Chapter 190

Chapter 190
Alex's POV

The amusement made me smile, as I anticipated the game.

Dylan just shook his head and muttered something about “traitors” as he grabbed the controller.

I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees. “Alright, let’s make this interesting. You manage to beat me, and I’ll buy you five bottles of that ridiculously overpriced whiskey you like.”

He narrowed his eyes. “And if I somehow manage to win?”

“You do karaoke at the reception. For five minutes.” I said, smirking.

The boys lost it.

“Oh that’s evil,” Jason laughed. “Do it, Dylan! Please, for the love of the goddess, do it.”

Dylan looked at me for a long moment, his expression dead serious. Then he nodded. “Fine. Bring it on!”

I shook my head, chuckling as the game started. The screen lit up with the familiar track, neon lights reflecting on our faces. The countdown began.

3… 2… 1…
The engines roared to life, and off we went.

He was quiet at first, tongue poking out slightly as he tried to focus. I didn’t even bother going full speed. I was too busy watching him squint at the screen like it would somehow help him drive straighter.

It was so adorable yet amusing.

“Why does your car move like that?” he grumbled. “Mine feels heavier.”

I stifled a laugh.

“Because yours keeps hitting walls,” Felix said, cackling.

The boys howled with laughter as Dylan crashed for the third time.

“Alright, you’re doing great, man,” Jason said between laughs. “If you keep this up, you might finish the race before midnight.”

“Oh shut your royal ass up” he retorted.

I slowed my car deliberately, pretending to struggle, which only made him suspicious.

“Don’t you dare go easy on me,” he said quickly.

“Oh trust me, I’m not,” I lied.

He gave me a side-eye that said he definitely didn’t believe me, but kept driving anyway.

“Holy crap, He’s actually winning!” Felix shouted.

“Miracles do happen!” Jason added.

Dylan was grinning so hard, I thought his face might split in two.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

By the halfway mark, I was just behind him, hot on his tail and he was starting to sweat. His shoulders tensed, and I could tell he was holding his breath like his life depended on it.

What made it all the more funny was the fact that I wasn't even trying. I could easily pass him but this was more amusing.

“Dude, relax,” I said casually. “You look like you’re defusing a bomb.”

“Shut up,” he muttered, leaning closer to the screen. “I’m in the zone.”

That was my cue.

In one smooth move, I took a shortcut he didn’t know existed. My car soared through the ramp, landing just ahead of him. The boys lost it.

“NO FUCKING WAY!” Felix screamed,

Dylan’s jaw dropped. “What the… where did that even come from?!”

I grinned.
“Magic?” I said, mockingly.

He tried to catch up, but panicked and his car spun out on a corner, slamming into a wall. The room exploded in laughter again.

“Oh my god, this is beautiful,” Jason said, sniffing away nonexistent tears.

A few minutes later, the finish line appeared ahead. I stopped just before crossing it, watching his car inch closer and closer, bumping into the guardrails every few seconds.

The entire room was silent, waiting, wondering what I was doing.

I watched as Dylan narrowed his eyes at the screen. “Don’t fucking do it, Alex.”

I smirked. “Do what?”

“Don’t you-”

I drifted backward across the finish line, cutting me off sharply.

“Fucking-” Dylan groaned in annoyance.

The room exploded.

“AND THAT’S GAME!” Jason shouted, nearly falling off the couch from laughter.

Felix was clutching his stomach, crying from how hard he was laughing. “He did it again! He actually reversed across the line!”

Everyone laughed their asses off.
Even Dylan couldn’t help but laugh, though he looked like he wanted to throw the controller at my head.

“Every. Damn. Time,” he said, shaking his head but grinning.

“Tradition,” I replied simply.

Dylan dropped the controller dramatically onto the couch. “I hate you.”

I grinned. “Love you too, buddy.”

He rubbed his face and groaned. “I’m never living this down, am I?”

“Not unless you plan to skip your karaoke debut,” I said.

“Oh no, you better sing,” Jason chimed in.
“I’m bringing a camera.” he added as he moved somewhere else, probably to get a drink or something.

The laughter died down slowly, and I found myself staring at the screen again, my smile softening.

Over the busy scene behind us, Dylan sighed, catching my attention.
He looked at me, shaking his head. “You’re such a menace, you know that?”

I touched my chest dramatically.
“Damn, that's probably the sweetest thing you've ever said to me.” I said and he rolled his eyes.

“I need a drink. Want one?” he asked.

“Sure. Thanks” I said with a nod.

He hummed before he disappeared around the corner towards his kitchen.
My head tilted to the side as I watched his retreating figure.
How blessed I was to have him in my life.

I sighed, my head running through so many things at once.
Even surrounded by noise and jokes and chaos, my mind still managed to drift back to her.

Renée.

I almost couldn't believe it. We were getting married. I was the luckiest man to ever exist.n
What was she doing right now? Laughing with her friends, maybe? Overthinking whether there's something she's forgetting? Or maybe-

“Hey,” Dylan’s voice broke through my thoughts, quieter this time. “You okay, man?”

I blinked and nodded. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

He gave me a small smile. “About Renée?”

I chuckled. “When am I not?”

“Don’t overthink it,” he said, tossing me a soda. “You’re getting married in two days. It’s supposed to feel a little insane.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, opening the can. “It does feel insane.”

“I just feel so lucky, you know” I added and he smiled brightly.

“She's definitely a special person” he said and I nodded.

“I'm so happy for you man” he added and I smiled.

“Thank you. For everything.” I said, genuinely meaning it.

“So, does that mean you'll buy me the five bottles?” he asked and I hummed in thought, somehow fighting off laughter.

“No.” I said and he groaned. “BUT-” I said, catching his attention again, before I continued “I can get you a customised microphone instead. A special debut gift for my special bro” I said and he swatted my arm with an annoyed glare, making me burst into laughter.

He was lucky no one else heard me.

I swirled the can in my hand and took a sip, glancing out the window where the city lights glimmered in the distance.
The laughter behind me carried on, the easy kind that came from people who didn’t realize they were making memories.

And for a moment, despite the ache of missing her, I couldn’t help but smile.

Soon, I’d see her again.