I laugh softly, finding my boxers and pulling them up.
“They’ll be our Scorpio with Aries moon and Taurus rising next week at XXXCon. You’re still happy to share your room with us?” Miko asks and I look back to see him stroking Harley’s hair.
“In a huge suite with two king beds, yeah, I think I can manage that.” I scoff.
“Like old times,” Harley says but her voice is barely more than a whisper.
“She needs to sleep,” I say pointing at Miko. “And some aloe vera balm for her ass when she wakes up.”
“Yes, boss.” Miko salutes me and then he finds the blanket hanging off one corner of the bed and pulls it up over both of them.
A few minutes later and I’m fully dressed with my bag over my shoulder and the memory cards from the cameras safely in my pocket. Both Harley and Miko’s chests rise and fall in slumber and I lean over the bed and kiss both of their heads, one at a time.
“Goodbye my Sagittarius King and my Aquarius Queen,” I say and then make my way out of their apartment.
*****
“Have you got your mask?” I ask, possibly not for the first time, as I watch Taylor and Jessica walk to the front door.
“Yes. Jesus.” Jessica frowns at me.
“Don't Jesus me. I’m just trying to keep you alive,” I grumble. I know they’re just going to the movie theater and that it’s for a movie that’s been out for weeks already so unlikely to be a packed theater but still, she needs to wear a mask.
“Well, tonight that’s my job,” Taylor says with an awkward smile. “And my mask is in the car.”
“You have to focus all your attention on keeping Prince alive instead,” Jessica tells me, pointing her finger my way.
“I think I can do that.”
“Speaking of which, go grab him while we sneak out otherwise he’ll be out this door in a heartbeat trying to follow us.”
“Promise me you’ll put your mask on?” I ask again, sounding more like I’m begging.
“Yes.” Jessica sighs.
“Okay, go. Have fun!” I walk toward the living room where Prince was napping a moment ago, but I turn back just as Taylor and Jessica walk through the door, checking they close it behind them. That’s when I see Jessica slide her hand in Taylor’s as they leave the house.
“Well, fuck,” I say. I need to talk to Mom about this.
The click of the front door closing has Prince sitting up, ears upright and alert, as I approach him.
“Sorry, my friend, you missed your chance. Door is closed. She’s gone. It’s just you and me.”
I settle on the couch and take my phone out of my pocket. Mom is at a home birth and she texted less than an hour ago to say that it was slow-moving and that she would likely be there all night.
Much to my surprise, Mom texts back almost immediately.
I stare at those five words for a long time, only half aware of Prince curling up on my lap.
