It was Saturday night when I heard the loud pounding on my door. Before I could even get up, Chris and Evan barged in, arms loaded with beer and whiskey.
"Dude, you're such a hermit," Chris scoffed, dropping a six-pack on the table.
Evan grinned. "Yeah, we figured it's time for a good old-fashioned hangout. No excuses."
I raised an eyebrow. "You guys know it's already late, right?"
"Exactly why we're here," Chris replied, cracking open a can and handing it to me. "Week's over, time to unwind."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Fine, but if I end up hungover, I'm blaming you both."
A few drinks in, the mood was light, and the conversation turned to college life, random stories, and everything in between. Chris tried to convince Evan to arm wrestle, which ended with both of them almost knocking over the beer.
At some point, Evan leaned back, eyes squinting at me. "So, Max... what's the deal with you and Scarlet?"
Chris snorted. "Yeah, man. You two have been hanging out a lot. Got something to confess?"
I shrugged, taking another sip. "She's... just a friend."
"Right," Evan said, smirking. "A friend you made breakfast for. And let crash at your place. Sounds totally platonic."
Chris elbowed me. "Come on, admit it. You're into her."
I hesitated. "She's cool, okay? I didn't say I wasn't."
They exchanged glances, eyebrows raised.
"So you like her," Chris concluded.
"I didn't say that either," I shot back, avoiding eye contact.
Evan grinned. "Max is in denial. Classic."
To change the subject, I asked, "What about you two? You guys dating anyone?"
Chris grinned. "Actually, yeah. Been seeing Kelly for a few months now. She's crazy but fun."
Evan nodded. "Tara and I have been hanging out too. Didn't think I'd be into the clingy type, but she's... different."
I blinked, genuinely surprised. "You guys both have girlfriends?"
Chris scoffed. "What, you think we're that hopeless?"
I chuckled. "A little bit."
The night dragged on with more jokes, stories, and way too much whiskey. I lost track of time, and at some point, I must have passed out on the couch.
The next morning, I woke up to the blinding light seeping through the window. My head pounded like a jackhammer, and I groaned, rubbing my eyes. My mouth felt like cotton, and I realized I was still sprawled on the couch, half-empty bottle beside me.
A knock at the door made me drag myself up, and I opened it to see Scarlet standing there with a coffee in hand.
She took one look at me and raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You look like you got hit by a truck."
I grunted. "Feels like it."
She stepped inside, taking in the mess of cans and bottles scattered around. "Rough night?"
"Chris and Evan showed up out of nowhere with enough booze to drown a horse," I mumbled, taking the coffee from her. "Thanks."
She shook her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You really don't know how to pace yourself, do you?"
I smirked. "They weren't exactly helping."
She started picking up the empty cans, stacking them neatly. "You're lucky I decided to check on you. Thought I'd find you dead on the floor."
"I'm alive... barely," I muttered, sipping the coffee and wincing at the bitterness.
As she cleaned, I couldn't help but watch her, still half-dazed from the hangover. Her presence felt... comfortable. Like she belonged here.
"So, did they give you a hard time?" she asked, wiping the table.
I shrugged. "Just... teasing me about you."
Her hand paused for a moment before she resumed cleaning. "Oh? What about?"
I hesitated. "They think... maybe we're more than just friends."
She turned to look at me, eyes soft. "And what did you say?"
I cleared my throat, trying to act casual. "I just said... maybe next time."
Her lips twitched with a hint of a smile. "Maybe next time? That's all?"
I glanced away, not quite meeting her eyes. "Yeah. Didn't really deny it."
Scarlet stepped closer, her voice quieter. "So... what would you say if I asked you out right now?"
My brain practically short-circuited. I stammered, trying to find the right words. "Uh... I mean... that's... uh..."
She burst out laughing, almost doubling over. "Oh my God, you got so nervous! Your face just froze!"
I couldn't help but laugh along, shaking my head. "You did that on purpose."
She smirked. "Maybe. But it's cute seeing you all flustered."
I tried to regain some composure, rubbing the back of my neck. "You're evil, you know that?"
She gave me a teasing look. "Only sometimes. But I guess it's worth it to see you squirm."
The tension from before faded into lighthearted banter, and I couldn't help but smile as she continued to clean up, still poking fun at me every now and then. Maybe admitting my feelings didn't seem so terrifying after all.