. The night awaits,” said Brody with a sly smile.
“Low key,” I reminded him.
“I know, I know.” He waved me away.
We had another glass of champagne before leaving it with Margaret at the front desk. She looked at us like we were crazy.
“Work is done for the day,” I said, handing her a glass.
She took it carefully from my hands, looking from me to Brody as if we were playing some sort of trick on her.
“Birthday boy’s orders,” said Brody, pointing a playful finger at her.
When we got downstairs, Freddy was waiting outside a limo.
Low key my ass,I thought.
“Happy birthday, Daniel!” he said loudly, patting me on the back and ushering me inside the limo.
There was another bottle of champagne waiting and thankfully no women in sight. I settled into the seat as Freddy and Daniel clambered in. As the limo pulled away from the curb, Freddy popped open the bottle. It was even more expensive than the last.
“Where are we going?” I asked hesitantly, taking a full glass from him.
“Nobu to start.”
“And then?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Calm down,” said Freddy innocently. “It’s chill. Just us boys.”
I nodded and took a sip of champagne.
Freddy wasn’t lying. We did go to Nobu and had a private room just for us. We ordered a round of sake and practically everything on the menu. When I didn’t think I could eat any more, the server arrived with a small cake with a sparkler candle lit, emitting sparks as she brought it over. Freddy and Brody both sang the birthday song, horribly might I add, and for the first time in many birthdays, I actually made a wish.
After I blew out the candle, Freddy asked, “What did you wish for?”
I gave him the best smile I could muster up and lied about making any wish at all.
After Freddy paid the bill, we got back in the limo. I would have been perfectly content with going home then, but Freddy and Brody had other plans. On the drive, I expected the limo to pull up outside a club, but instead it pulled up outside a pool hall. I looked from Freddy to Brody shocked.
“What?” Brody shrugged, knowing full well I was impressed.
“Thank you,” I said.
We headed inside and found a seat at the bar. It was dimly lit and not too crowded. Just the kind of low key thing I wanted.
Freddy ordered a round of beers and Brody found a nearby open table for us to play. I grabbed two pool sticks and began chalking them.
“Cut throat?” I asked, handing them their sticks.
“You’re on,” said Freddy.
After we played a few rounds, I leaned against the table and took a long sip of beer. I could feel Freddy and Brody’s eyes on me, as if they had something to say.
“Out with it,” I said, putting my beer down on the edge of the table.