Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Jack

I stirred the pot of creamy garlic pasta, the steam curling up and tickling my nose. The smell was rich, buttery, and warm, filling the kitchen with an inviting aroma that usually meant Liam would be next to me. We’d be shoulder to shoulder, chopping vegetables or tasting the sauce with that look of concentration Liam got when he was trying to decipher flavors. But tonight, the other side of the counter was empty, and the clink of the wooden spoon against the pot felt louder than it should.

The front door opened and closed with a thud, and for a moment, hope fluttered in my chest. But when I turned, it was Bradley walking in, his ever-present smirk plastered across his face. I forced a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

“Hey,” Bradley said, leaning against the counter. “You should’ve seen it, man. Paul and Melanie were on fire today, cracking jokes nonstop.”

My mind flashed to the guy with the powder-dusted upper lip, and unease twisted in my stomach. “Yeah, about Paul—” I turned off the stove and met Bradley’s eyes. “Is he… okay? I could’ve sworn he had something on his face earlier. Like, white powder or something.”

Bradley’s smile faltered, his eyes going wide for a split second before he caught himself. He let out a laugh that sounded forced. “Oh, that? Nah, man. He had a powdered donut on the way over. We were all laughing about it. The guy’s a mess with snacks.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his hand fidgety.

I narrowed my eyes, studying his reaction. Liam always said I was too trusting, but even I could see through Bradley’s act. Before I could press him further, he pivoted, launching into a diatribe about the housewarming party. Something about the playlist and which of our neighbors would show up.

I half-listened, my mind drifting to Liam. Normally, he’d be here now, rolling his eyes at Bradley’s non-stop chatter or making a snarky comment that only I would catch. But tonight, there was nothing, just the hum of the fridge and Bradley’s voice droning on and on.

The front door creaked open again, and my heart gave a little jump. Liam stepped inside, and I immediately noticed the slumped shoulders, the way his eyes didn’t quite meet mine. He walked into the kitchen without a word, grabbed a Tupperware container of last night’s stir-fry from the fridge, and headed straight for his room, the door clicking shut behind him.

I stared at the closed door, my chest tightening. Liam was always the one holding us together, the one who sensed when something was off with me before I even knew it myself. For him to come home and isolate himself like that? It felt wrong.

“Anyway,” Bradley said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I’m gonna go set up the speaker in the living room for Saturday. This party’s gonna be epic.”

“Yeah, sure,” I muttered, not really hearing him.

Bradley finally left, and I turned back to the stove, the pasta now lukewarm and unappetizing. It didn’t feel right standing here without Liam.

What could’ve happened today to make him shut down so completely?

It was late, and the apartment was finally quiet. I made my way to the bathroom to piss and brush my teeth before bed, running on autopilot. Bradley’s constant chatter drained me, and I was looking forward to nothing more than sinking into my mattress and shutting my brain off for the night.

As I flicked on the bathroom light, I noticed a sliver of brightness under Liam’s door. Without thinking, I knocked—just once—and then nudged the door open. Liam lay on his bed with his arms crossed behind his head, staring up at the ceiling as if he was trying to solve some unsolvable problem in those blank white tiles.

“Hey,” I murmured, stepping into the room. “You wanna talk about something? You look… I don’t know, you just look upset.”

He sighed, one of those deep, bone-weary exhales that made my chest ache just hearing it. “Work stuff,” he muttered, not looking at me. “Nothing to worry about.”

I leaned against his dresser, crossing my arms. “You sure? You’ve seemed off since you came home.”

For a moment, I thought he might open up, tell me what was really gnawing at him. But he just gave a half-hearted shrug, still not meeting my eyes. “I just had a long day, that’s all. Don’t worry about it, Jack.”

It was so unlike him—Liam, the one who always knew what to say, who had this quiet steadiness about him that kept us all grounded. Now he looked almost… defeated.

But instead of pushing, I swallowed down the questions swirling in my mind and forced myself to smile. “Alright,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “Just… don’t keep it all in, okay? I’m here if you need to vent or whatever.”

He finally glanced over at me, a flicker of something like gratitude in his tired eyes. “Thanks, Jack. Good night.”

I nodded, giving him a small wave before I slipped back out, pulling his door closed behind me.

I sat at the kitchen counter, fingers wrapped around my mug, staring into my coffee like it might have answers. I hadn’t slept much—kept replaying last night, the way Liam looked so... off. It felt like there was this heavy fog between us, something weighing him down. But he hadn’t wanted to talk about it, and I wasn’t about to push him to open up.

The muffled sound of water pipes told me someone was showering, probably Bradley, which meant Liam was up too, dragging himself out of bed. I took another sip, letting the bitterness ground me. Just as I was losing myself in thought, Liam shuffled in, hair damp and eyes bleary, looking like he’d slept even worse than I had.

“Morning,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual, as if I wasn’t watching him like a hawk.

