Page 96 of Gratification in Gluttony

“That you walk with Rusty?” Toni asked, and Gem shrugged.

“I mean, not always walk, but we hang out sometimes.”

Toni propped himself on his elbow and scowled down at Gem. “Why? He’s the worst.”

Gem rolled several eyes. “He is not.”

“Yes, Gem, he is,” Toni insisted. “He’s a grumpy, entitled, punk-ass little bitch.”

“Wow, tell me how you really feel,” Gem said sarcastically.

“No, I just mean—he’s a—he’s so… Why are you hanging out with him?”

“Because we’re friends,” Gem said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Toni shook his head. “No.”

Gem’s brows furrowed. “I’m sorry?No?”

“No. That just don’t make sense. Rusty is the worst. You’re the best. So you being friends is a no for me.”

“Good thing you can’t dictate who I’m friends with,” Gem retorted, tone cooling. “I know that you and him have had a weird vibe ever since he started at the cafe, but—”

“He’s a punk, Gem.”

“Oh my gods, he’s mellowed out so much.”

Mellowed out? Were they even talking about the same person here?

“He was a punk then, and he’s a punk now!”

“Of course he was a punk then,” Gem said. “He was nineteen. We’re all punks at nineteen.”

“But he—”

Holding up a hand, Gem said, “Stop it! Whatever issue you have with him, get over it. We’ve worked together for years, andhe’s honestly kind of nice.” He paused, then backtracked. “You know, deep down inside.”

Toni barely held back a gag. “Why are you getting deep down inside him, Gemae?”

“Ugh, I knew you’d be like this,” Gem rubbed between his biggest eyes. “Listen, we’re just friends. We smoke weed together sometimes and watch anime. And yeah, sometimes, we go on walks. It’s not that deep.”

“Stop using the worddeepwhen you talk about him. It’s triggering something inside me, and it’s very unpleasant,” Toni said.

With a shake of his head, Gem fell back onto the bed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Whatever. I’m allowed to be friends with Rusty if I want. He’s not that bad if you give him a chance.”

“It’s like you’re speaking another language,” Toni grumbled as he settled back in, resting his head on Gem’s shoulder. “I don’t see how that kid can be nice, whether it’s deep or not.”

“Kid?” Out of everything Toni had said, this garnered the worst reaction. “He’s not a kid, Toni! What the fuck?”

“He’ll always be that nineteen-year-old little prick.”

“That’s so unfair,” Gem said, smacking Toni in the forehead. “People are allowed to grow and change. And don’t call him a kid. That’s just creepy.”

Gem shuddered, and Toni pouted as he rubbed at his smarting forehead. “Whatever. I guess have fun being friends with a grouchy, little asshole.”

“Hmm, I thought you’d be mature about this.” Gem rolled over, giving Toni his back.

“Don’t be like that, Gemmy.” Toni spooned him, tightening his arm around Gem’s waist. “I just don’t get why you’d wanna hang out with him.”

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