Page 20 of Why Cheese?
The picture only raises questions, but I can ask them about it later. Tonight. When they go back to being imposing, goofy, sweet, and teasingly handsome men.
No one’s going to believe this.I reach for my phone to take a picture of the list in case I lose it when I remember. Wincing at my stupid outburst last night, I scoop up the remains of both my only freedom and eternal tether. It’s the only piece of trash they didn’t touch last night.
Okay, first I get a new phone, then I figure out where to find fifty pounds of sheep’s milk.
I’ve got this!
Standing in the center of the room flanked by bags and boxes delivered from across the city, I focus on my new phone. I need to be prepared for rain. Another big storm might blow out the power and spoil all of this food.
I’m not waiting for four cheeses to turn into men because that’s crazy, and I’m not cra—
Streetlights kick on behind me, my shadow stretching into the store. One by one, the cheeses on the counter start to rock. The camembert and brie slowly bob back and forth while the cheddar violently twists in place.
Surely nothing bad can happen to…
“Oh no!” I cry out as the brick of cheddar careens right off of the counter. A loud plop echoes as it hits the floor.
“Woo!” Cheddy shouts, popping up naked. As he’s standing behind the counter, the glass highlights and zooms in on his entire lower half. Soft lights gleam off of his cock like it’s a diamond in a jewelry store.
Trying to shield and stop myself from looking, I turn away, but whisper, “Five-second rule.”
“This is unexpected,” Cam says. He and Brie stand on the counter peering down at Cheddy who shakes his head like he shotgunned a bottle of vodka.
“Well, well…” Cam’s deadly cheekbones suck me in as he smiles in my direction. Placing a hand on his hip, he curls his other palm toward me. “The lady has returned to us.” Without a care, he leaps to the floor landing like a cat. “I assume you are to thank for our lofty position.”
“I was on the floor,” Cheddy says.
“I, uh, I put all three of you up there, but you sort of rolled off.”
“Do not fret, my dear. His enthusiasm is as contagious as consumption. And twice as deadly.”
Cheddy laughs at that, then he takes Brie’s hand, helping him off of the counter.Okay, don’t put them up. Got it.
I’m so focused on the two of them, I don’t notice that Cam’s draped an arm over my shoulder until he nearly brushes his cheek against the side of my head. “I...I don’t know where Roq is,” I say.
Cam’s smile wanes. “He’s never far. Unfortunately. I see you’ve brought us supplies. You’re fantastic.” His lips just about but don’t caress my cheek. I clench my toes, anticipating a kiss that doesn’t come.
“Bro, don’t you need your clothes?” Cheddy asks.
With a dangerous leer, Cam turns to me. “Do I?”
My mouth drops at the idea of Cam thinking that I’d…or he’d even… It’s silly. I dig my nails into my thigh to keep from staring at his crotch.
Don’t think about cheese logs. Or nuts. Or throbbing veins pulsing inside of soft, pale flesh.
“Yes, Chedward. Hand me my togs.” Pants and a vest strike Cam’s head. “Thank you,” he mumbles from below his wardrobe.
“I’m so hungry I could eat a hunk of me,” Cheddy says. He tugs up his suspenders, then snaps them against his chest. I wince, but he doesn’t even flinch.
Whoa. It must have been too dark to notice last night, but his shirt is tight. Painted-on tight. I can make out the veins in his biceps under the nearly transparent material.
He peers at me with his golden honey eyes. “Did you bring us a delicious feast?”
“Uh, I think so. Doordash. I couldn’t find a French restaurant, so I got pasta, burgers, just a little bit of everything.”
Cheddy dives into a box. At first, he tosses aside the nails and tools Roq asked for, sniffs a can of paint, then he spots the bags. “Oh.” He cracks open one of the baked pasta dishes and breathes in the steam. “I call dibs!”
“What about…?” Brie approaches from behind. He keeps tugging on his collar to get it to lay low but it refuses to fold.
