It felt like an unspoken code, with the men teasing each other. Ava couldn't join in the laughter, though. Noah had drunk quite a bit but wasn't drunk. In this state, he was clingy, asking me to feed him fruit and help him unbutton his shirt when he felt hot. Nine out of ten things he said were to call me Honey.
"When are you two planning to get married?"
Noah kissed my hand, "Whenever my wife decides."
I responded half-heartedly, sneaking a glance at Huston, only to be caught by him. I couldn't read his expression, but I could tell he wasn't happy.
Huston got up with his phone in hand. "You guys keep playing; I'm heading back."
A friend whistled, "Got someone waiting for you at home, or someone coming over later?"
Huston's eyes flicked over to me. "Who knows?"
Ava stood up as well. "We should all head home."
They were all familiar faces, so Noah didn't see them out. As soon as the door closed, he came over to hug me. I pretended to dislike the smell of alcohol, but the truth was, I didn't want to share a bed with him.
"I'm not feeling well."
"What's wrong?"
"My head hurts a bit, maybe I caught a chill."
We were this close to getting married, so he knew what I meant. "There's cold medicine in the drawer. Take a couple of pills, and I'll go out for a smoke."
Before smoking half a cigarette, he couldn't help it anymore. "The boss asked me to work overtime at the company, you go to sleep first, don't wait for me."
Noah got in the elevator, and I took the stairs.
Twice in one day, I knocked on Huston's door. He was only wearing a bathrobe, as if he had just stepped out of the shower to answer the door. If there was someone inside, I'd leave. If there wasn't, I'd go in.
"Got time?" I started with the same line.
"I'm not interested in drunks."
"How about a pretty drunk?"
Before I could finish, Huston had already pulled me inside. He really had been showering, and the pleasant scent wrapped around me, holding me captive.
