Page 53 of Pet Project

Owner somehow snuck up behind me and is watching the show in front of us. “Do you know how Sid and Eric might know each other?”

Leaning back, I whisper in his ear my theory that the new guy, Sid, is likely one of Eric’s former fucks based on the fact that he called him by another name. Eric never gave his real name out to anyone he was with. Usually, he told them his name was Alan, as a way to get them to scream his homophobic father’s name out during butt sex.

“That can’t be,” Don whispers back in my ear whileEric shakes his head at whatever Sid is saying. I can’t really read the situation, but Eric hands the guy a business card before running out of the shop. Watching Sid pocket the card and return behind the counter to prep for the lunch rush, I turn to face Donnie and ask why he thinks that.

“He can’t be a former lover for a couple reasons.” He pulls me down on his lap at our hidden table in the corner. “First of all, Sid is from South Dakota and has only been in town for the last couple of months. You and I both know that there is absolutely zero chance that Eric has been with anyone else since he and his Mattie reconnected back in the spring.

“Secondly, Sid is only nineteen. He falls into the ‘ick factor’ as our favorite brat calls it. You know Eric gets skeeved out by thinking of anyone under twenty one having sex with someone older.”

I let out a giggle that would make Lucky proud and can’t seem to stop. Owner is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind, which of course only makes me laugh harder. It takes me for-fucking-ever to get under control, but somehow I manage it just as the rush finally starts to trickle in.

“Do I get to find out what’s so funny before I have to go un-zombify the student population for the afternoon?”

I press a kiss to his cheek and push him toward the counter. I watch for a few minutes while he starts doing all the fancy barista shit before I walk up to the pick up area, snagging my regrettably decaf spiced apple latte.Owner doesn’t like me having caffeine between ten in the morning and three in the afternoon.

“See you at home after class?” he calls out in between orders as I gather up my stuff to head to my afternoon class. I nod and head toward the door. Halfway there, I turn and run back up to the counter to lean over to tell him what I forgot to say.

“By the way, I just turned twenty one at the end of August.”

The clang of the metal cup hitting the tile and the hissing of the steamer wand precede the laughter of the entire shop when Donnie’s ears turn bright red and I race out of there, cackling like a loon.

63

SHILOH

“Why the hell is the black man the skeleton?”

Eric taps my nose with his pinky and resumes painting my face for the Kink Manor Halloween party. I’m glad he knows I’m only messing with him. Out of the three different parties he has had to plan for the holiday, this is the one I was looking forward to the most.

“Hush up, Kitty-cat. You know Brook is your favorite Straw Hat,” he tells me as he sponges more white makeup onto my face. “Plus, you have the natural afro so I didn’t have to borrow one from Malcolm. That queen is way too stingy with his wigs.”

I chuckle and reach up to feel the poof-ball that my natural hair reverts back to whenever I remove the braids. As soon as Donnie told me what the theme was for the party tonight, I rescheduled my appointment with Tara for getting my braids redone until after Halloween. She surprised me bynotcharging me extrafor the schedule adjustment, but demanded photos once she heard what my costume was going to be.

Toby bounces into the room, and I have to laugh. I never would have put our precocious pup as the pervy chef, but oddly it fits. Not only does the blond hair and bubble but match perfectly, but unbeknownst to the rest of the guys, Toby’s culinary skills are damn near divine. He’s set to graduate from his program next week, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. I don’t know why he is still afraid to tell the rest of our family about culinary school, but I’m leaving the decision up to him.

“Only way you’d be more perfect for your character is if he liked taking a dick up his ass,” I tell him when he sneaks in to give me a kiss when Eric steps out to grab another piece for my costume. “I hope our owner remembered to plug you good for later tonight cuz I really want to know what panties my pup is wearing.”

A choking laugh comes from the doorway and I see Spencer shaking his head next to a guy I’ve never seen before.

“Daddy! I want to show Stan my playroom!” Lucky shouts from the top of the stairs leading to the top floor that he shares with Spencer. “You said I could show him when he got here and now he’s here!”

The man who is standing with Spencer turns an interesting shade of red and makes that choking sound again before Daddy Spence smacks him on the back with a smile.

“Regretting it yet?” he asks the man who shakes hishead and returns the smile. Spencer looks at us before talking again.

“Shy, Tobe, this is Stanley Sinclair. He’ll be moving in after Christmas since he managed to snag a decent job in town, but his mother is terrified of him living alone.”

Stan throws an elbow into Spencer before facing us. “Call me Stan. After spending a month with this asshole traipsing all over Australia, I couldn’t resist the lure of moving here and meeting all of the people featured in his tales from home. When he told me there was a vacant room in the house, I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity. I’m just glad that there are more than just overbearing assholes like this guy living here.”

Spencer puts him in a headlock in response and pulls him out into the hallway, both of them laughing the entire time. Eric scoffs and shakes his head when he passes them to come back and finish my makeup. Spence pushes his friend up the steps to his floor before coming back to the doorway.

“I wanted to show him the room he’s gonna be moving into so he knows what to bring as far as furniture and stuff. Anything else you’re taking beyond the vanity, E?”

Eric shakes his head and Spencer knocks twice on the doorframe in acknowledgement before racing up the stairs.

Neither Toby nor I will ever say a word about the tears that start to fall from his eyes as he continues to turn me into a living skeleton rock star for the party tonight.

64

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