Page 262 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Me? No, I have four boyfriends. They’re hot, but a handful. Don’t need any more.”
“Four?! We have to talk about this, but first what’s the deal with the girl?”
“I was thinking of setting her up with Smalls.”
“Jason? It would make it hard for sixty niners though.”
I snort. This chick really just says the first thing that comes to mind. The bartender slides a tray towards Bex and she passes the cash to him.
“Keep the change, Nick.”
“I kind of thought that you and Jason were a thing. He always talks about you. I’ve been curious to meet you. He holds you on this pedestal, and I reckon it will be pretty impossible for anyone to measure up to that.”
“We’ve sorted it out, we’re both moving on,” I say dismissively. I like Bex, but I don’t want to get into that wholemess with her. My relationship with Smalls is complicated enough without spilling my secrets to a virtual stranger.
We reach the table and Bex introduces herself to Crystal and takes a seat after letting me slide in ahead of her.
“So, did Amelie tell you she has four boyfriends?” Bex announces to the table. Crystal’s mouth makes an O shape and Katie looks indifferent; clearly she already knows, someone has filled her in. Probably Smalls. I wonder how that conversation went down.
‘Bad things’ by Camila Cabello and MGK catches Bex’s attention, taking the focus off me and my four boyfriends.
“Fuck, I love MGK. He is so damn hot. He kinda reminds me of your brother.”
“My brother?” I scoff. “They look nothing alike.”
“I mean, if he dyed his hair and lost the baby fat on his face,” she jokes. Aadi has a square jaw, whereas MGK doesn’t.
“Can we go back to the four boyfriends?” Crystal asks. “Who and how does that work? That blonde hottie is fine as hell and now you’re telling me there are three more?”
“Yep. They’re all sorta adopted brothers. Though two of them are actual brothers. Twins actually,” I reply happily.
“Ohmygod!” Crystal’s eyes are like saucers at my declaration.
“Did you have a twin sandwich yet?” Bex asks. I can’t keep the grin from my face. “Have you done it with all four of them? You know, at the same time?”
“Wouldn’t that be weird?” I counter, frowning. I mean, it’s not like I’veneverthought about it, but only in a passing fantasy kind of way.
“Fuck no!” Bex exclaims. “You have to do it!”
We spend the next few hours dancing, drinking and talking – mainly about my guys – and I run them through everything, minus The Order of the Sneezes. I also try to drop as many hints as I can to Katie about Smalls, but she acts as if she doesn’t knowwhat I’m talking about. I still see the slight blush every time I mention him though. Bex manages to talk about Aadiwaymore than someone should when they allegedly hate them.
By the time one in the morning rolls around we’re all extremely drunk. When Crystal vomits on the dance floor we decided to call it a night. How she still managed to pick up and leave with a guy after that blows my mind.
Bex, Katie and I walk to the taxi rank. Usually they all line up here but tonight there’s some event happening so the last taxi left already. We debate waiting.
“Walking would be faster,” Katie points out.
“No way,” I slur. ‘If I walk anywhere alone, I’ll be murdered. My brother isn’t exactly a nice guy when it comes to my safety and the guys…” Talking of the guys, I get a brain fart. I have security. Surely they have to be around here somewhere?
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” I yell in my drunken state.
“Who are you yelling at?” Bex demands. “You’ll attract the crazy people.”
“Sheisthe crazy people!” Katie adds with a giggle.
“I know you’re there! I will strip off naked and walk home. While I make a phone call to Baxter. I’m calling now.” I mention Baxter because if these guys work for The Order, then Baxter is the name to drop.
A tall man slips out of the shadows holding a walkie talkie.
