Chapter Text
“Come on, Andrew!”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “No.”
“Why not?” Nicky asked. He was practically whining. Not for the first time, Andrew wondered why he willingly put up with his cousin.
“Because with one exception, you’re all overbearing assholes. Why would I subject Neil to that?”
Allison snorted. “You’re the biggest asshole of us all.”
“Oh, I know.” Andrew said. “Renee is the exception.”
Dan butted in. “Yeah, she’s a sweetheart.”
“Nah, deep down, you’re all sweethearts.” Renee said. “Deep, deep down.”
“Deep, deep, deep down.” Aaron added, fervently tap-tap-tapping his pencil against his textbook. Andrew wanted to rip the pencil out of his twin’s hand, but at the rate Aaron was going, it was only a matter of time until the pencil snapped in half anyway.
“For God’s sake, Andrew!” Allison threw her hands up. “You afraid we’re gonna scare your boyfriend away? If he can put up with you, I’m sure he can handle us.”
“Are you sure you can handle him?” Andrew asked.
Allison laughed, but Dan tapped her chin in thought. “I don’t know, he has a point. I mean, imagine the type of guy who could melt Andrew’s ice cold heart. He’s either the reincarnation of Mother Theresa or some kind of feral half-human half-raccoon abomination.”
“As much as I’d wish it was the first, knowing Andrew, it’s probably the latter.” Aaron didn’t bother looking up from his homework. As a student athlete and pre-med major, he was constantly multitasking. At the same time as Aaron was taking notes with his right hand and half-listening to their conversation, he was probably using his left hand to send out an email under the table or stretching his legs back and forth in some kind of training exercise. He was in sore need of a break.
“Look, we just want to meet the guy who stole our dear friend’s heart! Is that so much to ask?” Renee pouted at him. Andrew sighed. She knew he’d cave to her annoyingly honest sentimentality. Maybe he should revoke what he said about her not being an asshole.
“I’ll invite my boyfriend too.” Allison said. “So Neil won’t be the only new face.”
“I will invite Neil.” Andrew could see the others about to respond, and he held up a hand to silence them. “If Aaron comes. And leaves all work in the dorms.”
Their teammates descended on Aaron like a pack of starving hyenas, bribing and needling. Aaron glared at Andrew as Nicky nudged him in the side. He sighed in resignation. “Fuck you. I need better friends. But fine.”
Allison nudged Andrew. “You hear that? Aaron is coming, so you better hold up your end.”
Andrew shot off a text to Neil. “Neil said he can meet us there, but his shift ends at ten, so he will be late.”
. . .
Eden's Twilight was packed, as was to be expected on a Friday night in a college town. The air was tinged with the mingling scents of sweat and alcohol. Shitty EDM remixes of Top 40 songs blared from the speakers, almost drowned out by the overworked college students singing or arguing. A TV in the corner was playing an Exy game, and Andrew studiously ignored it. The bartender, a tall dark-haired woman, was bopping her head along to the beat.
Allison was the last to arrive. She pulled up in her bright pink Porsche and walked out alone, dressed in a deep maroon dress that must’ve cost somewhere in the quadruple digits, glittery six inch heels, and daringly shadowed makeup, with her shiny blonde hair in long, glossy curls.
“Where’s Seth?” Matt asked.
Allison’s green eyes flared with anger, a raging forest fire. “I went to pick him up and saw him in bed with another girl. Safe to say I revoked his invitation.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.” Renee cooed.
“Don’t be.” Allison shrugged. “He’s the one who’s missing out. We’re at a bar on a Friday night. I’m sure I’ll meet someone better tonight.”
“That’s the spirit!” Dan said, clapping Allison on the shoulder. They led her to their seats, a row of barstools on the left side of the bar. “Another round of drinks!”
Behind the bar, the bartender checked her watch. She nodded before walking into a back room. A few minutes later, a new bartender came out, his fiery auburn hair lit up in shades of red and green and blue by the flashing bar lights. His eyes were framed by long, delicate eyelashes, the auburn contrasting beautifully with the deep, deep blue of his irises. His nose was slightly uneven in a way that spoke of a fistfight gone wrong, his skin evenly tanned, his lithe muscles those of a runner. There were hints of freckles across his cheeks, and a long, pale scar that cut from the base of one ear across the bridge of his nose, coming to an end just millimeters from the edge of his full lips. His mouth twisted in a smirk, and a single dimple could be made out on his left cheek. Handsome wasn’t the right word, but he was the very definition of gorgeous. He handed over a tray of drinks, his gaze quickly cataloguing each member of their group, lingering on Andrew. Andrew maintained his outward disposition of boredom, but Neil knew his boyfriend as well as he knew himself, so of course the junkie could tell that Andrew was checking him out. With a smirk, he mouthed "Staring," and Andrew sent him a quick glare.
