Page 33 of Ruthless Court

I begin unpacking the books from my carry-on.

Piper looks over her shoulder.

“You’re not coming?”

“To the window?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve seen shirtless men before.”

“Not these men.”

“They usually have the same basic parts.”

Jules laughs.

Kenzie turns around slowly. “Are you gay?”

The room goes quiet.

Piper winces. “Kenzie.”

“What? I’m asking. She doesn’t care about athletes, she has the whole librarian thing going, and she brought twelve books in her carry-on.”

“Fourteen,” I correct.

Kenzie gestures toward me. “See?”

I take another book from my bag.

“No, I’m not gay.”

“Then what’s your type?”

“Quiet.”

Piper drops onto her bed. “Quiet isn’t a type.”

“It should be.”

“What do you identify as?” Kenzie asks. “A book-nerd wannabe lover?”

I look at the paperback in my hand.

“I’m attracted to books and trees.”

Jules blinks. “Trees?”

“They make paper.”

Piper laughs so hard she falls sideways against her pillows.

Kenzie stares at me for two seconds, then starts laughing too.

“You’re weird.”

“I was told that possibility had been avoided.”