Page 22 of Caught Stealing

Crossing my arms, I lean back on the couch. “Pretty sure they don’t let you into the movies wearing only a glove there, Sykes.”

Another bright smile is aimed at me before he looks over at Kason. “Oh, it’s okay. I don’t mind ordering in and watching something here instead, as long as that sounds okay to you?”

Absolutely the fuck not.

I cock my head, eyes darting between the two of them. “Doesn’t sound like much of a date to me.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Kason says, cutting into the conversation. His eyes stay locked on Holden’s face as his own finally returns to a normal pigment. “I don’t want to ruin the plans you made. Plus, you already got the movie tickets, right?”

God,this is ridiculous. I can’t explain how much I wish he’d see through Holden’s shit right now and end whatever this weird dynamic is between them.

But of course, he goes playing right into his hand instead.

“Nah, it’s fine. I honestly don’t mind.” Holden’s attention shifts to me. “Phoenix can join us even. The more, the merrier, as the saying goes.”

A smile sits on his lips, and I can hear the unspoken words swirling in his eyes.

So you can witness the entire thing.

Well played, Sykes. Well fucking played.

“He needs to study, and I don’t want you to be out cash by us not going.” Kason glances over at me, then to Holden, before finally ending on me. “Phoe, you’re about the same size. Holden can just borrow—”

“Oh, fuck no,” I say at the same time as Holden says, “Works for me.”

I shoot him a death glare, but he just smiles—bright, shiny, and unbothered.

It’s infuriating.

“C’mon, man,” Kason says, a plea in his eyes. “I know you’re pissed about me canceling on you, but will you just do me this solid?”

At this point, what else can I do? Being petty out of spite only turns this around on me, once again making me the asshole best friend who can’t be supportive. A role playing right into Holden’s favor.

So I reluctantly nod toward my bedroom before speaking through gritted teeth.

“The door on the left.”

“Thanks, Nix,” Holden says, going as far as patting me on the shoulder when he passes by. “You’re really a lifesaver.”

“I’m about to be a life-ender if you touch me again,” I mutter low enough for only his ears.

The threat misses the mark, though, and Holden just keeps on smiling. “I’ll be out in a bit.”

I shove my irritability under lock and key while Kason babbles on about hazing and stupid pranks, not paying attention enough to give away my involvement. Kason figuring out I was the one who did it is sure to only backfire on this entire plan more than it already has.

True to his word, Holden emerges from my room five minutes later.

Wearing…his clothes.

The clothes I had kept in his duffle, stashing the whole raid so far back in my closet, he had to dig and root around to find it.

Blood pools on my tongue, the coppery taste filling my mouth as I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming. Because…fuck! I’ve never met another human being who can fall into a pile of shit and still come out smelling like a damn rose garden.

Kason comes up beside me, and I glance over to find a smile on his face as he looks at Holden.

“Knew you two would be a similar size.” His eyes shift from Holden to me. “Though, I’ve never seen you wear that before. Is it new?”

“Yeah,” I say through gritted teeth. “I was saving it for something special.”

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