Preston and Jalen traded barbs about the correct way to use cinnamon, “with restraint” vs. “like a war crime.” Newt perched on the island again, picking at melon cubes with a pair of chopsticks.
They made room for Alex, without question, without preface. He was just another guy with a weird past and a mate who cared about him.
Maybe, if the world kept spinning the same way for five more minutes, Alex could actually get used to this.
“Details,” Preston pressed, nudging Alex’s arm. “Come on. Was it romantic? Were there candles? Did Wade serenade you?”
All four pairs of eyes zeroed in.
Alex burst out laughing, imagining Wade, the guy who tried to cripple him all day, taking the time to light a candle. With the acrobatics they’d preformed, they were more likely to burn down the house with that candle.
“Like I’m gonna give you ammunition for the next six months?” Alex nibbled on the corner of his brownie, feeling a tiny bit overwhelmed. He’d gone from having no friends to having four men who had no qualms about invading…everything.
“Rude,” Sasha pouted. “Just so you know, we live for these stories.”
“Yeah, well, I’m on a strict verbal blackout. Per Wade’s instructions. National security. Need-to-know basis. All of that.”
Preston snorted. “Sounds like you got bent over more than the truth.”
Newt choked on a grape and had to thump his own chest to recover. “I want twelve details, minimum. Skip the foreplay and start with the wild stuff.”
A tomato bounced off Newt’s shoulder, tossed by Jalen with impressive accuracy. “Give the guy a minute to recover, will you?”
Alex leaned in, like he was about to share state secrets. “I’ll give you one detail.”
The mates leaned in just a little farther, eyes wide, the kitchen so quiet you could’ve heard a mouse fart.
“Hot showers dry your skin,” Alex whispered conspiratorially.
Jalen groaned.
Preston rolled his eyes.
Sasha smirked.
Newt pouted.
Alex ignored their reactions, focusing on the sugar high and the fact that, for the first time in…well, ever, he didn’t feel like prey at a predator convention. Nobody here wanted anything from him except his company and maybe another helping of spilled tea that actually contained tea.
I actually have friends now. How cool is that?
The lights cut out. No warning, no flicker. Just instant, absolute darkness.
At first, he thought it was just a blown fuse. The house was humungous, and blown fuses would be a common occurrence. Not that Alex would know anything about mansions.
The kitchen was plunged into ink, voices stuttering to a stop mid-laugh. Nothing but the faint hum of panic and the sound of somebody’s fork clattering to the floor could be heard.
Jalen cursed under his breath. Maybe it was Sasha. Someone’s elbow jabbed Alex hard in the ribs.
“Wasn’t me,” muttered Newt. “I didn’t perform any magic!” His voice cracked. “Guys?”
Somewhere to Alex’s left, Preston let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, funny. Who’s screwing around with the lights?”
No one answered.
A weird, stomach-dropping sensation seized Alex. Like gravity had packed up and left the building. His head swam. There was nothing under his feet, and for a second, he had time to wonder if this was some human prank or if Newt had tried to really teleport them to Alaska because Alex wouldn’t give those twelve details.
He was falling. Not a metaphor. Actually falling. Alex screamed as he reached out, only to grab nothing but air. He couldn’t even see his flailing arms.
