Kemp fought back a grin as he read Massie's text, considering the male in question was now across from him at the City Limits Diner. He typed back an "o yea u did", before setting his now-locked phone down screen first and looked back at Derrick across the table.

Derrick had definitely grown more attractive after graduation, if that was even possible considering all of BOCD voted him as 'Adonis' in their yearbook. Adonis, who died and was resurrected, who supposedly changed our seasons. Derrick sort of had his own transformation, but some things stayed the same. He still had the same sense of humor, but he grew up. As the new CEO of Harrington and Montgomery Enterprises and the lead goalie for the New York City FC Professional Soccer Team, he had a lot on his plate, but he was fortunate enough to say he did what he really loved.

No one knew how passionately Derrick felt about ethical entrepreneurship. His father's company is an ethical business consulting firm, the first of it's kind, that took off when Derrick was young. Now, the firm has an office in every major city. The point of the firm is to not only protect employees, but to help make the transition to ethically sourced goods and materials, promote safe work environments and social responsibility.

Since Derrick could remember, his father always used to sit him down at sunday dinner and tell him the same few sentences. "Derrick, you're a Harrington. You treat women with respect, you treat the environment with respect, and you take responsibility for what you cause." Although his middle school and some of his high school career doing the exact opposite, he realized he needed to step up to the plate as the alpha to the boys, and make a statement. Derrick always believed in leading by example, so he set out to do just that with his friend group.

Some of the boys, like Cam and Josh, understood. Some, mainly Kemp, did not. But, he didn't try to change anyone. He just hoped he'd be around to pick up the pieces when it all goes wrong. But, for now, he was staring at Kemp across the table and growing concerned at the look the surfer looking male was giving him.

"What?" Harrington asked, growing impatient.

"You know what." Kemp stated simply before taking a sip of his coffee.

"Dude, what do you want me to say? Hearing that makes me happy, but not only is she with someone else, she's marrying someone else."

"Don't sound so defeated!" Kemp almost yelled at him out of frustration. After years of watching Derrick still pine over Massie, he was content with just leaving her be? "Clearly she isn't happy."

"And why is that my problem? Actually, why is it your problem!?"

Kemp breathed out a long and hard sigh, watching as Derrick scooped up some of his scrambled eggs with white american cheese onto his toast and took a loud bite. Kemp had finished his breakfast of black coffee, adderall, and a bacon egg and cheese croissant about fifteen minutes ago. Prior to this conversation, because he was too hungover to properly tell Derrick the story until he had food in his system.

"It isn't anyone's problem, it's your solution. I thought out of any of us, you'd be the happiest, but excuse me for caring about your feelings! I won't make the same mistake again!" The brunette pouted, giving the dirty blonde across the booth a very dirty look with a pouty lip.

"I appreciate it, Kemp. I do. But, the fact is she can say whatever she wants when she's drunk, but she didn't say it to me. We haven't spoken in four years. Not since she signed my yearbook saying 'go fuck yourself and get bent over the soccer goal.' I think it's her turn to initiative things, yeah?"

"If she was to, would you answer?"

Not even a second of hesitation went by before, "Yes."

"Do you still love her?"

"Yes."

"Okay. So, how about those Yankees, huh?"

"You know I don't give a shit about baseball."

"Well, I hoped maybe that changed." Kemp shrugged, before stealing a piece of Derrick's toast.

Alicia and Josh were sitting at their breakfast bar, her feet on his lap as Kemp was flailing his arms all around their kitchen. Alicia prayed to the God's above he didn't break Josh's Skybar Wine Serving System or her Hammacher Juicer.

"This isn't like him! He doesn't give up, like, in the twenty plus years I have known Derrick Harrington."

"Does he not love her anymore?" Alicia wondered out loud.

Kemp snapped at her. "Chica! Are you listening? He literally said yes!"

"Okay, oh mi god! Just stop flailing like a mad man!" At that, Kemp simmered.

"Something tells me we need to have a guy's day again. Get everyone in one space, corner him, and figure it out."

Before Alicia could suggest anything, her phone buzzed on the white marble countertops. She unlocked her phone, sliding to her messages and raising an eyebrow as she read her latest from Dylan. "How about tonight?"

Josh nodded and began typing out a message to all the boys. "Tonight works, but why tonight?"

"Because it looks like I'm having a sleepover with the girls tonight. And honey, you need to be out of here by six thirty."

"For fuck's sake," the tanned boy groaned while Kemp chuckled at his pain.

"We can do it at my place, Hotz." Josh agreed, updating the group who all, so far, have responded in various different ways of yes.

#4THEBOYSSS 💀 🍻 🖕

Joshy Hotzy: guy's night, my place, 8 pm tonight.

Plovyy: I'm down.

Kemp: HELL YEA

Plovyy: Dark and brooding, bring the keg?

Joshy Hotzy: change of plans, kemp's at 7, i got booted

Fisherman: ya i can bring it

Derrington #23: ok c u then

Kemp: group chat, der. c us all then u rude ass

Derrington #23: ya sure whatevs

Plovyy: Can't we all just be nice and get along?

Fisherman: & wat, bake a cake?

Joshy Hotzy: anyone wanna bring a cake?

Kemp: i got u joshy