Page 35 of Fractured Souls
Or at least, I will be. I have to be.
“Well, give me your number because Cam is going to have to make room. I’ll fight him for his spot, I swear, just give me the word. I’ll start at his knees and work my way up.”
I laugh, taking Noah’s phone and putting my number in, then I look at the photo of Jamie hugging a stuffed fox in his grip like it’s his only lifeline here on earth. He’s not wearing a shirt, and I can see the shadow of scars along his chest. A black snake is tattooed along the arm holding the plushie, with pink and red cherry blossoms weaving throughout.
Noah gently takes his phone back, looking at the photo. “That sexy fucker.” He shakes his head then shuts his phone off. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay for a bit?”
“I’m okay. Let me take you back after you eat.” I search through my dresser, finding a pair of pants and pulling them on. Noah’s wearing my hoodie, so I go to my closet and find Cam’s old high school basketball hoodie and pull it on. He outgrew it a long time ago, but I still wear it. It’s worn and soft.
And yeah, somehow still smells like him.
When we walk into the living room, Cam’s busy moving around the kitchen, and I can smell what he’s cooking . . . and I’m right. A moment later I see his famous—in his opinion—jalapeño popper muffins. “Ugh, those smell so good!” Noah hops up on one of my bar stools, and Cam’s eyes flick to my hoodie that he’s wearing, then passes a glance at me.
“Here, uh, take as much as you like.”
“They’re gluten free, just so you know,” I say.
“I make them for Bo all the time. I use coconut sugar and oil in them.”
“Why gluten free?” Noah asks me, moaning around a bite. “Oh my god! These are delicious.”
“I have celiac disease. Cam’s always trying to find new recipes that I can try.” He pushes the plate of muffins toward me, then he gets out the butter and cuts a few slabs for us in case we want them.
I sit beside Noah, picking at my food. The weirdness is slowly making my skin itch. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Do you have iced coffee?”
“I have some in the fridge,” I say, and Cam turns to it, getting out my bottle of iced coffee and pouring Noah a glass. “I have creamer in there too. It’s made with almond milk.” Noah looks at me. “I um, milk doesn’t agree with me either. I don’t think I’m lactose intolerant, but milk messes me up. Cam likes almond milk better anyway. He always gets the banana flavored one.”
“I like bananas,” Cam says.
“Uh-huh.” Noah sucks his teeth. “Remains to be seen.”
“Noah,” I hiss. A mischievous smile grows on his face.
“Do you have any non-banana-flavored almond milk in there?”
“There should be plain oat milk. You can use that. I make smoothies with it.”
“Oh! Please. Thank you.”
Cam pours a healthy amount of creamer and grabs ice from my freezer, dropping a handful in, then slides the cup to Noah.
“Mmm, thanks, Gym Daddy.” I nearly choke on my muffin.
“Gym what?”
“Gym Daddy,” Noah says simply. “Once I go home and make up with the dumbass man I’m in love with, you guys should come over for a game night. I’m going to make Jamie suffer, and his punishment will be socializing.”
Cam looks at me, and yeah, I’ll have to explain this whole situation, huh? “Um, Jamie?”
“My sexy roommate slash lover slash man who drives me absolutely insane daily. Ugh, I love him.”
I laugh, then look up, and Cam is watching Noah. There’s a weirdness to him. I don’t know why. It’s like he’s studying him.
“Soon, so be ready, we’re going to have an epic game night.”
“Um, alright,” Cam says softly, still looking at Noah weirdly.
