"Oh... nothing," I said, knowing I was a bad liar but also knowing Jaci was pretty drunk. "I'm just taking a bit of a break. Texting some friends, looking at Instagram. I was going to come back and join you guys in a second once I'm less sweaty." 

Jaci was still looking a little cautious, like she wasn't sure if she wanted to believe me or not. I glanced at my phone and realized that, while I was texting Cayden, Griffin texted me. I used this to my advantage. 

"Alright, fine," I said. "I... this is a little embarrassing to say. But I might've been sexting Griffin. I'm having a really great time here but you know how tequila makes me." 

Guilt gnawed at my stomach for lying to her. It came out more easily than I wanted it to and I hated that. I wanted to tell her the honest truth about where I was going and why I couldn't bring myself to do it yet. I promised myself I'd do it eventually and that'd make up for it. Just as long as I was the one who told her and she didn't figure it out another way. 

"You want to leave already?" Jaci asked, finally redirecting her attention. She no longer seemed suspicious, just frowning a little. 

"Not already, just... soon," I said. 

Jaci sighed. "I guess if I was having sex as good as you were, I'd also try to get out of the bar as quickly as possible." 

"So how do you feel about Griffin?" I asked, thinking that seemed like an appropriate question. It felt weird asking it about Griffin, but it also made sense. It was exactly the kind of question I should ask considering they invited him out to see if they trust him and how his behavior is around me—since I was supposedly suspicious about his ex. In a way, I did want to know how my friends felt about him. I liked him as a friend and even if that wasn't romantic, I wanted J&J to like him. I wanted him to stick around. 

"So far he seems so nice Vina," Jaci said, throwing her head back. "You did so well for yourself. And each time he gets more charming. I really like him. He seems... warm. Definitely a different vibe compared to Sebastian but I think Griffin's more your type anyway. The bad boy thing seemed weird for you." 

I laughed. "Valid. I appreciate the honesty." 

"I'm really happy for you Vina. Whatever is going on with him, whatever you guys end up doing or being whatever, this seems really nice. I'm glad you've been able to move on." 

The guilt in my stomach doubled at her sincerity. I tried to tell myself it was okay because the statement still applied, it just didn't apply specifically to Griffin. 

"Thanks, Jac," I said and she wrapped me in a side hug. 

"Let's get you back to your man so you can go get laid," she said and laughed, slapping my ass to indicate that I should lead the way. 

As soon as we cut through the crowd and I saw Griffin, I grabbed him by the arm. I took advantage of the noise, keeping my voice low so no one else would hear. He leaned down and I spoke into his ear, hopefully in a way that looked flirty rather than platonic. 

"Cayden texted. I told Jaci I was going to go home with you at the end of the night, but I'll go to her place instead."

"Wanna go now?" Griffin asked. 

"Since I'm the one ditching you to get laid, we can hang out as long as you want," I said partially hoping that didn't mean it'd be much longer. 

"Okay. Just a little bit longer—the shots are tasting more and more like water," he chuckled. "I promise I'll get you to your hot piece of ass though. Text her and let her know you'll be at her doorstep by 11." 

"Thank you," I said and kissed his cheek. 

"What would you do without me?" He grinned. "I'm literally your fairy godmother." 

I laughed, "Fairy godmother Griffy does have a nice ring," 

Griffin gave me a deadpan look, "You ruined it." he joked and then disappeared back into the floor, finding Jaci and spinning her around as Jade laughed. The sight of them getting along made my heart sing. I quickly texted Cayden to let her know when I'd be there and she responded back quickly, telling me there was no rush. 

So I went back out on the dance floor and danced and sang my heart out with my best friends, my stellar—perfect fake boyfriend, and Zera and her friends. We danced with each other and with other people. Griffin and I kept close dancing comfortably since we'd done it a thousand other times, it looked like inappropriate dancing to an outsider—but in reality, we're both gay.

Eventually, though, we all got tired and Griffin and I gave each other the alright, let's head out look. Meanwhile, Zera, Sophie, and Harrison were long gone, deciding to move their night over to the nearest club.

"See you later, you crazy kids," Jaci said, waving as we said our goodbyes. 

"Get home safe! We had fun with you yet again Griffin!" Jade said, sipping her cocktail and laughing.

Griffin and I waved and then headed off into the cold night. 

"So did you have fun?" I asked as we walked down the busy sidewalks of New York. 

Griffin nodded lazily considering his tipsy state, "So have you... thought much about your plans? How far do you want this to go, Vin? Griffin asked as we brushed past a noisy group of people walking in the direction we were coming from. Griffin cleared his throat and looked at me and then looked away again, clearly hating that he was even bringing it up. "I don't want to ruin the good vibes we got going tonight and I'm glad your friends and I get along so well but this... can't go on forever, right? Eventually, you'll have to do something. Have you thought about coming out to Jade and Jaci yet?"

"I... yeah I've thought about it and I'll figure everything else out I guess," I said and pushed my brown hair behind my ear. "It's just hard since Sebastian isn't going anywhere. I think he's the thing I'm most concerned about." 

"I get why it's a big deal but he also got physical with you and even tried to make you feel bad about not going back to him—it's fucked up that you even have to think about him. Dude sounds like an asshole." 

"I probably would've just gone with it if Cayden wasn't still really close with him. I think she really values their friendship because of how long they've known each other. But you're right. I don't think he deserves to have any kind of say or influence on any of this at all. It's like how are you still controlling my life when we're not even together," 

"Yeah," Griffin said. "But seriously, Vina. I'm glad things are working out pretty well and I'm happy to help you keep this thing up, but it can't be a forever thing, you know? Eventually, you'll have to figure things out and come clean to someone. Or end things. Or whatever. I don't know... I'm just not sure how long we'll actually be able to keep this up." 

"I'll find an escape plan somehow," I said hoping if I said it confidently enough we'd both start to believe it. 

After a few more minutes, Griffin walked me to Cayden's condo building and waved as he got into the Uber he ordered for himself to head back to SoHo. I could see Cayden getting off the elevator coolly walking toward me in the warm expensive lobby, smiling a little when she saw me. 

"Fun night?" she asked. 

"Something like that," I couldn't help myself, I smiled in response. I'd known I was drunk, but the way my body responded to her indicated I was drunker than I realized. I found myself staring at her face, a lazy half-smile on my face. Thankfully, she didn't notice. Or, if she did, she was good at ignoring it. 

"Upstairs?" Cayden asked and gestured to the elevator. I led the way, already familiar with the path up to her condo. On her floor, Cayden unlocked the door to her apartment by putting the code into the keypad and letting me in. Even the way the light from the outside hit the room and the smell of the apartment—clean, comfortable, homey—were familiar and starting to become some of my favorite things in the world. I loved being in her apartment. I loved being close to her. 

Cayden made me a glass of water from the fridge and handed it to me, the gesture so polite I didn't know what to do with myself. 

"Thank you," I said, my heart pounding. 

And then I kissed her.