Page 311 of Vile Boys

“True,” Nathan says, taking a sip. “But I never expected you to succumb to the power of pussy.”

“Takes one to know one.” I wink.

He shoves me. “Always the fucking know-it-all.”

“Hey, I’m just saying, maybe we’re not so different after all.”

“Just say you miss me,” he retorts.

I tilt my head and pout. “Fine. I miss you. Can we be friends again?” When he narrows his eyes, I add, “Please?”

He sighs out loud. “Fine.”

I throw my arms around him. “Thank fuck.”

“Watch it!” Nathan yells. “Almost spilled my coffee on my lap.”

“Like pain ever stops you,” I retort.

“True.” He snorts. “But I’m normally the one dishing it out, not receiving it.”

“Maybe that’s why we weren’t a good match after all,” I say, winking.

“What are you guys talking about?” Crystal says as she sits down beside Nathan.

“Oh, nothing, just two bros hanging out,” I muse.

Until I feel a familiar set of hands squeezing my shoulders, making my whole body turn to mush. “A bro that happens to be your ex?” Ares mutters.

“I’m taken. I’m taken,” Nathan says, hovering off his stool like a bug scared to be squashed.

Crystal snorts from her seat. “I missed this. I missed when we were all just … happy.”

I look at her and feel my heart swell with the need to smile.

I haven’t smiled in such a goddamn long time.

But after losing my mother, Crystal’s the only one who’s managed to bring that smile back to my face. And even now, when I lean in to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the blush on her cheeks makes me feel like the world might not end today. Or ever, as long as I have these two with me.

Crystal

“Happy? Those two?”Blaine interjects as he places his hot cocoa on the bar and sits beside me. “Darling, those two don’t know the meaning of that word.”

Ares shoves him, nearly making him spill his hot cocoa.

“Hey! These are Ralph Laurens, can you not?” Blaine scoffs.

Ares raises a brow. “Watch your tongue, or I’ll force it down his ass next time we have play time.”

Blaine grins with slyness and giggles. “Well, that’s one way to get me to never shut up.”

“Well, you all seem to get along nicely,” Penelope muses, throwing her arms around my neck. “The game’s about to start. Are you coming?”

I look over at the gang. Lana, Felix, Kai, Milo, Dylan, Nathan, and Alistair are all sitting in a circle in front of the fireplace of the cabin we rented while Felix sorts the cards.

“Pass,” Blaine mutters. Everyone looks at him. “What? Games are not my thing.”

“What is your thing exactly?” Penelope asks him.

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