6. Shilo
Shilo
A nother week nearly passes, and by Thursday, I’m irritated. Peeved. Whatever the word is for more than annoyed but not quite pissed.
I’ve been getting Ryann’s coffee right every day, and he hasn’t said a damn thing. No “Thank you, Shilo,” or “You’re doing great.” Nothing. Just a stiff nod as he goes about business like he hasn’t seen my butthole—which I try really hard not to think about during work hours.
His lack of emotion bothers me.
So this morning, I ordered him an extra-sweet espresso with pumpkin spice, because I know how much he loves sweet things. Which is not at all.
KC laughed when I ordered it. He’s been pestering me to hang out in person, and I’m running out of excuses. We’ve been gaming together online, but since Friday, I can’t shake the weird resentment that flares up every time I see him. The way he acted with Ryann has been on my mind all week.
There’s no startup meeting today since everyone’s losing their heads over that secret project, so I drop Ryann’s coffee off at his desk and turn to leave. He’s so engrossed in work that he doesn’t even acknowledge me, not that I was expecting him to.
It’s not until an hour later that I hear him gag loudly, and a grin spreads across my face.
“Goddammit, Shilo.”
He storms out of his office, hazel eyes blazing as he slams the cup down in front of me. “This is not what I ordered, and you know it.”
“My bad, Boss.” I duck my head to hide my smirk, taking a sip of the coffee. It’s gross—I hate pumpkin—but I keep my eyes on the screen. “We’ll try again tomorrow.”
“No, you’ll try again now .”
I glance up at him briefly, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. He looks like he hasn’t slept. Maybe I’m playing with fire, but after a week of being ignored, I feel bold. Pulling up an email, I start typing away. “I’m very busy.”
“You’re—“ He cuts himself off, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exhales slowly. “I’m not in the mood for this. It’s the easiest coffee order on the planet. Medium grind, black, no sugar. Do I need to write it down for you?”
“No. What you need to do is say please.”
A muscle jumps in his jaw as he stares at me, emotions flickering across his face before he spins around and disappears into his office without another word.
I slump back in my seat, honestly disappointed. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I thought I’d get something out of him. Guess I’ll have to try harder.
The phone rings, and I spend the next few hours busy with work, adding things to Ryann’s schedule that are meant for Declan, canceling his car dealership appointment, and forwarding him spam emails. I get so into sabotaging his day that I don’t notice someone sneaking up on me until it’s too late.
“What are you doing?” KC’s voice makes me jump, and I yelp, fumbling with my keyboard.
“N-nothing!” I try to hide my screen for some reason, which only makes me look guilty, and KC cackles.
“Watching porn on company time, huh? Nice.” He grins, waggling his brows.
“I am not .”
“Sure.” He turns toward Ryann’s office, holding up a cup of coffee. “Just bringing Ry his order since someone messed it up this morning.”
Wait... what?
I frown, something pinching in my chest as KC shuts the office door behind him, giving them privacy.
A few more emails trickle in, but I can’t focus. My eyes keep drifting to the office door, and the longer they’re in there, the hotter my gut burns. After twenty minutes, I push away from my desk, the frustration bubbling over.
Swiping my badge, I shove open the door, expecting to find them in a compromising position. Instead, Ryann looks aggravated at his computer while KC lounges in a chair, scrolling TikTok. They glance up at me, eyebrows raised, and I freeze.
“Did you need something?” Ryann asks, clearly annoyed, so I do the only thing I can think of.
I point at KC. “Him. I need to talk to him .”
Without waiting for a response, I march over and drag KC out of the office while Ryann mutters something like thank fuck under his breath.
“What’s up, cutie?” KC reaches up to pinch my cheek, but I swat his hand away.
“Don’t ever do that again.” Licking my lips nervously, I stare down at my shoes, hating the words about to come out of my mouth. “Do you, uh... wanna hang out today? With me?”
A delighted smile splits his face as he bounces on his feet, instantly making me regret all my life choices. “Hell yes! Your place or mine?”
“Yours,” I respond quickly. “Definitely yours.”
No way am I letting Dad meet him. I don’t need the bigoted lecture, thanks.
“Cool. Let’s exchange numbers so I can text you the deets.”
Reluctantly, I hand him my phone, already cringing. But it’s too late now, and I’ve somehow agreed to dinner at his place. Mom’s gonna be thrilled. So will Doctor Iskar, I guess.
Look at that, Doc. I made a friend. Sort of. Reluctantly. Against my will.
God, this blows.
“See you after work, bestie.” KC throws me a wink before skipping off, leaving me grimacing as I slump back into my chair. I momentarily forget about sabotaging Ryann—at least until I hear him shout my name, and I make a beeline for the bathroom to hide for the next half-hour.
After that, I wander around the building, exploring places my badge will let me access. This place is huge—a whole fourth floor dedicated to a gym, a rec room with video games, and an outdoor garden. But the Research and Development department? Not on the map. Bummer.