Kevin accepted the tray, handing the glasses to their respective owners. Allison couldn’t take her eyes off the bartender. “Oh my God.” She whispered to Dan. “I think I manifested him.”
“You did say you’d meet a better guy tonight.” Dan laughed.
Andrew’s eyes flitted between Allison and Neil. “I wouldn’t, if I were you.”
“Why not?” Allison placed her hands on her hips indignantly. “I’m stunning tonight. If anything, he’ll be the one scoring.”
Neil was the most oblivious person Andrew had ever met. Allison was the most flirtatious person Andrew had ever met. Unstoppable force, meet immovable object. This would be fun. Andrew smirked tauntingly. “It is your own funeral.”
“I’ll bet you ten bucks I can get him to go out with me.” Allison said, never one to back down from a challenge.
“Hmm.” Usually Andrew wouldn’t entertain Allison’s betting obsession, but maybe he could make an exception just this once, knowing she was bound to crash and burn. “Make it twenty.”
“Deal.” Allison leaned forward and waved the bartender back over. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and positioned herself so the gold pendant of her necklace resisted just below her collarbone, drawing attention to the hollow of her neck. Neil was still dealing with another customer, so she quickly reapplied her dark lipstick. When he made his way to their section of the bar, Allison tilted her head slightly and raked her teeth against the edge of her bottom lip.
“What’s up?” Neil asked.
“I was just wondering when your next break was.” Allison asked, snaking her arm towards where he rested his hand on the counter.
“I just took my last break of the night. My shift ends in a couple hours or so.”
“That’s no problem!” Allison said. “We’ll be here all night.”
“All night?” Aaron protested.
“Andrew’s boyfriend isn’t coming until ten, and we need to make sure he’s good enough for our grumpy bastard over here, which is bound to take a while.” Allison shot at Aaron. She turned back to the bartender, batting her eyelashes. “So, any plans after your shift?”
Neil smiled slightly. “I guess I’ll be here all night.”
“Perfect!” Allison said. “So I’ll be seeing you then?”
Neil nodded. “Yeah, we can chat after work.”
“I wasn’t talking about chatting.” Allison emphasized, leaning suggestively.
“I don’t really like small talk, either,” he laughed. “But I think I’m interesting enough to hold a decent conversation.”
Allison giggled. “You are such a tease! Meet me in the back rooms after your shift.”
“Oh!” Neil took a step back, as if hit with a sudden bolt of understanding. Finally. “Ohh. Were you flirting?”
“Caught on, did you?” Allison winked.
“I’m not interested.” He didn’t bother to let her down easy, simply stating it like a fact. With an almost purposeful lack of subtlety, he said, “Hey, I think that table over there is calling for me.”
Neil shuffled around the counter and made his way to the other side of the room. Andrew held back the beginnings of a smile; that was his Neil. Honestly, Allison was lucky - Neil had been much ruder to the last girl who asked him out - but Andrew doubted Allison had ever been turned down so bluntly. Or at all.
Kevin laughed, already halfway to tipsy. “What were you saying earlier?”
“Oh, like you could do better.” Allison sniffed.
Kevin looked between Allison, Andrew, and the bartender. “I know I can. Same terms? Twenty bucks?”
Now this was getting interesting. Kevin was probably the only person in the world with an even bigger ego than Allison.
“You’re on.” Allison held out a hand, and Kevin shook it, sealing the deal.
Andrew sent a quick text to Neil. Fair warning - my friends are fucking idiots. Not that Neil didn't know this, when Andrew constantly complained to him about whatever stupid idea or bet his group had come up with that day. Still, Neil deserved a heads up if all of Andrew's friends were going to throw themselves at him.
Neil replied with a laughing emoji and a I can handle it.
