Page 221 of What We Burn

“You okay, baby girl?” he asks Sage.

“Racing brain.”

“Maybe the tea will help,” Micah says, leaning forward and passing it to her.

She thanks him and takes a sip, looking between us. “Did I interrupt something between you two?”

“Not at all,” Micah says.

“Are you sure? There’s a tension.”

“Not that kind of tension,” I say, nudging her lightly with my foot when she pouts. “You have a dirty mind.”

She laughs. “I have five boyfriends. Of course I have a dirty mind.” She uses her foot to nudge me back. “And stop deflecting. What did I interrupt?”

“Nothing much. I asked him to sleep in my room,” Micah says. “He said yes.”

Sage pauses with her mug halfway to her mouth. “For actual sleeping?”

“That is the traditional purpose of a bed.”

She gives him a look. “Nothing about this house suggests tradition.”

I laugh.

She points between us. “You two have already fucked. You’ve kissed without using me as an excuse. But choosing the same room before anyone gets naked? That’s progress.”

Micah shakes his head. “It’s a big bed. I work late. I probably won’t even see him unless he gets up to pee at four, and then it’ll be boxer shorts and mutual regret.”

Sage smiles into her mug. “That is the least convincing denial I’ve ever heard.”

“Your whole life is steamy fanfic material,” I say. “You don’t get to judge our pacing.”

“But it would be a way better story if two of my boyfriends did some non-sexual cuddling on the side.”

“Cuddling is your benchmark?”

“Sleeping together when nobody’s had sex? Obviously.”

I look at Micah. He shakes his head and laughs. “Only if you agree to monogram our bathrobes. I want something with gold thread. Eli and Micah: Not Just for Show.”

The line lands, and Sage cackles so hard she almost spills her tea. She ducks her head, messy bun bobbing, and mimes writing it down for later.

I tell myself it’s okay to laugh with them, and so I do.

My phone buzzes to life next to me. Group chat.

MILO:

You all awake? I heard laughter and I hate missing out on fun.

Me:

No one laughed. You’re hearing ghosts.

MILO:

Lying is manipulative, Eli. No one likes a manipulator.