It isn’t until a text comes through that I realize my shift is over.
YourNewBFF:
Hey, it’s KC :) meet me in the lobby and I’ll drive you to my apartment.
Scowling, I change his contact name to Kansas before shoving my phone into my pocket. Maybe I can sneak out the back. Make up an excuse—family emergency, or something.
As I tip-toe back to my desk to grab my bag, I glance into Ryann’s office and find it empty, a breath of relief leaving my lungs.
I’m almost home-free... until the elevator doors open downstairs, revealing my boss standing there with an outraged expression.
“I’ve been looking for you for an hour,” he snaps, glaring as he steps back to let me out.
“Uh... couldn’t find the paper clips,” I mumble, trying to dart around him. His arm shoots out, enveloping me in the warm leather scent of his cologne as he leans down.
“My patience only extends so far, Shilo. Disappear like that again, and there will be consequences.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the low rumble of his voice, my blood thrumming as I peek up at him. “Like what?”
Ryann’s eyes flash, nostrils flaring as he searches my face. His breath flutters the purple strands of my hair when he leans in, sending goosebumps over my skin, his lips brushing my ear when he parts them to speak—
My name being called has him straightening quickly.
“Shilo, you ready?” KC appears next to us, his eyes twinkling as he looks from me to Ryann. “Oops, am I interrupting?”
“Nope, let’s go.” Grabbing KC’s wrist, I practically run for the front doors, calling over my shoulder. “Have a good night, Mr. Callahan!”
It isn’t until we reach the parking lot that I let go of his wrist and breathe, immediately freezing from the October wind cutting through my sweater. What the hell was that?! Not the reaction from him I’d wanted, that’s for sure. I meant to make him mad, not…not whatever that was.
“My car’s this way.” KC jerks a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward an old pink Volkswagen beetle. “Passenger seat’s a little messy though, so you might have to move some stuff.”
Dammit. I should’ve made up an excuse.
The ‘stuff’ is mostly paint supplies—canvas, brushes, a foldable easel. Apparently, KC’s an art major at UDub, in his senior year. The Café is his second job. His first? Yoga instructor at CalTek’s gym, where he met Ryann. Great. He’s got two roommates, and they all rotate making dinner. I guess tonight is his night.
“I make the best risotto, swear to god. It’ll taste like an orgasm in your mouth.”
I choke on the water bottle I’m sipping as he leads me up the steps of a small brick apartment building fifteen minutes away from work, nearly tripping on the rain-slicked surface. A flush heats my cheeks as he chuckles, stopping before a rusted metal door that reads ‘#9’. The hinges groan when he shoves it open by a shoulder, echoing loudly, and I rub my chilled hands together as I step inside reluctantly, considering texting Paige to get me out of this.
The space is small—barely enough room for a saggy-looking sofa and coffee table. Shelves of succulents line brick walls, a skylight reflecting off industrial cabinets in the kitchen. A grated spiral staircase leads to the loft, where someone about my age with jaw-length dark hair leans over the railing, blinking at us groggily.
“Mornin’, gorgeous,” KC chirps, using his shoulder to shove the door closed. “Shilo, this is Tina, one of my roommates. Pronouns are they and them.”
“Another boyfriend of yours?” Tina asks, yawning as their lip piercings glint in the light.
KC rolls his eyes. “He’s a boy, and he’s a friend, but he’s not mine. No offense.” He shoots me an apologetic grin. “I’m not into twinks.”
I blink, unsure how to respond as Tina laughs and retreats back into the loft.
“But you are a twink.”
“Yes, thank you, and I don’t want to fuck one. I like my men with more meat on their bones.” He saunters into the kitchen after throwing his bag onto the couch, and I can’t stop the words from flying out of my mouth.
“Men like Ryann?”
Shit. Why, brain? Why?
KC pauses mid-motion, pulling out a pot, his back to me. His response is slow. “Muscle men, I suppose. Working in a fitness center has done wonders for my sex life. You’d be surprised how many closeted gym bros there are.”
A snort comes from upstairs, but I stay silent, shuffling awkwardly as I scan the room.
He glances over his shoulder at me, rifling through the fridge. “Anyway, feel free to make yourself at home. Bathroom’s down the hall, my room’s next to it. Our other roommate, Carpenter, crashes on the couch but won’t be back til later.”
Without much else to say, I just nod, following his directions to his room, where a computer setup similar to mine rests on his desk. Clothes cover the pink platform bed, and there’s a large window with a view of the fire escape. The walls are covered in paintings, and I laugh when I spot lewd drawings of various male superheroes, some fully naked.
What would Dad say if I had stuff like this hanging in my room? Probably nothing good.
While KC and Tina banter back and forth, I pull my laptop out of my backpack and settle into the desk chair, content just to listen while I catch up on some assignments I’ve been avoiding. Every once in a while, he’ll shout a question at me, keeping me included while giving me space, and even though I don’t know if it’s intentional, I appreciate it all the same.
