Page 53 of How to Hide Your Angel Kid

Ah yes, dramatic silence

Mav

We were in a no reception zone

Telos

He’s lying, we totally had reception. Someone secretly wants a dino bagggggg

Give Mav a bag too, Doc

Give him one with my face on it

Mav

I really hate you.

Galent and Pinks looked at each other.

“That... seems like a very volatile relationship,” Galent said carefully.

“I really hope it plays out like the movies,” Pinks said. “One of them almost dies and the other screams and cries, fearing for his life. Then they realize that they can’t live without each other and they run through the rain to kiss like star-crossed lovers.”

Galent laughed. “Is that how you think it’ll go?”

“Who knows? But I do know that everyone’s waiting for them to kiss. It’s killing me, and I haven’t even known them for that long. You should get in on the pool too while there’s time. Something might happen during the rescue.”

Galent raised an eyebrow, but he typed into his phone. “Did you join the pool?”

Pinks sagged. “I have no money. They let me put in three boxes of chocolate chip cookies and a can of sardines, though.”

The giant narrowed his eyes. “No one wanted to spot you a twenty?” Before Pinks could think of an answer, Galent puffed out his chest. “Actually, no. It’s better that way. I’ll add to the pool for both of us, under your name.”

Pinks’ eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Are you serious?”

“How else am I going to prove that I’m committed to you? Besides.” Galent grabbed his pants off the floor. He got out his wallet, and counted out a few hundred-dollar bills. “Here. So you can’t say you have no money.”

Pinks gaped. He gingerly took the crisp bills, bringing them closer for a sniff. They smelled new, too, like Galent had just gotten them fresh off the printing machine. “You didn’t print these, did you?”

Galent snorted. “No, the bank has nice notes if you ask.”

“I’ve never even held this much money in my life.” It was a bit overwhelming, to be honest. “Don’t you need it?”

Galent shrugged. He didn’t even look worried about parting with that much money. “I don’t need it. And I suspect you’d feel more comfortable having a bit of spending power.”

Pinks gulped, his throat tight. “Thank you.”

“I want to prove that I can provide for you. This is just part of it.” Galent wrapped his arm around Pinks, pressing a kiss to his temple.

Pinks left the bed to carefully tuck his money into a rolled up sock. What would he even buy first? Things for Zarrie, probably. All the things he wished he could lavish on her, but never got to. And maybe he would get a set of nice clothes for himself, a stack of pretty paper he could fold into origami animals.

He returned to Galent and rubbed his stomach. It had been growing increasingly warm. “My stomach feels weird.”

“Yeah? How so?” Galent turned toward him, covering Pinks’ stomach with his large hand.

“It’s like... I need to burp.” Pinks straightened to try and relieve the pressure.

He burped.

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