“They’re being sketch as fuck,” X tells me, glancing over. His eyes run down the black pullover sweater I’m wearing. It has a PlayStation controller on it, and it’s super comfy, but it does ride up a lot, baring my lower belly. That’s where his gaze comes to rest, right on my navel piercings. With great effort, he tears his gaze away and refocuses on my face.
Chasm makes a low, growly sort of sound, but Maxx ignores him.
I can’t bear to do that, glancing up at him only to find him glaring daggers at his friend.
“There’s something going on with them; I told you what I knew this morning. Well, guess what? They’re making me attend the launch party for Milk Carton, too. Also, they’re staying in Seamus’ cabin. And, as Chas so eloquently put it, Seamus is licking Justin’s butthole.” X exhales sharply, seemingly unaware that Chasm is glaring at him. That, or he just doesn’t care. That’s just as likely a possibility. “I didn’t think to mention this before, but when Maxine broke up with me, they pushed me to get back together with her.”
“What on earth would that serve?” Chas wonders, that hyper-intelligent mind of his ticking away. “That’s just plain weird.”
“I thought they were just, I don’t know, enamored with her or something. But after everything that’s happened? It seems fishy as hell.”
“So … all of our parents are in on this?” I ask, cringing slightly. “I mean, in some capacity. I’m guessing mine is the only one who kills people.”
We all go silent for a minute there, and I don’t much enjoy the implications of that silence.
“Tell us what happened today,” Chasm says finally, leaning his shoulder against the wooden post of my bed, arms crossed over his chest.
I nod, closing my eyes for a minute. I’m so damn tired. Like, bone-deep exhausted. Not only have I barely slept since Parrish went missing, but I’ve been through a lot. With Chasm. With my sister. With X. With Justin.
I could sleep for a century.
In as detailed a manner as I can handle, I relive every aspect of my day with Justin.
When I’m done, I open my eyes to find both boys lost in their own contemplations.
“I still can’t believe that you offered to give up your entire life,” Chasm says, and the tone of his voice, it’s almost accusatory. My cheeks flush, and I feel myself getting angry all over again.
“I’m in love with Parrish; I’ll do anything for him.”
The words come out before I can stop them, and both Chasm and Maxx stiffen up. It gets real awkward in that room, real fast.
“Do we want to talk about the fact that Kota and I had sex last night?” X offers up, and I give him a horrified look. “We can’t just pretend it didn’t happen.” He pauses and closes his eyes for a moment, sliding his hand over his face. “Let me rephrase that: I am having trouble pretending that it didn’t happen.”
“You’re having trouble how?” Chasm asks, frowning hard. “What’s the problem? The Slayer has our friend hostage. Sex with another friend to save his life is a shitty thing to demand, but it could be a hell of a lot worse.”
Mm. I almost forgot about Justin’s parting shot.
I reach up to scratch the side of my nose.
“On my way out of the car, after he told me about Martina Cortez, he flat-out said that he’s planning on having me kill people. So, yeah. You guys were right about that.”
“You just now remembered that your dad told you to kill people?” Chasm hisses at me, and I glance away, toward the door. With a huff, he storms over to open it, checking the hall again. There’s nobody there. He slams it shut and turns around, crossing his arms with a huff. He mutters in Korean and Maxx sighs, responding in turn.
They then proceed to have an entire fucking conversation that I can’t understand.
“You guys better not be talking about me,” I snap, and Chas gives me a look.
“We are,” he admits, and I curl my lip at him.
“Then teach me,” I growl out, and his pretty mouth curves up a bit in a smile.
“I did teach you, naekkeo.” He moves over to me and squats down in front of me, putting a hand on my knee. “Saranghae.”
My cheeks—and yes, we know, my tits also—flush bright red.
Relief floods me in a relentless wave, and I end up throwing my arms around his neck and squeezing him so tightly that his resulting chuckle turns into a grunt.
“I don’t remember how to say it, so … good night?” I whisper, and Chasm laughs again, pulling back slightly. Then we’re just staring at each other and he’s lunging forward, pressing his hot mouth against mine and making my toes curl.
