“Good morning, grandpa,” I say nodding in the journal’s direction.
“Tease all you want. Some people need and want to stay updated on real news,” Damian says and keeps reading, I head into the kitchen.
“And that’s why we have a security team chat,” I hear Dominik’s voice from behind me and involuntarily closemy eyes delighted with his presence. He’s getting under my skin and I don’t like how much he’s growing on me. At this point he can be my salvation or my damnation. And he’s the one who chooses which one to be, and that scares the hell out of me.
“No, that’s not why. You’re clearly not there often,” Damian says and I laugh.
“That bad?” I ask Damian and Dominik comes from behind me and kisses the curve of my neck, shivers go down my spine.
“You don’t want to know,” Damian whispers and keeps reading.
“Why did you sneak out?” Dominik asks hugging me from behind. It’s just the three of us out of the room for now.
“Didn’t want to wake you up, you barely sleep,” I say and seal our lips, I can’t cease the connection, Dominik is the one who stops the kiss.
“And I’ll sleep less if I know you’re sneaking god knows where-”
“You’re so dramatic, I’m in the kitchen, what could go wrong?” I ask him and I see he probably has a whole list of things that could happen lined up in his mischievous little mind.
“For starters, you could start reading journals and turn into Damian Jr. and we don’t want that,” he says and I hold in a chuckle, I won’t let him win. But it physically hurts not to laugh.
“Would that be so bad?” I tease and Dominik looks at me daring.
“So now you fancy Damian too, not just Aiden? Do I need to add names to the list? Perhaps Rian or Marcus?” Dominik asks and checks his phone for something, I just hope he’s not putting a target in all my friends’ heads.
“I fancy no one but you,” I say and tap the tip of his nose, before starting to make breakfast for both me, Dominik, and some extra if anyone else wants to grab a bite.
“You’re making breakfast? Someone is feeling better,” Josh says walking in.
Thud.
Better. I killed someone, they’re gone, it’s my fault, and I’m doing better.
“Shut the fuck up, Josh,” Rian says emerging from his and Marcus joint room, they were the last ones to pick so they got the spare one.
Thud.
“Don’t feel bad, the man had it coming, either way he’d be dead. You spared Josh additional blood on his hands,” Rian whispers in my ear and I hug him but quickly turn my attention back to the pancakes.
“Josh has enough blood on his hands already,” Maya says emerging from her and Sammy’s room. “Sammy escaped the room in the middle of the night. She says she didn’t but I did not imagine it,” Maya says scrunching her wet curly hair with her hands.
“What the hell is she even doing?” Marcus asks and Rian looks at Marcus, his eyes linger on him for a second, a second too long. I’m seeing something, but I will not comment on it until I’m alone with Rian.
“Curly hair routine dumbass, your straight hair would never understand,” Maya replies and Rian looks at Marcus concerned. I need to corner Rian, but how? The room is full, everyone would be dying to know what we’re talking if I just took him to one of the rooms.
“Are you still fighting today?” I ask Rian and he smiles.
“Do you even know me, Miss?” Rian asks and I laugh.
“I’ll go with you just let me eat something and not ruin everyone’s breakfast,” I say turning the pancakes that are now a bit too crusty, but they’re still edible. “Who wants the crunchy pancakes?” I ask and the next hour I cook and everyone eats. At the end there are three pancakes left, and Dominik forces me to eat something, even though I have zero interest in nutrition at this moment.
I eat one pancake and a half and sneak outside with Rian, Sammy and Maya, who are walking considerably behind us but with the wind they can’t hear us and I definitely can’t hear them.
“What’s up with you and Marcus?” I ask Rian when the wind is bone cutting.
“Is it that obvious?” Rian asks laughing and he actually blushes. Are they dating? I didn’t expect this. I was actually thinking maybe Marcus and Rian were playing, but Rian’s voice wasn’t it.
“No, I’m just particularly good at reading you. It’s been years of reading your face and body movements to understand if you were losing yourself and not to let you do so,” I say instead of saying, not to let you relapse. “But you’re not dodging the question, Marcus and you. Are you dating? Yay or Nay?” I ask and Rian gets rosier,as red as he can get. Rian is a pale person so it’s really noticeable.
