Sage baulks, mouth opening and closing, fumbling for words.
“Yes, Sage, how long have we beentogether?” Cameron asks.
“We are not, I mean, yes, kinda—no, but it’s complicated,” they stutter, cheeks turning two shades darker.
Jahmar releases a boisterous laugh, and Cameron beams. He’s definitely holding onto that yes that was hidden in there somewhere.
“You’re together,” I deadpan.
“No, we’re not! You’ve never even seen us kiss.”
Sage wiggles out of Cameron’s hold and stomps across the room, flopping onto the cosy armchair by the bay window.
“Wanna bet?” I say under my breath, sharing a knowing look with Jahmar.
“What was that look for, you little weasel?” Sage bites.
I shuffle to a sitting position, and Jahmar huffs at me for ruining his human pillow.
“You heard.” I grin at them conspiratorially.
“I’m confused,” Cameron says, scratching his head like the dummy he is.
“In the pool.”
“Oh, do you still have a recording of it? I’ve gotta see that. Sounds hot,” Jahmar adds.
I slam my hand over his mouth and scowl at him. My friends are not yet privy to my perverted ways.
“Hold on a fucking minute, what do you mean? Do you have a recording!?”
Jahmar pulls my hand away from his mouth. “Anders is a peeping Tom,” he rushes out.
“Dickhead!” I hit him in the chest with the back of my hand.
“Sorry, what!?” Sage stands up like they’re about to flip a table.
Cameron steals the armchair and drags Sage onto his lap, wrapping his arms around them to stop them from scratching my eyeballs out.
“You better start talking, Goldilocks.”
“Oh damn, why didn’t I think of that as a nickname for you?” Jahmar teases, running those big paws through my hair. I swat him away.
“I bet Emeralds has security cameras,” Cameron assumes.
Sage digs an elbow into his stomach. “You said there weren’t any. I thought you checked.”
“I did, baby.”
Oh dear god, they’re nicknaming each other already. I had no idea how much their little ‘thing’ had progressed.
“They’re so cute,” Jahmar whispers as they bicker between themselves.
They’re cute, I guess, in a demonic kind of way.
“Surely, there should be a sign or something telling people they’re being recorded in the fucking swimming pool,” Sage grumbles. “That’s got to be illegal, recording people half naked without their consent.”
“Well, not if you’re into it,” Jahmar murmurs, making a blush tingle across my cheeks.