Page 15 of Angel

Teddy Bear

Hey, how you doing?

I swipe at the notification and my phone unlocks to the messaging app. There’s the single message I sent myself last week at my dad’s birthday party. Then the one from him just now. That’s it. No follow-up text. No bouncing dots teasing at more. Just “Hey, how you doing?”

God, that’s such a straight dudebro thing to do. Coming from anyone else, I’d roll my eyes and drop my phone back on the table—it’s not worthy of an immediate response.

But Angel is different. He’s…

There’s an audible gasp from across the table. “Aw, look at that smile!”

I slap my phone against my chest to hide the screen, then scrunch my face into a scowl.

Sebastian’s grinning like I’m his kid and he’s a proud mama on prom night. Hayden’s wearing an equally enamored expression, and Noel’s smirk is almost endearing.

I try to maintain my scowl, but it’s no use. Angel is too cute to resist. I huff, setting my phone face down on the table with a little more force than necessary. “Ugh, shut up!” I whine.

Noel shakes his head like I’m being ridiculous.

“Aren’t you going to reply?” Sebastian asks, eyes glued to the pink and purple cover on my phone. “He asked how you’re doing.”

“You can’t just leave him on read,” Hayden adds.

“I’m not! I’m just…” I scramble for an excuse. “Don’t you know it’s rude to text while at the table?”

“Since when has that ever stopped you?” Noel snorts.

I throw him a glare that actually has a bit of heat behind it, but that only makes Noel smirk.

“You should respond.” Sebastian waves at my phone. “See what he wants.”

I slap my hand on top of my phone, in case any of the boys try to steal it again. “He’s just saying hello.”

“Or he might want to know more about performing,” Sebastian shoots back.

“Why the hell would he want to do that?”

“Because he’s already asked you once. Maybe he has more questions.”

“You did offer to put him in touch with Sebastian,” Hayden jumps in. Totally unhelpful.

Sebastian sits up a little straighter, his eyes widening in victory. “You did? That’s amazing! I’d love to chat with Angel Teddy Bear about doing gay porn.”

I glower at Hayden—whose side is he on, anyway?

He shrugs. “You won’t know until you talk to him.”

I heave a sigh. “I hate all of you.”

Sebastian and Hayden beam at me. Noel dips his head sideways in indifference.

Fuck.

I pick up my phone and stare at that simple four-word message again.

Teddy Bear

Hey, how you doing?

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