“Seriously?” Kaiden huffed.
“Are you going to stop avoiding our texts?” Rus asked.
“Obviously.”
“Good,” Rus said. “Are you going to hang out with us? No being too busy?”
“I mean, I am busy, but yes, we can hang out,” Kaiden answered. “In fact, why don’t you two pick a day for a real date?”
“Oh?” Rus quirked his pierced brow.
“Yeah, official date night. Sounds like something we need.”
“I’d be down for that.” Dylan nodded. “I can’t remember the last time I went on a real date.”
Kaiden smiled, shooing them out of the gallery. Truthfully, Kaiden had never gone on a date. Not once in his life. Not even some sad, sappy middle school kind of sort of maybe a date. Nope. Kaiden very much stayed on the sidelines of his own life, watching everyone else live.
He should’ve been terrified of the prospect after he sent Rus and Dylan on their way. A date, a real date, a real first date, a real first-ever date, should’ve left Kaiden quaking in terror. But he simply buzzed throughout the rest of his workday, texting the group chat when things were slow, and fantasizing about what to expect on his night out with Rus and Dylan.
The idea alone brought comfort, excitement, and joy. For the first time in a long time, Kaiden was eager to see what came next, because he knew he’d get to find out with Rus and Dylan at his side.
Chapter Fifteen
Rus’history professor for the “Hidden Heroes Between the Pages” had wrapped up the lecture early in favor of offering the students time to quietly collaborate and discuss an upcoming research project. Rus was still buzzing from his recent relationship…was it a relationship? His dating situation at the very least had kept his interests captivated.
“I have to tell you something exciting,” Rus whispered to Daysha.
“Oh?”
Between his dating news and the joy of October officially marking the calendar, Rus buzzed with excitement. Since it was the greatest season of the year, Rus actually dressed up. Today, he wore a bloody, oversized sweater that said “I’m Fine” in carved lettering.
“I’m seeing someone,” he quietly continued. “Well, someones.”
Daysha quirked a brow, her face completely confused.
“I took your terrible but apparently not-at-all terrible advice.”
“My advice?”
“To kiss Kaiden and then to kiss Dylan,” Rus explained. “Maybe not in that order. Well, it was for me. Your advice didn’t really specify any order.”
“My advice was a joke.”
“Welp, jokes on you because now your bi bestie has two boyfriends that you’re going to have to hear about all the time.”
“Ooookay.” Daysha side-eyed Rus. “How is that any different from you talking about your crushes nonstop? At least now I won’t have to hear about celebs you’d smash if you crossed paths because they’d definitely be wowed by your… Hmmm. Charm? No, that can’t be it.”
Rus tsked. “I just wanted to prepare you mentally for me being utterly insufferable and talking about guys all the time.”
“You realize just because I don’t date doesn’t mean I’m allergic to the discussion.”
“I know, but I also know when I’m single, I find people blabbing about their relationships annoying.”
“But I’m a better person than you, obviously.” Daysha smirked. “So, tell me everything. Minus squishy bits touching. That, I am allergic to. Unless it’s in a BL book.”
“Relationship?” Emma scoffed, leaning forward in the seat behind them and intruding on their conversation in only a way she could.
Rus had nearly forgotten she’d taken the seat behind them. Most lectures, she made her presence known almost immediately with cutting commentary and rude questions, but other days, she sat in abject silence until she found the right moment to strike. Why she felt the need to sit nearby Rus sooften, he had no idea, but he suspected it was some type of irritating power trip.
