Cyrus, next to Matt, leaned in closer and put a hand on his shoulder for support.
«If I had the chance, I would've loved to teach that jerk a lesson,» he said firmly [https://img.wattpad.com/e66fb424b2e3dd29865d645147aae57fbe5596ee/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6a383666515948386e75696530773d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339333936656365653936303637333733393539333136392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«If I had the chance, I would've loved to teach that jerk a lesson,» he said firmly.
Matt smiled, noticing Cyrus's determined look.
«Well, bullying is in the past; the only thing I'm looking for now is a girl,» he added with a light sigh, shrugging his shoulders. «Maybe I'm too picky, but I don't wanna date just anyone,» he continued, wrinkling his nose a bit.
Robert stretched his arms over his head.
«Matt, we're all young,» he said with a grin and returned to his natural position [https://img.wattpad.com/0316be626ac4a498ef3d7228ffc02d6cbfbe8271/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3031346f76417443794563376a413d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339343134616432653433633338303736383438373934362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Matt, we're all young,» he said with a grin and returned to his natural position. «You'll find your soulmate when the time's right. Sometimes you just gotta be patient and let life lead the way.»
Alfred, who had just gotten up to grab some wine from the fridge, started pouring wine into the glasses.
Alfred, who had just gotten up to grab some wine from the fridge, started pouring wine into the glasses [https://img.wattpad.com/0957dacc612aa7ab8bb463f344471d5186683681/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4b696853643778594376496a6a413d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339346462346466303432663234353933353937323133322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«But out there, it ain't all roses and sunshine,» he said, watching the wine flow into Anthony's glass. «Sometimes you gotta step on a few thorns to find that special rose,» he continued, then turned his gaze back to Matt.
Anthony then took the glass that Alfred handed him.
«Yeah, Matt, don't rush it,» he said, giving him a wink [https://img.wattpad.com/14ab8daacd88d27fa31d083eb756fba413a31221/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f536b455945535f743146595546773d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339353335316634313364393539383538363534313236352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Yeah, Matt, don't rush it,» he said, giving him a wink.
Lewis, who had been quiet until now, looked at his glass and scrunched his nose a bit. The topic of girls was a sore spot for him, and taking advantage of a brief silence, he let out a half-sigh.
«Dating is like a job these days; honestly, I don't even know if it's worth it,» he said, catching everyone's attention, especially Rick and Anthony, who turned to him [https://img.wattpad.com/127cf5b8e7aab1f821bdf15460d2b5b417348433/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f547a754f657554335832544a6f513d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339353661386232373062313330383330323134353235332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Dating is like a job these days; honestly, I don't even know if it's worth it,» he said, catching everyone's attention, especially Rick and Anthony, who turned to him.
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«What's up, Lew?» Rick asked, trying to figure it out.
Lewis sighed again and stared at his glass for a moment, thinking about what to say [https://img.wattpad.com/9f2aab54e3d503404594ebda9cd78be3e87dca85/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f716c564f366f7a4839536c2d63513d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339356630323434393032363930343234343234353733312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Lewis sighed again and stared at his glass for a moment, thinking about what to say.
«Remember Caroline?» he started before taking a sip of wine.
«Yeah, why?» Rick asked, sipping his drink and furrowing his brow at the same time.
«We were together for three years, and then I found out she was just using me,» Lewis continued, setting his glass down on the table.
«Using in what way?» Anthony asked as he closed the pizza box.
«When she realized I couldn't offer her anything new anymore, she ditched me for a businessman she met,» Lewis confessed, grimacing bitterly. «She might've even cheated on me.»
Rick looked down, absorbing his friend's words. His face grew serious as he searched for the right words to comfort Lewis.
«Damn, bro, I'm sorry,» he said, quickly putting his hands near his face before sighing and taking a moment. «But not all relationships are like that. There are good girls out there who are loyal,» he added while Robert leaned on the table, listening closely.
«Yeah, Lew, you can't let one bad experience mess up your view on relationships,» Robert said, trying to reinforce Rick's words.
«Exactly, maybe another trip would do you good,» Matt added, winking at Lewis.
Marijan leaned back in his chair and looked up at a big painting hanging in front of him. It was an 18th-century landscape depicting a river surrounded by hills.
It was an 18th-century landscape depicting a river surrounded by hills [https://img.wattpad.com/05c314ab17db9bded48581a242aeead46a419071/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4935793058757a4f4878683561513d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339363432396332363061653933303330373938363032332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Speaking of trips, guys, remember that vacation in Spain in 2015?» he asked, then broke his gaze from the painting [https://img.wattpad.com/4e914484bbe0820006a6c4c640987cd4baf5b78a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6746414d6b384431505551315a513d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830633930366163363261643862393332343538323136333735322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Speaking of trips, guys, remember that vacation in Spain in 2015?» he asked, then broke his gaze from the painting.
Matt relaxed a bit, letting out a light laugh.
«Of course,» Matt replied first as he eased back [https://img.wattpad.com/8a3a442e83dc3f70f8f0b4e76f375a25167e5974/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f39674a596e4257696b43397864513d3d2d313438373033353332332e313830636339366363323634336264353833333730393237333538332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Of course,» Matt replied first as he eased back. «Remember those croissant fights we had in the hotel room? We looked like a bunch of kids!» he added, grinning.
«And how could we forget Alfred's mess in front of the hotel receptionist?» Marijan added, shooting a glance at his red-haired friend, who couldn't help but smile at the memory. «You were practically naked when she opened the door!» he exclaimed, clutching his stomach from laughter.
Alfred burst out laughing too and covered his face with his hands, as if he wanted to hide from the embarrassment.
«Don't remind me!» he exclaimed between laughs, trying to escape the amused gazes of his friends, but eventually, he collapsed in his chair, giving in to the happiness of the moment.
«Haha, I bet she thought your flabby abs were hilarious,» Anthony teased, and Alfred kept laughing.
«Ay, I ain't that outta shape,» the redhead shot back, patting his stomach.
«And Matt, let's not forget when you were so hungry you grabbed that paella pan without thinking!» Robert recalled, running his hands through his hair. «We all thought you'd have blisters for weeks!»
«Yeah, yeah, haha, I remember that,» Matt replied, laughing with his hands over his mouth. «Totally worth it, though. That paella was incredible!» he added after regaining his composure.
«Ah, those were good times, right? We were carefree and living life to the fullest,» Alfred said, his face now flushed.
Matt and the others kept laughing as they talked about more experiences. Who would've ever thought their brotherhood would be put to the ultimate test in the future?