“Nah, it’s not my scene. Besides, you don’t need me there. You have Devin.” His words are light, but there’s a wistful note in his tone I can’t miss.
With a little wave, he disappears into the darkness, and I’m more confused than ever.
Despite its vast, airy interior, Punch Bowl Social is a loud, sweaty cluster. Music blares through the multistoried bar, thick with partygoers high on holiday celebrations. We weave through the dancing, heaving crowd, buy a round of drinks, and stake our claim at a tall, circular table when it’s vacated by an older couple. There are only two chairs and at least seven of us who walked over from the party—mostly Devin’s friends and a couple of others I don’t recall meeting—so we opt to stand around the table instead of sit.
Brie and Marcus quickly fall into deep conversation, heads bent together as Brie sips from a glass of water. Marcus’s eyes are overbright, and he’s grinning in a slightly stunned way like either he can’t believe his luck, or he’s been hit over the head with a sledgehammer. I chuckle softly. Brie tends to have that effect on people.
Devin casually drapes his arm over my shoulder as he chats with Jai about their fantasy football league. It’s hot in this crowded bar, and I resist the urge to put some space between us when sweat threatens to gather on the back of my neck. Jai’s wife, Anisha, joins us then. She’s pulled her long black hair into a high messy bun, and I notice she’s switched from hard seltzers to a clear cocktail. The scent of lime wafts in the air between us.
“You guys…” she says, flicking her finger between Devin and me, “are too cute together.”
Devin chuckles softly.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
“Just don’t let Sadie find out,” she adds to me with a wink. “She was always the jealous type.”
Devin’s expression immediately shutters. “Don’t worry, she won’t. I blocked her months ago.”
Anisha shrugs. “She’s in Cleveland now, you know.”
“What?” splutters Devin.
“Yeah. She moved here not too long ago. At least, I don’t think it was that long ago.” Anisha taps her full lips as she thinks. “May, maybe? She posted a picture of her new apartment on Instagram—I think it’s in Slavic Village.”
Jai sticks his finger in the air. “I thought you said it was Old Brooklyn.”
“You’re right, duh. Old Brooklyn,” she repeats.
Holy shit. The Old Brooklyn neighborhood is only ten minutes away from mine.
The color leaches from Devin’s cheeks as he unloops his arm from my shoulders and clears his throat. “Jai, you knew about this? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jai’s eyes widen. “I’m sorry, man. I thought you knew.”
“No. I didn’t.” His voice is so low it’s barely above a rumble.
My gut squeezes like a wrung-out towel as I study Devin’s face. Confusion, anger, and something I can’t quite name flickers across his expression. I lean in and lower my voice. “Can I talk to you outside for a sec?”
Devin blinks down at me and nods.
“Well, it’s officially sweltering in here. I could use some air,” I say to the group as I fan myself. “Come with me?” I add to Devin with a smile I hope isn’t too forced.
I lead Devin away from his friends and up a set of stairs to an open-air patio. It’s not as crowded out here, and I suck in a deep lungful of clear summer air, grateful for the breeze cooling my overheated skin. We settle next to a concrete wall that overlooks a vast parking lot and, beyond, a smattering of skyscrapers.
Leaning my hips against the wall, I face Devin. “Are you okay?”
“Sure. Why?” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“You seemed kind of… upset… over the news about Sadie.”
“Why would I be upset? My ex-girlfriend decided to move ten minutes away and none of my friends told me.”
I wince. “I’m sorry.”
We fall silent for several long seconds. Laughter and music from a myriad of restaurants and bars tangle in the night, creating a cacophonous buzz. “Why didn’t you tell me you and Sadie were so serious?” I finally ask.
His eyebrows furrow momentarily before he nods in understanding. “You’re referring to what Mikey said earlier.”
“Right. It would have been nice knowing that before meeting your friends.”
“Sorry. It’s not something I like to talk about.”