Andrew trusted that Neil could stand on his own two feet, so he left it there. If Neil had asked him to intervene, then Andrew would, but Neil was fully capable of verbally demolishing whatever unsuspecting victim dared crossed him. Maybe Andrew should feel a little guilty for allowing his friends to unknowingly step in the minefield that was interacting with Neil Josten, but Andrew was an instigator at heart, so he simply leaned back in his seat and watched the show unfold. If only Eden's Twilight served popcorn.
Kevin got up and sauntered to the other end of the bar, where Neil had just put away his phone and was now mixing drinks. The bartender shot a quick wink in the direction of Andrew’s table, then looked up at Kevin. “Hi?”
“Hey.” Kevin slid into the seat nearest him, twirling the barstool so that his chin and arms fell over the backrest. He ran a hand through his hair and tilted his head. “My name is Kevin Day.”
Neil smiled. “I knew you looked familiar! You’re the starting striker of the Foxes!”
Of course, Neil knew who Kevin was, even before Kevin had introduced himself. He knew all of Andrew's family, and loathe as Andrew was to admit it, Kevin was - ugh - family. Still, Neil was an Exy junkie, and even after listening to Andrew's constant barrage of complaints about his annoying roommate, Kevin “the Son of Exy” Day was Neil's idol.
Andrew was sure that a single conversation with Kevin would rid Neil of that hero worship.
Kevin gave him his media-trained smile, showing off his pearly white teeth. “The one and only.”
“Oh, no fair, he’s an Exy fan.” Allison groaned.
“Of course Kevin’s go to method of flirting relies on Exy.” Andrew muttered.
“The worst part is that it’s probably worked for him so far.” Matt said.
“Maybe he will finally learn his lesson when he gets turned down.” Andrew said, a little smug. “By a fellow Exy junkie, nonetheless.”
Nicky laughed. “Yeah, forget the money; the years of teasing will be well worth the price.”
“You think he’ll fail?” Aaron asked.
“Hopefully.” Allison said. “I’ll never live it down if he doesn’t.”
Kevin and Neil were held up in a debate about the upcoming Exy season. Neil’s face was lit up in excitement, bouncing possible game strategies back and forth, and Kevin seemed just as engaged. He not-so-subtly dropped his stats everywhere he could, and Neil nodded in appreciation each time.
“Ugh.” Allison placed her head in her hands.
Neil leaned toward Kevin, barely-restrained hero worship in his expression. “Seriously, your goal in the last two minutes of the Tornados game was insane! What drills do you use?”
Kevin winked, though it was hard to tell whether it was at Allison and Andrew or at Neil. “We could go out sometime? Maybe Saturday night?”
“Really? That sounds great!”
Kevin subtly stuck his middle finger out at Allison from under the counter. “Perfect. How does Nobu at 9:00 PM sound?”
“That’s kinda late, don’t you think? When will we have time to practice?” Oh, Neil. Andrew couldn't believe he was in love with attracted to an idiot whose singular brain cell was an Exy ball.
But it was Neil. Neil, who understood Andrew better than anyone had ever cared to, who respected his boundaries, who could match Andrew's insults stroke for stroke. Neil, who had proven again and again that he'd stay. Who constantly chose Andrew, of all people, every single day. Who expected nothing in return when Andrew was willing to give him everything. Andrew was but a weak man; how could he not fall for Neil?
“Oh, if I like what I see, we’ll have all the time in the world.” Kevin drawled, looking Neil up and down. “And so far, I really like what I see.”
Matt burst out laughing. “Did he learn to flirt from bad romcoms?”
“He’s Kevin Day.” Nicky muttered. “He’s probably never had to learn to flirt. Lucky bastard.”
Neil frowned in confusion at Kevin. “You can tell my Exy ability just from looking at me? I know you’re good at picking out talent, but you can’t be that good.”
Kevin lowered his voice. “I wasn’t talking about Exy.”
Neil’s frown deepened, finally catching on. “I guess I shouldn’t have assumed. I mean, you’re probably too busy to train me.” He looked disappointed, and Andrew decided that after all this was over, he would make Kevin practice with Neil whether Kevin wanted to or not. He'd get out his knives if that was what it took, if it would get that look off of his rabbit's face.
“I’d never be too busy for you.” Kevin said, leaning forward. “I’ve been told I’m a great boyfriend. Very attentive.”
“Oh no.” Dan giggled.
“I’ve been told I’m a great boyfriend.” Allison mocked. “Seriously?”
“That’s not-” Neil cut himself off. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to pass.”
