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It was a relief to Nick to step inside his empty house, to greet his dog and watch her be fawned over by all his friends, to have space to just be themselves, no one watching them or commenting on their life choices.
They'd only been there a few minutes when they heard Tara's knock on the door. And then, as soon as they opened it for her, she was in Darcy's arms, the two of them holding each other in a way that was increasingly familiar to Nick.
Isaac started the group hug, wrapping his arms round both of them, and then Nick, and then it was all of them, standing there in the open doorway hugging everyone and laughing.
When the hug ended, Nick looked at Tara. "If you want somewhere private to talk, you can come in here." He led her and Darcy to the living room, pulling the glass doors closed. Then he turned to the others. "Let's make this look like a party, shall we?"
So while Tara and Darcy talked, Nick dug out old decorations and checked the refrigerator, deciding that he was completely okay with letting his friends raid David's stash of beer.
Charlie glanced over. "Guys. Look."
Through the glass, they could see that Tara and Darcy were standing up, swaying like they were dancing to music no one else could hear. Charlie led the way, opening the door and stepping in.
"You guys okay?"
"Shall I make some tea?" Nick asked. Yes, it was old-mannish of him, and stereotypical, and all that … but it was also undeniably comforting.
"Yeah." Darcy smiled. She looked tired but happy.
On the way over, she had explained just a little—terrible fight with her mum, and Darcy storming out, sleeping in the park overnight.
Nick had always thought most people were as fine at home as he was—better, even, because their dads still lived with them. But now he was learning that everyone had something they kept at home that no one knew about, and most people were nowhere near as lucky in their parents as he was with his mum. He wanted to offer Darcy a place to stay, but he didn't feel like he knew her well enough to start trying to solve her problems for her, or even really to help her with them.
He made the tea, and they all hung round the kitchen and laughed a lot. They played beer pong, at which Nick turned out to be pretty good and Tao an absolute disaster. Elle also had the touch, despite Tara's continued attempts to distract her.
At some point, one by one, the couples found spots on the couch to snuggle and talk, while Isaac sat on the floor with his book. Nick kept an eye on him, and eventually suggested a round of games, something non-coupley they could do. First it was picking random household things up with their teeth, which Isaac won easily and Tao was, again, a disaster at.
Isaac picked up the various boxes, Tara helping him, and they went into the kitchen to put things away. Tao and Elle had disappeared somewhere, and Darcy was petting Nellie, and probably sneaking her treats.
Nick found himself alone on the couch with Charlie, and he couldn't help it. He leaned over, sliding his fingers into the silky depths of Charlie's curls, and kissed him. He could have sat here, kissing Charlie, all night. But all too soon the others came back, laughing, piling on the couch.
Someone suggested hide and seek, which Nick would have imagined they were all too old for, but the idea caught on.
"No couple hiding," Tara said. She raised an eyebrow at Tao, who pretended to be offended.
After a few rounds of hide-and-seek, in which they determined they were all way too big, and Nick's house had way too few decent hiding spots, someone turned on music, and they found themselves dancing.
Nick would have been frozen to the spot in terror at the prom, but here, in his own house, with his friends, he was able to let go and just move to the music, not worrying if he was any good or not. Charlie was having fun, his smile wide and open, and that was all that mattered to Nick.
At some point, he pulled Charlie close, resting his head on his shoulder, and they slow-danced. Nick decided he could get to quite like this. It was like hugging, with music.
The time passed so fast it was a shock to all of them when Elle looked at her phone and said, "Oh, no, I've got to go!"
Reluctantly, they all gathered their things, and Nick said good-bye to them at the door, with hugs all round. Darcy went home with Tara. Nick hoped things would be okay for her now, or better, anyway. He promised himself he would check in with both of them tomorrow, make sure they were all right.
And then it was just him and Charlie. The best way for things to be. Nick put his arms round Charlie's waist, lifting him, and reached out with one arm to close the door. Just like this was their house, and they lived here together.
Someday, Nick thought. That's what he wanted for them. Someday.