After he mentioned it, I got curious and looked it up. There’s something calledqueerplatonicorquasiplatonicrelationships, a committed relationship between two or sometimes more people that are not romantic or sexual in nature. Some QPR partners do things like moving in together, adopting pets, or even co-parenting. They define the rules of their own relationship. The more I read about it, the more it sounds like that could be me and Kai. But is that even something he’d want?
Before I can say anything else, Asher and Sonia return to the living room with a tray of finished cookies. The ones Sonia’s decorated have a range of depressed or annoyed faces.
After they cool, I grab one that has a numb expression. “What’s this one supposed to be?”
“This cookie is beginning to realize they’re stuck in acorporate job for the rest of their life and they can’t even afford a house,” Sonia says. “Please eat them and end their misery.”
“Where do you learn these things?” Asher asks, the horror on his face mirroring that of the cookies.
“Reality?” Kai scoffs. “That’s life for most people.”
Sonia shrugs. “I feel like school is already preparing us to accept a mo-to-none life.”
“Monotone, Soni.” I point out. “Good word though!” I reach down for her to high-five me.
Sonia takes a bite off a smiling cookie adorned with the wordsnepo babywritten in icing across their chest. Her eyes light up as she devours it with gusto, quickly reaching for another one.
“Do you still think I can’t bake?” Asher jabs a finger at her.
“You get a pass.” Sonia grabs three more cookies before jumping on the couch with a content smile and queuing up a video.
“I thought we were going to watch my show,” Asher says when Sonia plays a house-renovation clip. “You told me you hadn’t seenFriday.”
“You want me to watch plot-based media?” Sonia grimaces at a dumbfounded Asher, then turns her attention toward the TV. “That house needs work. Their budget won’t be enough.”
“What happened to late-stage capitalism, Soni?” Kai teases her, eyeing the screen where a fixer-upper in some random city is being showcased.
We munch on the cookies, each crunchy bite making my mouth water. Asher’s added the right balance of sugar andginger, and it delivers the perfect kick of spice that tingles on my tongue.
“I’m tired of socializing,” Sonia announces as she finishes the last of her cookies, hopping off the couch. “I’m gonna go play upstairs. And you”—she points a finger at Asher—“make more cookies and I’ll watch your show.”
“Aren’t you still grounded?” I cock an eyebrow. “Mamá said you didn’t do your homework.”
“Normalize not taking work home. And I know you agree with me because you’re the best sister ever!” She scurries upstairs before I can stop her. “Bring me more cookies, please!”
I let out a sigh. I could make her do it, but like I’m one to talk. I used to do my homework right before class unless it was a group project.
After she leaves, Kai, Asher, and I finish setting up a smaller tree in the living room, which somehow starts an argument between them about whether or not we should use tinsel. Neither seems willing to let it go, and I begin to entertain the idea of choking them with it.
“All right. It’s present time,” I declare, lugging a stocking into the living room with three boxes inside. We decided to do Secret Santa, but we set a fifty-dollar limit so Asher wouldn’t buy the entire state of California. It’s already weird that there are multiple bodyguards parked outside my house every time he comes over, since he’s not allowed to travel without security.
“Okay, I’ll go first.” I hand my present over to Kai.
“Is this what I think it is?” He tears into the wrapping,revealing a Gojo figure. “Damn, Sasha! Where did you find this?”
“Who… or what is that?” Asher asks. He furrows his brow, inspecting the toy. Kai collects figures of his favorite characters, but only if the figure is remarkably ugly or off-brand. This Gojo’s eyes are different sizes, and he looks like he just witnessed something traumatic.
“Gojo,” I say.
“Who?”
“You know, from the manga?” I say. Asher frowns. “Or the anime?”
“Those cartoons?” Asher looks confused.
“What do you meancartoons?” Kai’s voice goes up a pitch.
“Are we about to introduce you to anime?” I shake Asher’s shoulders with an enthusiasm he doesn’t share. “Okay, let me start with the basics—”
