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But Vex remains calm, finishes his coffee, and offers her a smile. “You should come by the studio. There’s three different artists, with different styles. You’d look good with ink,” he says but is already rising to his feet. “I’ll leave you to studying. See you later, Aaron?” he asks, and his gaze pinches me with its intensity. He won’t let me chicken out, and I don’t want him to.

I smile a little less widely than I want to, so it’s not weird. “I’ll text you about the details,” I say, just so Jessica knows that yes, I have Vex’s number, and we have plans together.

We both remain silent and keep our eyes on the tiger embroidered at the back of his jacket until he disappears from sight, like a star who’d graced us unworthy bugs with his attention.

But the moment Vex is gone, Jessica grabs my forearm and leans in. “What the hell! Why didn’t you say you two were friendly?”

I wave my hand dismissively as if I’m not still shocked by it all myself. “It’s a new development. A funny story, really. He asked me about my suspenders the other day, and we started talking.” Yes, Jessica, cool people like Vex appreciate my sense of style. “It turned out he felt bad about my laptop. You know, the one he spilled—”

“I know.”

“And so he offered a free tattoo as an apology. I’m yet to choose a design though.”

“Are you kidding?” Jessica leans back in her chair and drops her hands to her lap. “Why didn’t you stop him so I can also have a chance to befriend him?” Something changes in her eyes. “Maybe I could come to that party?”

“I can’t invite you to his party. Besides, don’t you have a boyfriend?” I lower my voice for the last bit because said boyfriend is coming back with the attitude of a robot about to perform an execution.

Jessica gives a bland laugh and pins me with her gaze. “So?”

I have no idea if she means that she just wants to bask in the glow of Vex’s company, if she can do better than Declan, or if she considers her Instagram crush an exception for cheating, and I don’t want to know.

“And what was that?” Declan mumbles, dropping to the chair Vex has vacated, and I shoot up, because being there for their hushed argument is the last thing I want.

“I want a sandwich. Be right back!”

I escape as fast as possible, and all but run to the counter filled with delicious offerings. I don’t like this place only because it’s such a gay oasis. It’s also one of the few places in town where I can find delicacies like prosciutto crudo and Gruyère cheese.

But before I can reach the safe haven of the counter, Kai rolls into my way like pastel train on his roller skates. “Well, well well, look what we have here,” he says in the voice of a queer-coded supervillain.

I let out a groan, because we both know what this is about. “I didn’t know he was going to be here today, I swear.” Kinda true.

Kai places his hands on his hips and grins, raising his chin with pride. “Maybe not, but he did have your shoe in that weird video.”

I rub my forehead. “Because— It’s a whole thing. Difficult to explain if you weren’t there. I’m thinking of getting a tattoo on my foot, and then I forgot the shoe. Just… complicated.”

Kai blinks. “Oh my god, I was bluffing, because those shoes just looked like something you’d wear. But it was actually yours? Scandalous!”

I squint at him, but I can sense heat rising to my face. “You demon. Vex is just a new… acquaintance.”

“So he’s no longer an ‘obnoxious poser who got tattoos for fame and girls’?” Kai asks with a little smirk, quoting my words back to me. I do regret them now.

“I’m getting to know him, and he’s not actually as shallow as I thought.” Or, I’m as shallow as a puddle of cum and now only want to see the best in him.

Kai’s smirk makes it clear he doesn’t believe me. “This does not add up, darlin’,” he says but glides away to take care of a customer.

I groan, but I lost my appetite and get back to my table in a walk of shame. At least I look good. I stand a bit taller when I spot two teenage girls making eyes at me, but I’m pretty sure one of them says, “No, it’s not Timothée Chalamet,” as I pass.

At least I have great hair and I’m adequately pale.

Declan and Jessica are like two cats who hate each other and choose to rest on opposite ends of the sofa, which means it might be wise to cut my time here short, but as I settle down, my phone pings, and I’m relieved to have something to do with my hands.

It’s a message from Matt.

[Heard Vex was bothering you again. Do you want to hang out?]

Of course. Kai set the gossip mill in motion.

[We should, but maybe later in the week? Vex is ok. We kind of started talking, don’t worry. But I am going to a party with him tonight, so I’ll text you the address later. You know, in case he only wants my kidney, haha!]