Kisses From Jack (The Kisses 1.5)

d his name on the screen. He sank into his chair and groaned. “But thanks for the confirmation. One down, two to go.”

Jack laughed. His victory dance was what had given him away. Served him right. “Ready?”

The game started off. Jack was in the lead, riding around in a stolen Ghost and killing the level. Jack focused entirely on the game, blocking out all the sounds of the party behind him. He was going to win, but then with just a few moments left in the game, Owen somehow tied him. Logan was close enough to be a threat when Izzy walked directly in front of the TV screen.

He craned his next, desperate to see around her and stomp Owen into the ground but she just stood there, calling out, “Drink for Joe.”

“Just take the damn drink, Logan!” Jack hissed before realizing his mistake. He let the control drop to his lap, and he looked up at Izzy, eyes narrowed in speculation as the game ended. Owen won the match again. “You did that on purpose, didn't you?”

“Maybe. Your brother bet me I couldn't get everyone's name by the end of the night, and now he's the only one left with a pseudonym.” She handed Logan his drink, moving away from the TV.

Jack raised his eyebrows and looked over at his brother. “Just first names?”

She nodded. Jack thought for a moment. This was definitely a form of entertainment he hadn't planned on for the evening. It was nice not to be recognized.

“If you can get his name out of him, I'll double whatever he offered you,” Jack said. That should be a good incentive for her to mess with Robbie. If she was able to get him to spill Logan's identity by simply standing in front of the TV, he was excited to see just what she would do to Robbie.

“Are you sure? I mean, he offered two thousand dollars, and I don't want to put you in a tight spot,” she said, her eyes wide at the amounts. It was kind of cute.

“Just two?” Jack frowned. He yelled across the room at his brother, “You're getting cheap, bro!”

Robbie just grinned at him from the bar.

“What are we calling him anyway?” Jack asked.

“Sam,” Izzy told him, picking up a couple of empty drink cups. Jack laughed.

“Oh, I bet he loves that. Sam was the name of his girlfriend in middle school.” The two had been inseparable and insufferable.

“She was not my girlfriend!” Robbie yelled at Jack, unfortunately sounding like a middle-schooler himself.

“Right, that's why you cried—ouch, man!” Jack stopped his teasing as Owen smacked his arm.

“I know it's your party, but I don't want you two to brawl again. Especially over that. Leave it,” Owen warned. Owen's blue eyes darkened as he stared Jack down. Jack glared at him for a moment and then shrugged. Owen was right. It wasn't worth it.

“Rematch?” Jack challenged. He was going to beat Owen if it killed him.

Owen hit start on the game.

***

It wasn't long before Aiden, Sebastian, and Leo arrived.

Logan shook his brother Aiden's hand. “Hey, we're playing the game tonight. My name is 'Joe' tonight.”

Aiden looked mad. He looked at his buddies and said, “Man, I told you we should have gotten her earlier. I love this game!”

Jack spoke up. “Aiden, nobody ever believes you're rich anyway, you bum!” That got a lot of laughs, but they all knew it was right.

Once they were settled, the official Halo tournament began. It was one of the main events of the party for Jack. He had played more Halo during college than he had spent studying, but he remembered it as a good time. It didn't matter who he was when he played. It just mattered that he was good. As one of his last memories of freedom before the job took over his life, he wanted to feel the simple joy of winning the game.

The tournament sucked Jack away, just like he wanted it to. The hours flew past, buoyed by the fruity, girly drinks Noah had perfected. The night was going just how he had planned. He was tipsy enough to feel good, but not drunk, and was dominating everyone but Owen in the tournament. It was down to just the two of them and he was about to win; that was until Leo barfed all over his shoes. It of course happened with just seconds left in the match, distracting him and letting Owen win the match and the tournament.

Jack dropped his controller in his lap and groaned. At least Owen didn't do a victory dance. “How can you still beat me when your house is now covered in vomit?” Jack asked.

Owen blinked. With complete sincerity, he said, “Years of practice of hanging out with you destructive assholes.”

Jack smiled. “Dean, will you grab me a bucket and some napkins?”