Page 69 of PET

“It’s clear it has something to do with the society and what her mom has done.” I shrug, looking around the small bedroom.

“Why haven’t you told me about this before?”

I scoff, shaking my head. “Dude, I shouldn’t even be telling you about it now. They could kill me for telling you.” But they’ll have to find me first.

Silence stretches between us for several long seconds before he lays back down and pulls the flat cigarette case full of pre-rolled joints out of his pocket. He plucks one out and puts it between his plump lips, flicking the lighter near the tip. The smell of marijuana permeates the air, instantly calming me. It’s been a rough couple of fucking days, so I could use this.

I lie down next to him, staring up at the ceiling for a beat before he holds out the joint to me. Taking it between my thumb and forefinger, I bring it to my lips and take a nice, slow pull. The smoke fills my lungs but doesn’t burn or expand them. And when I blow the smoke out, it leaves a fruity flavor against my tongue.

“That’s good shit,” I tell him, handing it back.

He lets out a small chuckle but says nothing as if he already knew that. It’s Zeke—he only acquires the best shit around. Taking a hit next, he hands it back and we share the entire joint.

By the end, I feel like I’m floating. There is not a single ache or pain felt throughout my entire body. A soft smile has pulled up the corners of my lips, and my eyes are heavy but not sleepy. I’m so completely relaxed that nothing in the world could affect me right now—not even Billie still being pissed at us in the next room over.

I’ve lost track of time, so I have no idea how long we’ve been lying here. I think about my phone lying heavy in my pocket, recalling the text message and the task awaiting me. I’ve never ignored my tasks before. Makes me wonder what kind of punishment I’ll face because of it. I was nine years old when my father gave me to them. I don’t exactly recall all the details, ya know?

“You said they made you sexually please men,” Zeke says out of nowhere, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and it feels good.

Looking over at him, I study the side of his face and admire the view. He’s growing some dark stubble along his jawline, and it’s hot as fuck. The dimple in his cheek deepens when he quirks the side of his lip.

He looks over at me, piercing me with his soft hazel gaze as if I’m looking at them for the first time right at this moment. I lick my lips because they’re so dry. His eyes dropping to them and staying there. He’s gawking and all I want is to know what he’s wondering. Zeke has been my boy for so long, I never even considered him a love-interest option. I realized soon after I popped my guy cherry that I was bisexual. I just never thought to think of my best friend.

When he looks back up into my eyes and sees I’m watching him, he clears his throat and looks away. My eyes drop to the vein on the side of his neck, throbbing and juicy. And what I do next surprises us both.

Leaning up and over, I grab his jaw and face him away from me before I lean down and lap my tongue up the thick vein. He inhales a sharp breath and stiffens beneath me. Fear latches onto my chest when he jumps away from me and launches out of bed.

His wild eyes look me dead in the eyes as a flush creeps into his cheeks. “Dude, what the fuck was that?”

Shit, did I misread the signs?

Sitting up, I brush my unruly hair out of my face once again and shrug like it was nothing. “I was just fucking with you, man. You were asking me about my forced gay experiences and I wanted to joke around.”

It’s a total lie—I loved every second and how his flesh tasted on my tongue, the way his breath hitched and how he turned his head ever so slightly to accept me. But we’ll pretend I didn’t.

“I’m not gay, dude. You aren’t either,” he rushes out, pointing in my direction. “Unless…”

I bark out a laugh. “Dude, I’m not fucking gay.”I’m bi. There’s a difference.

He gives a single nod, ending the conversation when he says, “Good, because that would make things weird. Can you imagine what Billie’s face would have looked like?” He laughs, shaking his head. “At least I could have her to myself then.”

My back teeth grind when he says that. The thought of him taking her away from me makes my heart sink. I couldn’t bear losing my girl or my best friend forever. I imagine I’d sit in my bedroom for years, not doing anything with myself because I was in a deep, dark depression.

“You’ve said that twice now. Be honest, Z… Do you want her for yourself?”

Not saying anything at first, his gaze flits between my eyes as he struggles to come clean.Just say it, man, it’s all over your face!

“I did,” he finally blurts out, “But not anymore.”

I’m about to tell him to get bent when my mouth opens and shuts and I glare at him. “What changed?”

He runs a hand through his hair, stepping back. “I don’t know, dude… fucking everything now. When I was in jail for a few hours, then finding you at the party with her face being all screwed up, I lost it—and I thought I fucking lost you, too. You looked so happy without me—after what he did.” His cheeks turn bright red when he adds, “It nearly destroyed me.”

My heart is racing, excitement filling my chest like a million fireflies in the night sky. “When you punched me and then Billie walked away, I thought I lost you both, too. I, um, was twisted over it. Big time. There’s no way in hell I could ever lose you or little hellfire. Never.”

“Then it’s settled.” Zeke shrugs, moving back to the bed. “We’re all stuck together. Now we just have to win our girl back.”

I smile.Our girl.

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