“But-” Kevin stammered. “We don’t have to do anything. If you think I’ll, like, force sex on you or something. I just want to take you out. And what fan wouldn’t want to go out with their idol?”
“I’m a fan of your Exy skills, not your dick.” Neil said, and Andrew held back a laugh. There was that sharp tongue he so loved hated.
“Ah.” Kevin nodded in acceptance. “Not into men. Fair enough.”
“Not into you.” Neil corrected. “Well, not in that way. If you ever want to play Exy I’d be totally down!”
Kevin’s expression was the picture of pure confusion. Andrew scoffed. “It’s like no one has ever turned him down before.”
“Who would?” Dan said sarcastically. “He’s Kevin Day.”
Allison cackled. “The look on his face! I can’t even be disappointed that the bartender rejected me when it led to him knocking Kevin down a few pegs.”
Kevin stomped his way back to his friend group, his face a bright, blotchy red.
“Turns out Exy is not an effective method of flirting.” Andrew said.
Kevin scowled. “Fuck off.”
“Okay, we’re missing the point here!” Nicky said. “The hot bartender didn’t deny that he was into guys! He swings my way!”
“Not necessarily.” Dan said. “Just because he didn’t deny it doesn’t mean he confirmed it. He could’ve just wanted to get Kevin off his ass.”
“No, he’s definitely gay.” Nicky said. “He didn’t look at Allison’s boobs once!”
“Don’t you think its a little inappropriate to be speculating on a stranger’s identity?” Renee asked. Andrew had to agree.
But Nicky was already heading in the bartender’s direction. Nicky leaned over the counter and gave the bartender a wink. “Hey, cutie.”
Neil didn’t bother to look up. “No.”
Andrew supposed that the idea of being hit on by his boyfriend's relatives probably grossed Neil out more than being hit on by Kevin and Allison.
“You don’t even know what I was gonna say!” Nicky pouted. “Maybe I was going to order a drink.”
Neil met Nicky’s eyes and raised a brow. “Were you?”
“Well, no.” Nicky admitted.
Neil pointed to the tip jar, then said, “My job pays twelve bucks per hour. If you want me to talk to you instead of doing what I'm being paid to do, you’ll have to offer me a better deal.”
“What about after work?” Nicky asked.
Neil moved on to the next customer without responding.
Allison nudged Renee. “Your turn.”
“What?”
“I went, Kevin went, Nicky went. You try.”
Renee studied the bartender, then looked back at Allison. “I mean, I guess he’s cute, but my interests lie elsewhere. Besides, he’s at work. I don’t want to bother him.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “You couldn’t possibly bother anyone.”
Renee sighed. “If I ask, you’ll leave me alone about it?”
“Fuck yeah!” Allison grinned. “Go for it, babe!”
Renee was already blushing as she walked over to where the bartender was serving a group of middle-aged men. As soon as the bartender met her eyes, she asked, “Do you want to go out on a date with me?”
“No, thanks.” Neil said. Surprisingly polite for him, but he probably appreciated Renee's bluntness, and her obvious lack of interest in him likely helped. “Do you want a drink?”
Renee sighed in relief. “Virgin pina colada, please.”
“Coming right up.”
“What was that?” Allison hissed as Renee slid back into her barstool. “You didn’t even try!”
“You never said I had to try. I just had to ask.”
Despite her angelic demeanor, Renee could be just as conniving as the rest of their group.
She was not-so-secretly Andrew's favorite.
“Buzzkill.” Allison pouted.
“If he was interested in me, he’d have said yes whether I fluttered my eyelashes at him or not.” Renee said. “Don’t you think you’re too hung up on this? I get you’re trying to distract yourself from Seth, but this is borderline harassment.”
“Harassment? We all took no for an answer when he turned us down! And isn’t it flattering for him to have us all throw ourselves at him?”
“Not necessarily. He may be asexual.”
Allison gasped. “Renee, you’re a genius!”
Renee smiled. “I know. So you’ll drop this? I’m sure there’s someone else you could hook up with here. Or, if you’re tired of the bar, you and I could have a girl’s night.”
But Allison was already waving the bartender over. “Hey! Are you aroace?”
Neil took a few seconds to respond. He didn't particularly care about labels, and he'd never thought about his sexuality. He was always saying that he only swung for Andrew, had only ever wanted Andrew (and how dare the fucking idiot do that, how dare he make Andrew feel special when Andrew knew he wasn't, how dare he make Andrew feel-). As far as Neil was concerned, whatever sexuality that made him, so be it. “I’m not sure, I might be on the ace spectrum? But no, I don't think I'm aroace.”