“Morning,” he mumbled, heading straight for the coffeepot. He poured a steaming stream into his thermos, barely looking my way.

I waited a beat, hoping he’d say something else, maybe hint at what was bothering him. But he just screwed the lid onto his thermos and took a sip, eyes fixed on the counter. “You sleep okay?” I ventured.

“Fine,” he muttered, though he looked anything but.

I opened my mouth to say something else, maybe try a little harder, but then Bradley waltzed into the kitchen, grinning and rubbing his hands together like he was a kid on Christmas morning. “Boys!” he declared, bouncing a little on his toes. “Just two more days until the party. Got the playlist all set—mix of classic bangers, some new stuff, a little surprise or two. It’s gonna be awesome.”

Liam rolled his eyes, but I caught the tiniest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

We all grabbed our bags, and Bradley kept going on about the party, rattling off guest lists, drink ideas, and what he called “party vibes” as we headed down the hallway. Liam stayed quiet, nursing his thermos like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

In the elevator, Bradley leaned against the wall, still buzzing with energy. “So, Jack, I was thinking. We need some lights, you know? Set the mood. I’m talking serious ambiance. People need to feel like they’re stepping into something next level. Like, electric.” He snapped his fingers, grinning widely.

I just nodded, half-listening as the elevator hummed and lurched its way down. When we hit the sixth floor, the doors slid open, and there was Nessa, standing there in a nightgown that probably wasn’t meant for public appearances. She grinned when she saw us, her eyes twinkling like we were her favorite surprise of the morning.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my three favorite boys,” she said, stepping into the elevator and pressing herself between me and Bradley. “Looking sharp, gentlemen.”

“Morning, Nessa,” Bradley said, eyes twinkling. He leaned in, letting his voice drop a little. “You’re a vision, as always.”

“Oh, stop,” she said, giggling and giving him a playful slap on the arm. Then she looked over at me, giving me a once-over. “And you, Jack, honey—you’re looking way too good to be up this early. What are they feeding you boys, huh?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Just coffee, Nessa. Lots of it.”

Then her eyes flicked to Liam, and her smile softened. She looped her arm around his shoulder, leaning into him in that dramatic way of hers. “Oh, Liam, sweetheart. You look like you could use a pick-me-up.” She patted his shoulder, giving him a little squeeze. “What’s got you so down? You’re usually my little ray of sunshine.”

Liam forced a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Just tired, Nessa. Nothing serious.”

She pulled him closer, patting his back like he was a little kid. “Well, don’t let it get you down, baby. The world’s not ready for a sad Liam, you hear me?”

He let out a quiet laugh, a little more genuine this time, and I felt my shoulders relax. Leave it to Nessa to chip away at his defenses.

The elevator finally chimed, and the doors slid open to the lobby. Nessa strutted out first, throwing a wink over her shoulder. She stopped by the security desk, where Dimitri sat, glowering at his monitor like it had personally offended him. She leaned in, whispering something that made him roll his eyes but crack a small, reluctant smile.

We passed them and headed out the doors, Bradley still rattling off his plans for the party as we stepped onto the sidewalk. “And we need streamers, obviously. Maybe a disco ball if I can find one last minute. You think the party store down the block has one? I should probably check after work.”

We stepped out onto the sidewalk, joining the morning rush of people on their way to the subway. Bradley led the way, still yammering on about the party—something about drink specials he wanted to try and a “signature cocktail” he was brainstorming. I glanced at my watch and felt a jolt of urgency. “Guys, we’re running late,” I said, nudging Liam and picking up the pace.

Bradley, unfazed, continued to talk a mile a minute, but at least he sped up. Liam shuffled behind us, still quiet, his shoulders hunched like he was carrying something heavier than his bag. We reached the subway station just as the train rolled in; the doors sliding open with a hiss. We squeezed inside, finding ourselves packed tight with the early commuters, everyone jostling for a grip on the overhead bar.

The train lurched forward, and I tightened my hold, glancing at Liam. He was standing next to me, staring blankly at the subway map on the wall like he’d never seen it before. Bradley, meanwhile, was craning his neck over the heads of the crowd, probably scouting for anyone he could invite to the party.

It was a quick ride, just four minutes, but it felt longer with the way the air was thick around us. I wanted to say something, ask Liam again if he was okay, but every time I opened my mouth, it felt like the moment slipped past me, and I stayed quiet.

The train pulled into our stop, and we pushed our way off, joining the stream of people heading for the exit. We climbed the steep stairs to the street, the morning light bright against the gray buildings. Bradley took a quick glance at his watch, then turned to us with a grin, giving a little wave.

“See you guys tonight,” he called, before disappearing into the crowd.

Finally, it was just the two of us, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I reached out, placing a hand on Liam’s shoulder, feeling the tension coiled there.

“Hey,” I breathed. “Is everything okay?”