incoming

Julian's pov

I glared at Chase, my best friend since kindergarten, as he dragged me away from my computer. "Come on, bro, I need you to be my wingman," he said, his brown eyes gleaming with mischief.

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my frustration. "I'm busy, Chase. Can't you see I'm in the middle of a project?" I asked, gesturing to my laptop screen.

Chase pouted, his lower lip jutting out. "You're always busy, Julian. We barely hang out anymore. It's like you're married to your work or something."

I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. Chase was right; we hadn't hung out in a while. I closed my laptop, deciding to take a break. "Fine, but you owe me one," I said, standing up and stretching my arms over my head.

Chase grinned, relieved. "Anything for my best bro," he said, nudging me with his elbow.

I rubbed my arm, wincing at the slight pain. "Easy, man. You don't have to hit me that hard."

Chase chuckled. "Sorry, bro. I forgot you're a fragile flower."

I shot him a mock-glare. "Hey, watch it. I'm not fragile."

Chase laughed. "Whatever, man. Let's go. We've got a waitress to charm."

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. "You're impossible, Chase."

As we headed out to the Jacuzzi Club, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. The club was notorious for its wild parties, and I had a feeling tonight was going to be interesting.

I adjusted my black leather jacket, feeling the soft fabric against my skin. I was wearing a white dress shirt, black jeans, and my favorite pair of black boots. I looked good, if I did say so myself.

Chase, on the other hand, was wearing a bright yellow shirt with a garish pattern. He looked like a human traffic cone.

"Chase, what the hell are you wearing?" I asked, trying to stifle a laugh.

Chase grinned. "This old thing? I just threw it on. Besides, it's eye-catching, right?"

I shook my head, chuckling. "You're something else, man."

~~~~~~~~

As we walked into the Jacuzzi Club, the pulsating music and vibrant lights enveloped us. Chase spotted a purple-haired woman across the room and eagerly dragged me towards her.

"Look, it's her," Chase said, his eyes fixed on the woman.

I followed him, more interested in grabbing a drink than watching Chase's attempts to flirt. As we approached the woman, Chase called out, "Hey, beauty!"

The woman turned to face us, her purple hair flicking seductively over her shoulder. "Hey, handsome. Nice to see you again," she said, her voice husky.

Chase touched her hair, and she grabbed his hand, licking his fingers in front of me. I rolled my eyes internally, not interested in witnessing their kinky antics. I grabbed my tequila from a passing waiter and made a quick exit.

I settled into a quiet booth, hoping to enjoy my drink in peace. However, my solitude was short-lived. Two blonde women, dressed in skimpy outfits, sauntered over to me.

"Hey, baby, you look lonely. Mind if I join you?" one of them asked, batting her fake eyelashes.

I sighed, recognizing their intentions. "No, I'm fine. Someone is sitting here. Please leave," I said firmly, trying to discourage them.

The woman opened her mouth to protest, but I glared at her, and she quickly retreated.

I pulled out my phone and began scrolling through my emails. There were updates from the construction site, messages from my mom asking me to visit, and a few other miscellaneous emails.

As I scrolled through my inbox, I stumbled upon a photo of myself and Lexi, taken at the gala. I couldn't help but smile as I gazed at her beautiful face. I had promised to take her out for coffee, but work had gotten in the way.

I rubbed my thumb over her face on the screen, feeling a pang of regret for not following through on my promise. I had texted her to apologize, but she hadn't replied.

I sighed, wondering if I had missed my chance with her. Lexi was perfect – intelligent, beautiful, and charming. I couldn't believe I had let work get in the way of getting to know her better.

As I sat there, lost in thought, I realized that my dad would be thrilled to know I was interested in someone. He had always assumed I was gay, simply because I hadn't brought a girl home in a while.

I chuckled to myself, imagining my dad's reaction if he knew about Lexi. Maybe someday I'd introduce them, but for now, I just wanted to get to know her better.

I finished my drink, feeling a sense of determination. I would make time for Lexi, no matter what. And who knows, maybe someday she'd be the one sitting beside me, sipping tequila and laughing together.