“So what’s your type?” Allison pried.
“Excuse me?”
“You said you didn't think you were aroace, so you must’ve been attracted to someone before. What did they look like?”
“Um…” Neil’s eyes roved over all of them critically. “Blond. Hazel eyes. Kinda pale, verrryyy muscular. A little shorter than me? Oh, and he has freckles.” Neil let out a little sigh, and Andrew Minyard most definitely did not blush at the sound, and anyone who said so was a liar (Neil Josten being the biggest liar of them all).
Neil left again. Andrew’s phone rang, and he opened it to a text from Neil. You weren’t kidding.
You can tell them to fuck off. They’ll probably deserve it. Andrew replied. He knew Neil could handle himself; they had promised to let each other fight their own battles. But tonight was going to be Neil’s first time meeting Andrew’s friends, and Andrew wanted to assure him that he shouldn’t take shit from them for Andrew’s sake, just in case Neil had any reservations.
Matt nudged Aaron. “Oh my God, Aaron, he’s talking about you!”
“What?" Aaron screeched. Andrew mentally agreed. How dense could they be? What was it about Andrew that drew exclusively idiots (and Renee, a welcome exception) to him?
“He literally described you from head to toe!” Allison put her hands on her hips. “You need to try.”
“I’m not into him.” Aaron protested. “You know I already have a crush on somebody.”
“We didn’t know that, actually.” Kevin said. “You don’t have to kiss him or anything. Just ask him to hang out, and if he agrees, tell him that you meant just as friends.”
Aaron wrinkled his nose. “Isn’t that kind of shitty?”
“I’m with Aaron.” Renee piped up.
“Oh come on, he doesn’t even know you! He’s not going to be heartbroken because some random guy at the bar isn’t into him.” Nicky argued.
“We’ll up the prize to thirty dollars.” Allison said. Aaron shook his head, and Allison added, “Wait no, forty! Come on, Aaron, you can’t say no to that. We already know he’s into you. It’s literally just free money.”
“You won’t let this go, will you?” Aaron sighed.
Contrary to popular belief, Andrew was not entirely heartless, so he decided to warn his brother. “Do not listen to her, Aaron. Kevin’s humiliation was not enough for her. She is setting you up for failure.”
“You don’t think I can do it?” Aaron demanded. “The bartender literally described me as his ideal type, and you think I have so little game that he’ll still somehow reject me?”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “You do not have to prove yourself to me. Or to Allison.”
“But you don’t think I can do it.” Aaron’s expression turned hard. “Fine. Allison, make it fifty bucks and I’m in.”
Oh well. He'd tried. Aaron couldn’t blame him for what happened next.
And he couldn't deny his curiosity. Neil claimed he could tell Andrew and Aaron apart in the photos Andrew had shown him, but Andrew could never be sure if Neil was bullshitting.
Allison grinned. “Deal.”
Andrew watched as his brother sauntered up to his boyfriend, who quickly checked his phone before looking up at Aaron. “Are you going to order something?”
“I’ll have a tequila sunrise.” Aaron leaned forward. “And, um, your number?”
Neil grinned. “Fuck off.”
“Excuse me?” Aaron spluttered. Neil just shrugged and handed Aaron his drink. Aaron glared at the back of Neil’s head. He stomped back to his seat, crossed his arms, and announced, “What an asshole.”
Andrew nodded in agreement; Neil was an asshole. Andrew's asshole, but an asshole nonetheless. Not that Andrew was complaining.
“I can’t believe he rejected every one of us!” Allison groaned.
Andrew sat back in his chair, studying his friends. “Not all of us.”
“Dan and Matt don’t count.” Aaron said. “They’re already in a relationship. They didn’t even try to flirt with him.”
Andrew gave him a long look. How did he end up surrounded by such oblivious morons? “He did not reject me.”
“Yeah, because you didn’t give him the opportunity.” Kevin said. “Sit back and laugh at us all you want. Your antisocial ass would get turned down before you even had the chance to ask.”
A slow smirk spread across Andrew’s face. “You think?”
“Oh my God, is Andrew agreeing to this?” Allison squealed.
Renee shot Andrew a disappointed look. “Andrew, you’re better than that.”
Kevin snorted. “No, he’s really not. Fifty bucks?”
