“Where is Reno from?”
“Somewhere in or around Tokyo. I don’t know specifically.”
“How many siblings does he have?” It became clear to Reno that she was reading questions off a list.
“Two? Yeah. Two sisters.”
“What is his favorite dessert?”
“Fuck, I don’t know? They like these chocolates. He probably has some in his pockets right now.”
Sage burst out laughing. “But, you don’t know the name of them?”
“I don’t remember.” Luka looked a little reluctant, and more than a little confused about where this was going. “Why does that matter?”
“I’m just checking something. What instruments does Reno play?”
Reno interrupted, “Why are you quizzing him?”
“Let me do this!” Sage protested and then scrolled down on her phone for a moment. “Instruments?”
“Guitar, violin.” Luka crossed his arms and turned to Reno. “Am I missing things?”
“Piano, bass, and cello, kind of.” Reno watched Luka flush, looking excited about the new information, and it was so cute, Reno almost forgot what they were talking about.
“Cello?”
Reno scratched his cheek and admitted, “Kind of. I’m bad at it.”
Luka shook his head. “Do you own one?”
“No. There’s one back at my Mom’s, but not here. They are big. Take up space. Not like keyboard I can throw in the closet.”
“I bet if you had one in your flat, you would be good.”
“God," Sage drew the focus back to her, “you two are sickening. Next question: Why are Reno’s nails the lengths they are?”
Luka turned redder and Reno tilted his head. “Um.”
“Um?” Sage parroted, looking way too entertained for Reno’s tastes.
“Because," Luka looked at the ceiling, then muttered, “He’s a top.”
“Oh my god!” Sage burst out laughing, “Oh! Hahaha,Luka!You are so cute. No. No, that’s wrong, actually.”
“What?” Luka’s eyes widened.
“I’m so happy right now,” she said and Reno kickedherunder the table and was pleased when she winced, making a hissing noise. “Rude. Look,look. I’m sorry.” She turned her phone screen to show them what she’d pulled up and it was some list from a website. “Fan forum. I figured if your answers were similar to the ones his crazy fans compiled, then you might be a fuckin’ nutcase too.”
“Oh.” Luka pinched his lips between his teeth for a moment before saying, “I kind of am. But, not in that way. I really do love the music he writes.”
Reno could burst with joy. He leaned against Luka lightly, feeling how firm his shoulders were through his jacket and how warm he was.
“His nails are like that for playing guitar.” Sage finished Reno’s first drink and pushed it aside right as Conner dropped food off at the table. “The left is all short for the frets and the right middle is um, what’s the word?”
“It’s for tapping,” Reno answered. “I keep the pick between my index and thumb to sweep and use the middle to tap at the same time.”
“Yeah, whatever. You’reso cool.” Sage waved him off then stole a chip from his plate. She turned her phone back to her. “Okay, you got about half right. I’m sorry that I had to do that, but I’d be really concerned if you got all of them the same as this.”
