“Gabby working tonight?” Shaw asks, looking around. Families and couples are seated at booths in the dining area, but the bar space is almost entirely Valley U students. Some I recognize and others give it away with their frat letters across their chests.

“Nah, she’s out of town visiting Zeke,” Nathan answers and places a hand on my leg under the table.

I want to ask him who Gabby is, but Shaw asked so casually I think I should know so I pretend I do and stay silent.

“What are we drinking?” Sydney asks, smiling so big I think her face might start to hurt. I love that about her—she wears her heart on her sleeve while I keep mine buried under layers of sweaters like Joey in that Friends episode where the girl he’s dating repeatedly punches him. Except my layers are metaphorical and so are the punches to my heart I’m trying to avoid.

“I’m gonna grab a pitcher. Be right back.” Shaw stands. “Want anything else, babe?” he asks Sydney.

Babe. The endearment rolls off Shaw’s tongue so easily. I steal a glance at Nathan, and he rolls his eyes playfully at how quickly they’ve slipped into couple mode.

“I’ll come with you.” Sydney follows behind Shaw, leaving Nathan and me by ourselves.

He smiles, straight white teeth contrasting with the hard angles and scruff on his jaw. “You want something to drink besides beer?”

“Beer’s fine,” I say. “I’m not a big drinker. My tolerance is shit.”

“I may have noticed that,” he says and places his arm around the back of the booth. His fingers brush against my shoulder, and I lean into his touch and angle myself like Sydney did with Shaw.

Instead of outright asking about Gabby, I decide to vaguely inquire about his dating history. “Have you and Shaw gone on a lot of double dates?”

He laughs. “Nah, definitely not. I think this might be my first double date ever, come to think of it.”

“But you’ve dated a lot?” I avert my eyes and pretend to be very interested in looking around the bar while I wait for his answer.

“Not really. My life was a bit of a mess before I met you.”

Something about coinciding with a positive change in his life makes me happy. Really happy.

Shaw and Sydney return with a pitcher and glasses. Taking a glass and pouring a beer, Nathan slides it in front of me with a wink. He pours one for himself, too, but doesn’t immediately take a drink.