Page 73 of Pretty Black

“I don’t know.”

TWENTY-THREE

PRESENT DAY

Caspian Locke

Iris and I curled up together, watching the sunrise over the city, and I sat with what Iris told me, carrying it with me. I didn’t know how to process it with the rest of what we’d gone through this week. Another one of those things I’d have to find a therapist to unload on, and until then, I had to figure out how to keep my boyfriend’s mental health up while dealing with our psychopath of a manager.

I internally cringed.

“Can we say psychopath? Is that ableist?” I wanted to make sure I wasn’t even thinking something negative.

“I think that one is on the bad list. While it’s a diagnosis, they call it antisocial personality disorder. I still wouldn’t want to use it just because I don’t want anyone with a mental illness to think I was referring to them.”

“Fair. I wouldn’t want anyone to think that either.”

Iris twisted from his little spoon position to look at me. “Why?”

“I was calling Alexander one in my head. I need a better word.”

“Cold, calculating bastard hell bent on ruining our lives?”

“Sure, that’s not a mouthful,” I laughed.

“CCB ruining our lives for short?” he offered with a huge grin.

“I’m never going to remember that.”

“Is that coffee?” Iris asked, closing one eye.

I tilted my head, inhaling. “Who would even be up this early?”

“Did River and Emory go back to their place?” Iris kissed me, then climbed out of bed, strutting across the room bare assed.

“They did as far as I know.” I followed, grabbing his ass as he pulled out a pair of my shorts. “I don’t think anyone else gets up this early.”

“We really need to get you clothes.”

“Maybe I like wearing yours.” He pulled them on then turned in my arms to kiss me.

“They are huge on you.”

He lifted his shoulders. “So?”

“Do you want them falling off while we have a house full of guys?” I asked.

“The whole world has already seen my dick, Caspian. They’ve probably seen it,” Iris laughed.

I shook my head. “If the guys in our own band looked, that’s kinda fucked up.”

“Bet they did.”

I held out my hand. “But you have to ask them.”

“Oh, I will. At the weirdest possible moment.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to know.”

---