"You're actually upset right now? Look at everything the world has given you, Luke."
"And that's great, but I'd rather have you."
• the story before "count on me" by sircalyum • book 1
// smut included //
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FRIDAY NIGHT. In hopes for an outfit that yelled make my night something special, I hopped around as I pulled on my favorite pair of black jeans. They hugged me just right, but that meant they took a little extra effort to get into. Beauty is pain, they say.
It was the end of the second week of summer break following my junior year of college. For the past week, I had been stuck in my apartment—apart from going to work—by my lonesome. My best friend and roommate, Madalyn, had been on vacation with her long-term boyfriend who doubled as one of my best friends. His name was Howie.
They had gotten back that morning, however, and our friend group was going out to a club to have some fun together. It was long overdue; it would be first time we were all in town at the same time since the school year had ended.
I was expected to be ready to leave in the next five minutes, which meant that I already knew I was going to be the reason that Madalyn and I were late.
Once my jeans were on and looking nearly perfect, I started searching through the shirts in my closet. I had a plethora of going out clothes; whatever I decided on had to fit my mood perfectly. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a good time out. At least, that's what my brain liked to tell me.
"Josie! Are you ready?" I bit my lip as I looked down at my bralette-covered chest and yelled out a response.
"One second!" I grabbed the shirt that was on the hanger that my hand was hovering over and pulled it on over my head. I walked up to my mirror and was pleasantly surprised at how the outfit looked. Knowing I was pleased, I decided not to give myself any time to change my mind. I was out of my room in no time, and Madalyn was surprised to see me as soon as she did.
"Record timing, Jo," she said as if she had been keeping track.
"Oh, shoot—" I immediately turned to exit the room and rushed back into my room. I had previously set out a pair of earrings for myself, and a necklace. I took my time accessorizing before returning to the living room.
"So close," she said, shaking her head at me. "Are you actually ready, or do you need to recheck... again?" My eyes playfully rolled before I told her I knew I was ready, and that we should leave before I could think of something else I might want to wear. To my surprise, Madalyn's boyfriend was waiting outside of our apartment building to take us. "Howie's not drinking," Madalyn explained. "And I knew you weren't going to give up a chance to drink just to drive... and we had a weird experience with that Lyft driver on vacation—"
"I'm more than okay with Howie driving," I told Madalyn, not wanting her to think I wasn't up for it. Howie and Madalyn had been dating since we were in high school; they were two of my favorite people, but Howie and I had a reputation of easily getting into meaningless arguments. It was only because I thought of him as an older brother.
