Page 79 of The Gaybor War

"This isn’t over," he says under his breath.

My smile is soft but certain. "No," I agree. "It’s just getting delayed by bureaucracy."

I move toward the door. Behind me, Carter murmurs, "I’m going to hate this neighborhood."

I pause, hand on the knob. "You already do."

I open the door to see Eunice standing there with a folder and the righteous glow of a woman about to ruin someone’s afternoon.

"Benji," she says crisply. "We need to discuss unauthorized signage."

I beam. "Eunice. You have impeccable timing."

Behind me, Carter exhales, long, slow, and undone. And when I glance back at him over my shoulder, his eyes meet mine. Still dark. Still wanting.

Let the HOA wait. We’re not done.

Eunice steps in exactly one inch, as if proximity alone might establish dominance.

"I won’t take much of your time," she says, which is always a lie. "There’s been a concern raised about the signage you placed near the community pool."

I blink. "The welcome sign?"

"The flamingo-adjacent welcome sign," she corrects. "Some residents feel it sets an… expectation."

Carter shifts behind me. Eunice clocks him immediately.

"Oh. You have company."

"Yes, I do."

Carter clears his throat. "I was just⁠—"

"Carter Reed," Eunice says, pleased. "Good. This concerns you as well, actually."

His spine goes rigid. I bite my cheek.

She flips open the folder. Papers rustle ominously. "As Block Captain, you’ll want to be aware that social gatherings near shared amenities must remain clearly recreational and not—" she squints at the page, "—suggestive in tone."

Carter’s jaw tightens. "The sign says ‘Welcome to the Pool.’"

"With flamingos," Eunice reminds him.

"They’re birds," he says evenly.

I adore him.

Eunice sniffs. "Regardless. We’ll need the sign removed by end of day."

"Of course. How tragic."

She turns to leave, then pauses. "Also, Benji—your blinds."

My smile doesn’t falter. "My blinds?"

"They’ve been… expressive," she says. "Please ensure they remain neutral."

Carter chokes, catches it, and turns it into a cough.