When dinner’s finally ready, I leave his room and perch on the arm of the sofa with my plate while KC sits cross-legged on the counter, Tina swinging their legs from the loft.
“So, what’s your story?” Tina asks between mouthfuls. “What made you want to work at CalTek?”
I shrug, taking small bites of food even though I’m not hungry—despite how good it tastes. “Needed an internship for a class, and my sister runs security there. Seemed like a good idea.”
It’s not entirely untrue, but it’s not the whole truth either. I hated the idea when Paige suggested it. We fought about it, but of course, Mom and Dad took her side. Like always.
Tina sighs. “Ah, siblings. Wish I had some.”
“You can have mine,” KC pipes up, wrinkling his nose. “Well, not my sister. Take my brother. He’s a homophobic asshole.”
“Hmm, no thanks. I’ll pass.”
I glance up at him, curious but cautious. “He doesn’t accept you?”
KC rolls his eyes. “DJ likes to pretend he does, but the little comments slip out. It used to hurt when I first came out in high school, but now I’m over it.”
“My dad is kind of the same way. He doesn’t know about me. That I’m gay, or anything. He’s an Air Force guy, so…yeah.”
Tina groans, throwing their head back while KC points at me with his fork. “See? I knew you were gay. My gaydar is never wrong. Tina, you owe me twenty bucks, bitch.”
“My sister knows, though,” I continue, smiling despite myself. “And my mom. They’re cool with it.”
“Same. My dad’s not around anymore, but he would’ve loved me no matter what.”
“You both are lucky,” Tina sighs again, setting their plate aside. “I’m from small-town Missouri. My family is religious. They all but disowned me when I brought home my girlfriend for Christmas last year.”
I frown, glancing up at them. “That’s... messed up. I don’t know if my dad would go that far.”
“Now we just need Carpenter to bat for the other team, and we’d have a whole club going.” KC stands on the counter, reaching up for Tina’s empty plate as his roommate laughs.
“If your booty shorts haven’t enticed him yet, I don’t think it’ll happen. That boy is straighter than an arrow.”
“I am nothing but persistent.”
They chatter away, making jokes, while I try to eat the rest of my food. And I really do try, forcing down a few more bites, until KC asks me a question that has my stomach souring.
“So, you got a boyfriend, Shilo?”
Nausea floods my system. I shake my head as I stand, handing him my plate. “No.”
“Whoa, what was that reaction about?“ His eyes widen, blond strands brushing his face as he tilts his head. “Is it my cooking?”
“No, your cooking is amazing.” I wince because I’m terrible at talking to people. “I’ve only had one experience with a guy, and... it wasn’t good.”
Well, it was. Until it wasn’t.
Tina grips the railing, eyes blazing. “What happened? Did someone hurt you? Was it at one of the clubs here in Seattle? We’re not afraid to hunt down a motherfucker if we have to.”
Jesus. “No, it was some guy I picked up for Uber. He didn’t hurt me, not exactly. He just kind of made me feel used. Worthless.”
Well, that was unsatisfying. Thanks for nothing.
KC’s expression shifts, a flicker of something I can’t place, before he grabs my shoulders firmly. “Fuck that guy. We’re taking you out and finding you someone better to erase that memory.”
“Here, here!” Tina cheers, raising a sippy cup, which makes me blink in confusion before refocusing on KC’s determined smirk.
“Wait, huh? Take me out?”
“Yep. Halloween’s this weekend, and we’re going dancing. We’ll be your wingpartners.”
My heart jumps into my throat, and I step back, shoulders hunched. “That sounds awful and I’d rather die.”
Frickin’ hell. Why didn’t I just say I have other plans?
“Oh, stop. You’ll love it,” KC laughs. “There’s a costume party, and I’ve got the sexiest outfit planned.”
“I highly doubt I’ll love it,” I grumble, tugging at my hair with clammy fingers. “Pretty sure it’ll suck because me and crowds don’t mix. Learned that lesson the hard way when I showed up to my high school graduation and Bobby Crawford pantsed me in front of everyone to prove I wasn’t a guy, which I am. And everyone saw it because I don’t wear underwear. I don’t wear underwear, Kansas.”
There’s a beat of silence where I can feel both of their eyes on me, and I duck my head, biting my lip to stop the word vomit that wants to spill out. They don’t need to know how I ran off the stage with my pants around my ankles and tripped down the stairs onto my bare ass. Or how everyone laughed. Even my dad.
KC exhales slowly. “Well, we won’t let that happen again, will we, Tina?”
“Hell no. Promise. And since it’s a costume party, you can wear a mask if it makes you feel safer.”
That…actually does make it seem better. Anonymity and all that. If something goes wrong, nobody will even know it’s me. I even have the perfect cosplay to wear.
Even though my instincts are screaming at me to refuse, make up a lie, or run for cover, I find myself speaking before I can stop.
“Fine. When and where?”