Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
He frowns. “Are you?”
“I am fucking drowning in need from wanting both you and her at the same time. Do you fucking think I’m anything but bi?”
He laughs, and the sound makes my heart swell.
“Case closed,” I add. “And you know what?”
I wait until he looks at me. “What?”
I grab his chin and slam my lips onto his, claiming that mouth just like I claimed hers. “I don’t care who knows as long as I get to kiss these fucking lips.”
He smiles against my mouth. “That sounds like something I could get used to.”
“Well, well, this is interesting.”
Elliot’s voice has Max darting up from the couch. “Oh, shit.”
Elliot laughs. “Relax. Relax. It’s fine. Carry on whatever you were doing.”
“Wait, you’re not shocked?” Max asks.
“Why would I be?” Elliot says with an affected accent. “Hello, it runs in the family.”
I snort. “Like dad, like son, you mean?”
“And brother.” He winks. “So … happy coming out day, I guess.”
“Thanks.” Max licks his lips. “Please, don’t tell Mom. Not yet. I’ll do it when I’m ready.”
Elliot puts his fingers to his lips and makes a key in a lock sign. “My lips are sealed.”
“Why your mom in particular?” I ask.
“Because she’s friends with your mom. They might not like you two fucking around, you know?” Elliot shrugs.
“They’ll just have to fucking deal with it,” I say.
Elliot grins. “That’s the spirit.” He clears his throat. “Hey, weird question … why is there a kid in the Skull and Serpent Society?”
My face goes white. “Uh…”
Well, shit, I never thought I’d be the one to have to explain this.
“It’s Cora. Ivy’s kid,” Max tells him.
“Both of them are staying,” I say. “And I don’t want anyone messing with the two of them. Make sure everyone in the house understands.”
“Aye aye, captain,” Elliot says, saluting me.
I roll my eyes. “Stop the theatrics.”
“Why? I’m having the time of my life. Sue me,” Elliot says, laughing before he grabs the handle again and slowly closes the door. “Enjoy your casual canoodling on the couch. Bye.”
“Casual canoodling …” I parrot through gritted teeth, while Max is apparently dying from laughter so much he’s holding his breath.
Someone shuffles into the room backward, half huddled over while making weird pssss sounds. And when I look up, my jaw drops. Silas is actually luring Ivy’s cat into the room.
“C’mon, Donut.”
“Donut?” Max sits up straight, and we both watch in shock as Bagel waltzes inside and eats up the kibbles … right out of Silas’s hand.
He guides him all the way to the table and places a kibble down then says, “Up.”
Bagel actually listens to him, and I am too flabbergasted to even know what to say. He’s eating that shit up right out of his hand.
“Good boy.” Silas pats him on the head and then says, “Paw.”
Bagel offers his little toe-beans to him, and they shake on it before Silas offers another treat.
“What the fuck …” I mutter.
“Oh, you’re here too?” Silas says, mildly amused.
“What are you doing?” Max asks.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” he replies. “I’m training the cat.”
“Jesus Christ, that’s a quick U-turn you did there,” I say, tilting my head as Bagel literally cuddles up against him.
“This Donut here is a better listener than you two.”
“Hey!” Max sputters. “That’s not fair. He’s a cat. Of course he listens. He gets food and pets.”
“You want kibbles?” Silas holds up a treat, then chucks it at Max. “Say woof.”
“Fuck off,” Max barks back.
“Oh, nice bite,” Silas says, laughing.
“Wait, you’re training him for what?” I ask.
Silas shrugs. “Do tricks. Pick up stuff. Steal things. Maybe attack someone.”
I stare at him for a moment before I burst out into laughter. “Bro thinks the cat is a goddamn pit bull. Oh my God, I’m dying.”
He throws a kibble at my face so hard it leaves an indent. “You’re laughing now, but I will make it happen. Just fucking watch me.”
“Sure,” I retort, chucking the kibble right back at him.
“For your information, the name is Bagel,” Max says.
“Nice to fucking meet you, Bagel,” Silas says, throwing Max a dirty look.
“Ha, ha, you’re so funny,” Max retorts, making the same ugly face back.
A knock on the door has us all looking up.
“Excuse me.” It’s the cleaning lady holding something in her hand. “I found this yesterday on the floor in the game room.”
My ketamine.
I immediately walk to her and take them from her. “Thanks.”
“Of course, Sir. If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”
I nod, and she walks off again, but my eyes settle on the pills that Max knocked out of my hand the second I attempted to take a couple again.
These pills are all that have kept me standing for a long time. My mind has been one jumbled mess, and ever since my sister left too, I’ve struggled to maintain my calm without them.