Page 50 of Love Notes and Late Nights
“Wait,” Ethan said. “What are you bartering?”
Wolf looked Harris up and down, a playful sparkle in his eyes and that cute little smile on his lips, and Harris felt heat flush up his neck.
Is that all it took for him to blush like a teenager? Apparently so.
“I’m cold,” Wolf said. “How about you give me that blanket and I’ll give you a pass?”
“I’m sure there’s another—” Ethan began, but Tyler shushed him, paying close attention to the conversation between Harris and Wolf.
“This blanket?” Harris held up the corner.
“Yeah,” Wolf answered. “That blanket.”
“Myblanket?”
“Yeah. Your blanket. That’s the idea. You give me that blanket, and I’ll give you a pass on the rent. But the catch is you can’t get another blanket.”
“But it’s cold.”
“That’s the point. I’m giving up a ton of cash. You gotta give up something too. Your comfort.”
Harris grunted. “Thanks a lot. Here.” He tossed the blanket into Wolf’s lap.
“Wait.” Tyler held up his hand. “We didn’t vote. Everyone in favor of the trade raise your hand.
One by one everyone lifted their hands.
Tyler made a show of counting each one as if we couldn’t see that all hands were in the air, and then took it a step further by asking, “All opposed?” He looked around the table. “Then it’s settled. The trade is approved.”
As Wolf snuggled into the oversized blanket and brought it up to his chin with a greedy smile on his lips, Ethan asked Tyler, “Was that necessary?”
“The vote? Of course. Majority rules.”
“No, I meant, did you have to ask who opposed when everyone already voted yes?”
Tyler smiled and shook his head, then took Ethan’s chin in his hand. “You’re so pretty.”
Marshall was the first one to burst out laughing, then everyone else joined in, causing Ethan to scowl. “Shut up, you guys.”
“The reason he asked who was opposed,” Harris explained, is because sometimes people can’t decide and vote both ways.”
“That’s not allowed,” Ethan said.
“Neither is bartering.”
Ethan huffed. “You guys just make this stuff up.”
As the game progressed, goosebumps rose on Harris’ arms. “Is it getting colder in here?”
“I’m good,” Ethan said. “But I’m wearing a hoodie.
“I’m used to the cold,” Tyler replied. “I’m from the East Coast. One time, I had to walk through two feet of snow in Long Island when the temperature was in the teens to get to the train station.”
“You know I’m not cold.” Marshall smiled and pulled Amy in for a side hug. “And I’m keeping her warm.”
“I got this nice warm blanket, so I’m nice and toasty,” Wolf teased, snuggling into it.
Harris hugged himself and shuddered, making a point to look at Wolf and glance down at the blanket.
