Ethan's POV
I slouched in the booth, nursing a beer, surrounded by my friends—Henry, Matthew, Jacob, and Ashley. The bar's low hum of conversation and clinking glasses felt like a comforting blanket, wrapping around me in a familiar embrace. I took another sip of my beer, savoring the bitter taste as it washed over my tongue.
"Alright, listen up, everyone," I announced, raising my bottle. "Tonight's on me."
Henry snorted into his drink. "Yeah, right. Remember last time? 'Oh no, I forgot my wallet."
"Seriously, Ethan," Matthew said, shaking his head. "You left us hanging with that tab for weeks."
Jacob nodded vigorously. "We had to pool our laundry quarters to cover it!"
Ashley raised an eyebrow at me, her lips twitching into a half-smile. "You sure you can handle it this time? Or hav
