Chapter 3
Leo took the phone from Sam and zoomed in on the photograph.
"And this is who you've picked?" he asked.
"What's wrong with her?" Sam asked, suddenly feeling defensive.
Boone clicked his tongs again.
Sam had a brief but startlingly realistic vision of ripping them from his hands and throwing them over the fence while the team cheered.
"I could ask Mira to bring her to Bill's birthday party next week," Boone said with another click.
"Drago never misses birthdays."
Leo was still zooming in on the photo.
"She is very pretty," he said finally.
"Y'all are planning a birthday party for me?" Billy asked.
He looked surprised.
Val shook his head.
"Dude, we confirmed the date with you last month.
I sent you the calendar invite–"
Sam turned to Leo.
"Do you think he'll be into her?"
"Maybe," he said as he gave a little shrug.
It was very cute, especially with how he was all bundled up in his parka.
"But I have a feeling Zara isn't what Drago is looking for."
He passed the phone back to Boone and took Sam's cold hands in his own.
Sam sighed contentedly.
Leo always had warm hands.
Another reason they were perfect for each other.
"I guess we'll find out."
One Week Later
ACTION GET DRAGO A GF
new chat group for the new plan
Does saying girlfriend erase Drago's bisexuality?
((Jonas changed the name of the group to
ACTION GET DRAGO A GF OR BF))
I mean it makes sense considering we're actively trying to hook him up with a woman tonight
ACTION GET DRAGO A GF))
If Drago got a boyfriend, would he be a WAG?
The acronym feels exclusionary now that I'm thinking about it.
could be WAGs & HABs. husbands and boyfriends
ACTION GET DRAGO A WAG or HAB))
What about SAP?
Spouses and Partners?
Nice
Yeah man, I like it
ACTION GET DRAGO A SAP))
ok but is everything set for tonight?
Yup, Zara is coming.
Should arrive a little later with Mira.
I told Mira to mention Drago is single
Are we sure this is a good idea?
why wouldn't it be?
Falky is just jealous that Drago isn't into tall blonde swedes
How many times must I say that I am Verrish?
Focus people, we need to get Drago out of this slump
yeah, ystrday he was staring at the wall for like a full min. I counted to 100 and evrythng
Bill, PLEASE tell me you know a minute does not have one hundred seconds
can we please stay on track
I still have concerns.
Noted and ignored
okay so the plan is simple. we hang out. we let Drago and Zara find each other naturally. no one does anything weird.
define weird
whatever you're thinking just dont
They'd rented out the back room at Star Deck for Billy's birthday because going to Rooks' seemed a bit too predictable and Billy liked the fancy cocktails.
Sam hadn't expected Anton to show up on time, and was surprised to see him join their private space only a few minutes after the majority of the team had.
He was wearing a satin shirt that flickered and winked in the strobe lights and what looked like leather slides lined with fur and bejeweled with clips on the front.
"You look like you're about to seduce my grandma," Jonas said with a laugh as Anton joined them.
Sam turned into Leo's shoulder so Anton wouldn't see him laugh.
"He looks like the definition of a Karovian fuckboy," he muttered to his boyfriend.
"He pulls it off though," Leo noted.
Sam took another look, purely to gather arsenal to combat Leo' blatant falsehood with.
Anton had somehow situated himself under a beam of light that shone on him, accentuating his jaw and cupid's bow lips.
Even his eyes looked extra sparkly as he flipped Jonas off with both hands.
"Okay, maybe a little bit," Sam admitted grudgingly.
"You would not know fashion if it punched you in the mouth," Anton informed Jonas as he dropped into the empty spot next to Sam.
The team settled into comfortable conversation; chirping, laughing and even occasionally remembering they were here to celebrate Billy, who was already three cocktails deep and beginning to look a little cross-eyed.
"Mira!" Boone boomed a short while later as his wife arrived.
He stood and gave her a hug that lifted her off the ground before turning to the rest of the team.
"This is Zara," he said, introducing the gorgeous woman standing slightly behind them.
Boone worked his way around the circle, rattling off names.
When he got to Anton, Zara's gaze lingered for a moment longer than it had on anyone else, Sam was pleased to notice.
Definitely a good sign for the evening.
Boone ushered Mira to where he had been sitting, leaving Zara looking slightly awkward as she stared around the crowded room.
Sam sprung into action.
"Move over Drago!" he said, pushing himself against Leo.
"Make some room for Zara."
"I thought we weren't going to do anything weird, Calloway," Val said.
Sam flipped him off.
Anton raised an eyebrow at Sam but didn't argue as he shifted over, allowing Zara to slide in next to him.
"Sorry about them," Anton said, gesturing vaguely at the team.
"They have no manners."
"Neither do I," Zara replied with an easy smile.
"We'll get along fine."
Sam pretended not to watch as the two fell into conversation, then turned to Leo.
"I think it's working," he whispered.
Leo shook his head.
"I don't know buddy," he said doubtfully.
Sam shook his head right back.
"You just wait and see."
ACTION GET DRAGO A SAP
well that was a total failure
what do you mean?
I saw them talking
and then as soon as her head turned he was out of there
It wasn't a total failure
I may have hit it off with Zara after Drago left
Val you dog!
Good for you man
my head hurts
Probably because you drank like seven cocktails last night
what a way to turn 32
Dude you are 33
no, the first year doesnt get counted
Excuse me?
Who told you that
my mom
Honestly that explains so much
so Drago wasn't into her?
that's the vibe i got. he said yoga wasn't competitive enough when I asked him why he wasn't interested
Trust me the vibe was there.
They were vibing long and hard all night
gross
Whats the opposite of homophobic
heterophobic
thats not a thing
but we need help with this
oh god here we go