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Me:

Yes, Boss.

When he doesn’t respond for over an hour, I send another message.

Me:

Thanks for last night, by the way. Can’t remember much, but I think you brought me home and fed me? Unless I dreamed all of that. In which case, nevermind, and idk how I got home.

Boss:

It wasn’t a dream, and you’re welcome. Anytime.

I stare at that text for far too long, especially when days go by without another word. The idea that he’s probably spending the holidays with his girlfriend makes me nauseous. With CalTek closed again until after New Year’s, I have too much time to think about it all. Think about him.

I don’t leave my room for a week, burying myself in building my PC just to keep my mind busy. I don’t even shower until Dad threatens to toss me outside into the rain, claiming I reek. Mom changes my sheets while I’m in the bathroom, and the fresh linens make my mood plummet—they no longer smell like Ryann’s cologne. The gloom clings to me until New Year’s Eve, when there’s an unexpected knock at my bedroom door.

“Shilo, you’ve got a friend here to see you. Can I let him in?”

Yanking off my gaming headset, I shoot to my feet, hope sparking in my chest. “Yeah, Mom. Who is it?”

“He said you call him Kansas?”

Deflating instantly, I slump back into my computer chair just as KC sweeps into my room, wearing a skintight golden jumpsuit that probably gave Dad an aneurysm.

He halts, gazing over my baggy shirt and pajama bottoms with pursed lips. “Well, don’t act so excited to see me. It’s embarrassing.”

“Sorry, I just hoped you’d be Ryann. How’d you know where I live?”

“Your sister.” He flops onto my unmade bed, wrinkling his nose at Master Splinter in the corner. “Since you disappeared from the party on Christmas Eve and couldn’t be bothered to answer my texts, I decided to check in.”

With a wince, I pull my arms inside my shirt. “Uh, yeah, sorry about that…I had too much free liquor and wasn’t feeling good. Then the holiday happened…”

“It’s fine, Shilo. I know I’m not the center of your universe, though I should be,” he pouts, folding his arms. “But I’ll only forgive you if you take me out tonight.”

“Out?”

“Yes. Out. It’s New Year’s Eve, and parties are happening across the city. Tina and their girlfriend will also be tagging along, so chop-chop. Throw on something slutty, and let’s go.”

Frowning, I glance down at my week-old clothes. “But I don’t own anything slutty. And I kinda want to play Minecraft instead.”

KC huffs, sliding off my bed to peruse my closet. “I’m going to pretend you did not just say that.”

There’s something off about his tone, an unfamiliar edge that makes me nervous. I watch him closely as he yanks shirts off hangers sharply, definitely agitated.

Worried I might have upset one of my only friends, I ask cautiously, “Is something wrong?”

“No, Shilo, why would anything be wrong?” Giving up on the closet, he starts rummaging through my drawers. “Not that you’d know, seeing as how you’ve completely ignored me. Actually, you know what, yes. Something is wrong, and he wears a disgustingly sexy beanie that shouldn’t make him as hot as it does.”

“Ah. Carpenter.” My shoulders relax, knowing that I’m not the problem.

“Yes, my infuriatingly attractive, straight roommate who’s driving me absolutely insane,“ he clips, holding up my suspenders with a raised brow. “You could wear these with just a pair of pants. Nothing else. That whole nerdy twink vibe works for you.”

“I’m not going anywhere without a shirt,” I answer quickly.

“Fine, be boring. At least put on something tight so we can fuck.”

My jaw drops to the floor as I stammer, feeling my cheeks heat. “I…w-what, we aren’t…I don’t like you like that, Kansas.”