“Raise it.” Andrew said, lounging in his barstool.
Allison cackled. “Are you serious? Andrew, he rejected your much more likable identical twin. You’re digging your own grave here.”
Andrew raised a brow. “How much if I can get him to kiss me?”
“Andrew, you have a boyfriend!” Renee glared.
“Neil will not care if I kiss the bartender.” Andrew said.
“You sure?” Renee asked dubiously. “You are my friend and I care about you, but if you cheat, I am going to tell Neil when he arrives.”
“Go ahead.” Andrew waved a hand. “Trust me, he will not mind.”
Renee still seemed doubtful, but Aaron butted in. “You’re making assumptions, Renee. They might have an open relationship or something. My brother is a jerk, but he’s not actually a bad person. If he says it’s okay, then it’s okay.”
“We’re getting off topic!” Allison clapped her hands. “Andrew. If you can get the bartender to kiss you, I’ll give you a hundred dollars. That good enough for you?”
“What are the rules?” Andrew asked. He knew his friends, and he knew that when they found out the bartender was Neil, they'd try to argue against Andrew's win.
“Um, he has to kiss you. And it has to be where we can see.” Dan said.
“And it has to be tonight!” Nicky added, and Allison nodded.
“So,” Andrew listed the terms off on his fingers. “If I get the bartender to kiss me tonight in front of you, I get a hundred dollars? That’s it? No loopholes, no backing out?”
“That’s it.” Matt confirmed. “And if you fail, you give us a hundred bucks.”
Allison smirked. “Oh, this is gonna be good.”
Andrew raised his hand and yelled, “Hey, dipshit! Over here!”
“Oh my God.” Aaron muttered. “I knew this would be bad, but not this bad.”
“This is a train wreck!” Allison laughed.
“Seriously, Andrew, how did you even manage to get a boyfriend?” Kevin asked. “Do you talk to him like this?”
Andrew ignored them all.
The bartender narrowed his eyes and walked over to them, and Andrew met Neil's eyes. With all the bluntness of a dull knife, Andrew said, “Kiss me, yes or no?”
“Oh my God!” Allison cackled. Aaron groaned and hid his face, and Nicky almost fell out of his seat with how hard he was laughing.
Renee just looked away, giving Andrew the decency of handling his shame with one less pair of staring eyes.
Neil leaned forward. “You want me to kiss you? I’m still working, asshole.”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “I would not have asked if I did not want it, dumbass.”
“What is wrong with you?!” Aaron hissed at him. Andrew poked Aaron in the side and muttered something like ‘mind your own damn business’ under his breath.
Neil rolled back and forth on his feet. With a laugh, he said, “Wow, you really are the worst, you know that? Yes, obviously.”
“What?” Allison screeched.
Andrew pulled Neil in by the collar of his shirt, and then Neil’s mouth was on his, and for just a moment, the rest of the world dissolved into nothing but lips and teeth and tongue.
“Okay seriously, what the hell?” Kevin demanded. “You rejected every one of us but Andrew insults you and you practically ravish him on the table?”
“I’m not attracted to any of you.” Neil said simply. “Except for Andrew.”
“Andrew and I are literally identical!” Aaron pointed to Andrew’s face, then to his own.
Neil wrinkled his nose. “No, you’re really not.”
Aaron turned bright red. With a huff, he said, “Whatever. Andrew’s boyfriend is coming soon, anyway.”
“Andrew’s boyfriend?” Neil asked, something wondrously evil dancing behind his eyes.
Renee got out her phone. “Yeah, Andrew, you said Neil would be here around ten?” She placed her phone onto the counter, the time showing 9:59 PM.
Neil watched the phone warily. He didn’t say anything, just squinted, mouthing something quietly.
The clock struck 10:00. Neil grinned and untied his apron. He made his way around the counter and plopped into the seat next to Andrew. Andrew scooted closer to him, and the idiot's eyes shined with adoration. “Hey, Drew.”
“Oh, fuck off.” Andrew glared and pushed Neil off of the stool.
Neil stuck his tongue out. He eyed the toppled stool, then draped himself over Andrew’s lap instead. “What do you mean, Drew?”
“That fucking nickname.” Andrew muttered. “I am going to stab you.”
Neil laughed. He stuck his hand out at Andrew’s friends and said, “I’d say it’s nice to meet you all, but that ship has long since sailed. My name is Neil.”