Page 17 of Declan

Chapter 5

Kyler

I hadn’t let loose like this in a while. My friends and I were kind of party animals, but we’d been focused on other things lately.

Also, Royal had to be careful and not gettoocrazy, since he was somewhat of a public figure. Even still, news anchors were allowed to have lives, too.

Royal, Brysen, and I were sitting at a table in the corner of the club. It was our usual hangout when we came toRaw.A pool table was beside us, and we liked to drink and challenge each other to games. The rest of the club was made up of various bar stations and the dance floor.

People grinded on each other all throughout the room, dance floor or not.

“I’ll get us another round,” Royal said before standing from our table and making his way through the horde of dancing bodies.

He’d worn hisKansas City Raptorsfootball cap in an attempt to disguise himself, but he still managed to stand out in a crowd. Not that he had people wanting his autograph or anything, but he got tired of all the, “Hey, you’re that news guy,” comments. Unlike when on the air, he dressed super casual that night and looked more like a frat boy than a polished news anchor.

“I wanna go dance,” Brysen said, wiggling in his chair. He was already buzzed.

I’d had a few Vegas shots and a double-rum and coke, but I wasn’t drunk yet. The night was still young, though, and I fully intended to get fucking wasted.

“Wait for Royal to get back,” I responded before downing the rest of my glass.

Brysen pouted and looked at the dance floor. He’d worn red skinny jeans and a tight-black shirt that had tears in it, showing his shoulders and basically his whole back. His curly blond hair had that messy look and he’d rubbed glittery lotion on his forearms. He didn’t embrace his feminine side often, but there were instances when he liked to dress up and put on a show for any “Daddies” that might be looking his way.

Usually, he looked like a swamp monster. He lived in boxers and devoured cold pizza for breakfast. He also one-hundred percent believed in aliens and watched the showAncient Aliensas if it was his Sunday gospel.

Royal returned to the table with our drinks. He and I’d gotten more rum and cokes and Brysen got a Long Island Iced Tea.

“Thanks.” I grabbed mine and took a drink. “Next one’s on me.”

We talked and drained the contents of our glasses before I stumbled to the bar and got us more. But I decided to go with a mixed drink with vodka to switch it up, not thinking the rum and coke had been doing anything for me.

“I’m glad we came out tonight.” Royal sipped at his once I returned to the table. “It’s been hectic at work lately.”

“Is Beth still thirsting after you?” I asked.

A crease formed in the middle of his forehead. “Yeah. She makes me dread going to work, Kye. How many times do I have to tell her I’m not fuckin’ interested, you know? And I feel like I can’t even tell anyone but you and B about it.”

He shook his head and took a bigger drink.

“Why?”

“People would just laugh it off,” he answered. “I’m a six foot guy and Beth is a five-foot-nothing hot chick. No one would take me seriously if I whined about sexual harassment at work.”

“I mean…did you tell her you like dick?” I asked with a snort.

Royal smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t go around announcing my sexuality to everyone I meet, Kye.”

“Yeah, but if this chick is relentlessly hitting on you to the point where you dread going to work, I think you should tell her.”

“Where’s B?” Royal asked, looking around.

“Ah shit.”

Brysen had a habit of running off without telling us. He was an adult and could take care of himself—according to him—but we worried about him. He weighed likemaybea hundred and twenty pounds. If that. It didn’t take much to get him drunk, and he was too trusting of strangers.

“He’s probably on the dance floor,” I said, remembering that he’d wanted to dance. “You know how he is.”

“I’ll go find the little demon.” Royal sighed and jogged into the crowd.