Page 14 of Perfect Chaos

“In your dreams, pretty boy.”

“So what I’m hearing is you think I’m pretty?”

“Nope, I just didn’t want to hurt your fragile ego.” A smile cracks across my face at his antics. Of course, that would be what he heard. My smile falters and my eyebrows scrunch in confusion as what he called me finally processes. “Why did you call me that?”

“Call you what… Little Demon?”

“Tornado, Demon, take your pick.”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes, asshole. Why the fucking nickname?”

He smiles, but it's not sweet. It's wicked. He leans in close. His lips brush my ear. I feel his breath against my neck as he whispers, “Too bad I’m not going to tell you.”

With that he walks out of the kitchen and back into the living room. I flip him off again even if he can’t see it. The man gets on my last nerve.

Chapter Ten

Atlas

I should have talked to Gavin before we started this game. Blindsiding her with something like this is not going to work in our favor. She is going to shut down any further questioning at this point. She walks out of the room with Gavin following after her. Something about helping her get a new bottle. I'm not stupid enough to believe it’s his only motive. Did I follow after him just to eavesdrop on their conversation? Maybe I did.

She grabs a handful of grapes, which reminds me she probably hasn’t eaten anything else today. I pull out my phone, quickly ordering a delivery for something I know she will always be in the mood to eat. I pocket my phone and watch as Gavin walks up behind her. He can say whatever he wants, but it’s as if he is drawn to her the same way I am. Like he moves near her without even thinking. The poor man is a goner and doesn’t know it yet. She moves away from him. I duck behind the wall to avoid getting caught.

I hear them mumbling something, yet I can’t hear well from my position. I peek back around the wall to see them in what seems to be a heated conversation. She seems irritated with the entire thing. Her voice rises as she asks the one question I have been dying to know the answer to.

“Yes, asshole. Why the fucking nickname?”

Why does he have nicknames for her? Is it the same reason I do? I don’t hear his answer but whatever he said seems to piss her off. He walks past her, heading right for me, so I rush back to my spot and sit down.

Gavin gives me a weird look when he enters the room but doesn’t say anything. Maizyn walks back in with the bottle soon after, looking flustered but doesn’t say anything either.

“I ordered everyone food. The delivery driver should be here in ten minutes. I figured we can eat before we continue playing the game. None of us should be drinking this much on an empty stomach.”

“How did you-”

“Because, Gavin. Maizyn hasn’t eaten either and for some reason, both of you would rather starve than make food.”

“Hey! Rude! I ate some grapes.”

“Grapes are not a meal, Chaos. Nice try though.”

“Fine. What did you order?”

“BBQ ribs plates from the place down the street.”

“Oh, yummy! I can definitely go for some ribs right now.”

“Thanks, man. Ribs are good. I appreciate it.”

Maizyn leaves for a moment to change. She comes back out in an oversized hoodie and sleep shorts that are too short to even see. It looks like she is wearing nothing but the hoodie. My eyes trail up her legs as she walks over to where we are sitting. Looking at Gavin, he is caught red-handed doing the exact same thing I was just doing. He quickly looks away from her, trying to play it off. Too late for that, friend.

The app on my phone alerts me our food was delivered. “Food's here.”

Maizyn bolts to the door before I can even think about moving. That girl doesn’t mess around about her ribs. She rushes back in with three boxes piled high in her hands. She hands Gavin his, then hands mine to me before plopping down on the floor with her takeout box. We eat in silence.

A few moments pass before Gavin scoots closer to me. “Does she always eat like that?” He says it low enough so only I can hear him.