Page 88 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

Unless, of course, I am.

By the time I’ve put together an assortment of snacks, the smoothie, and the protein shake, I’m very glad to discover that Alexios has set upSuper Smash Bros. Brawl. It’s been a while since I’ve gone through the story mode, and I am also absolutely ready to hit something.

Snuggling up on one corner of the couch, I set the snack tray on the coffee table and reach for the free controller. “Classic pick. Almost makes me respect you.”

Alexios arches a brow, eyeing me throughout the entire game set up.

Then he beats me in the opening round.

“I despise you,” I snap.

Smirking, Alexios sips hisunadulteratedprotein shake. I should have added so much broccoli to it.

“Howdid you even know the controls?” I demand.

“I memorized them. There aren’t that many buttons.”

“It takesyearsto work up the dexterity and hand-eye coordination.Years.”

Alexios lets his eyes close, immaculately pleased with himself. “Sounds like a skill issue.”

I am going to kill him. In real life. Justpunthim right out of view until he’s a sparkling star in the distance.

While I’m glaring needles into him, he cracks an eyelid, peers at me, then peers at the comfortable two feet of space on the couch between us. “Snowflake, I can’t help but notice we’re not doing muchcuddling. Wasn’tcuddling spitefullyin your plans earlier?”

“How am I supposed to plot your murder if we’re cuddling?”

Setting his shake down beside my snack tray, he scoots in, wraps his arm around my shoulders, and rests his cheek against my hair.

I shudder, but the visceral revolt remains graciously absent. “How are you supposed to play without both hands?”

“I don’t know. Maybe if I give myself this handicap, you’ll stand a chance.” He shifts his cursor above the character heads on the pause screen. “Are you ready? Or are you scared it’ll be even more embarrassing for you to lose like this?”

My lip curls. “We’re not fightingeach otherthis time. Now, we’re battling a common enemy.”

Pouting he unwinds. “Well, what if you sit on my lap?”

“The way I would snap your skinny thighs like twigs if I dared to so much as attempt to sit on you…”

“I’m sturdy.”

I give him a once over, and while I can admit he has broad shoulders and muscular arms, I’m still certain I’m nearing twice his weight. He is tall and slender. I’m a curvaceous queen. “You could cosplay Jack Skellington without much fuss. Probably wouldn’t even need makeup, given your naturally ghost-pale complexion.” I poke him in the cheek.

Heregardsme with all the haughtiness such a word implies. “I don’t know who that is.”

“How come you only have bits and pieces of Alana’s knowledge rattling around inside you? Remembering the Japanese forI love youbut not the Tim Burton movies I know she’s seen is a bit weird.”

“People don’t pick and choose their generational trauma. Some things stick; others don’t.”

I select my characters on the game and oblige to toss my foot up over Alexios’s lap. “Weird of you to call these sorts of thingsgenerational trauma, but okay.”

He stares down at my foot, confirms his characters, and relaxes back as the swarm of enemy Primids attack. “So,” he begins, “what exactly is going on in this game?”

“We were doing a friendly battle for the princesses, Peach and Zelda, now we’re under mysterious attack. Don’t think too much about it. It’s a crazy mash up that feels like a Wattpad fanfiction. I’d addon steroidsto my description, but. Wattpad fanfiction. The drugs that stuff is on already are harder than steroids.”

“Care to know something crazy?” he murmurs.

“Always.”

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