There’s a stampede as everyone collectively goes to grab a seat.
“Head in the game, Boss,” Dorian says to Dove as he passes, cracking his knuckles.
I glance between the two of them. “Are you two playing?”
“Yes,” Dove says. “Er. Sort of.”
“Why? I thought you didn’t play with other people?”
“We don’t. We’ve made a bet. We’re both putting our worst foot forward. Whoever comes out with the mostno’sgets to top tonight.”
Dorian smirks. “May the worst man win.” He then grabs a chair, sits, and immediately launches into the poor person across from him. “Hello. Dorian. Thirty-six, switch, and I have alotof opinions of Ari Aster’s work. If you give me sixty seconds, I will break down the symbolism inMidsommarin a way that will make your head spin?—”
If you ask me, their strange bet seems unfairly tilted in his favor.
“Good luck,” I tell Dove, and she rolls her eyes.
Dove takes her seat and…me? I glance at Phantom. He’s not playing. He can’t. He’s moderating. He is, really, the only one I want to play twenty-questions with.
I could ask him things like: where do you see yourself in five years, and is it still with me?
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Trinity lower herself into a seat. She’s sitting in thedominantchair.
Which means if I take a submissive seat, I might get the opportunity to have a one-on-one with her.
I decide to join the game. I sit facing the bookshelf. Immediately, Carver takes the seat across from me.
“Hey, beautiful,” he smiles one of his charming, Carver smiles.
I smile back. There’s a small, glass jar between us filled with strips of curled paper. I pluck one out, unfurl it, and read the question. “What’s your relationship with your mother like?”
Carver’s face falls. “She’s an angel,” he says. “A goddamn saint.” His voice has gone mad, like I’ve accused him of something. He frowns. “Ask me a fun one.”
I prop my head in my hand and improvise. “Where’s the strangest place you’ve had sex?”
He grins. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
I’ve known Carver for years. We have an easy repertoire, and I find myself actually having fun quizzing him and getting quizzed back. Three minutes flies by and we tradeyeshearts before he gets up and the next person takes the seat across from me.
I try to engage in the game, but…I can’t stop watching Trinity.
She’s currently a few tables away from me. I watch as she and Dorian pair up.
“I won’t have to pay for this session, will I?” Dorian asks as soon as she sits down.
They’re not there two seconds before they both tradeNohearts.
I study Trinity. She looks nothing like me. I haven’t yet decided if that’s a good or bad thing. On one hand, maybe it means Phantom just doesn’t have a type. On the other hand, what if hedoeshave a type, andshe’shis type? What if I’m not?
Insecurities I never had before are breeding like fungus inside of me, just from existing in her orbit. I don’t like this version of myself. This nitpicking, judging version of me.
“Oh,” Princess says, “never mind. This is a…weird one.”
Princess is at the table beside me. I try not to eavesdrop, but it’s hard when the tables are pushed pretty close together.
“I love weird,” Carver says across from her. “Try me.”
She tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Would you…um. Have sex with a virgin?”
