Seth
Kaden drops down beside me where I sit on the couch in the studio, and I automatically spread my legs wider. He leans his head back, placing an arm over his eyes and sighs.
“What?” I ask, looking down at the design in my lap.
“I need to get laid.”
“You know where to find me.” Another loophole.
“Asshole,” he shoots back.
“Yup. Got one. Interested?” I pump my brows at him.
He laughs and I shoot him a wink.
“What are you talking about?” Iggy asks, sitting down cross-legged on the other couch. Combing her short bangs down with her fingers, she cradles a cup of coffee with the other hand.
“Kade’s horny and I’m offering to help him.”
“Ah, of course,” she says. “So, what’s the problem, you hermit? Why don’t you just get out there? You’re scared to realize everyone’s moved on from that emo look you’ve got going on? Really, Kaden, get a haircut,” she adds, head tilted to the side.
I glance at him. I’ve always loved his hair, but now it’s getting so long, the small pieces at the back are curling around his neck.
I think it’s cute.
He flips her the bird.
“So, what’s the problem, really?” she prods.
“The problem?” he scoffs. “Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but, uhm, COVID?” He shakes his head at her.
“And the clap,” I mumble under my breath.
Iggy pauses her coffee mug mid-air, pushing her head forward. “What?”
Kaden turns towards me, glaring.
I press my lips together, raising my brows.
He squints at me and I slowly blink.
“Stop having silent conversations, you two!” Iggy snaps her fingers at us. “Let me in.”
He glares at me for a beat longer and then sighs, turning back to Iggy. “Last time I had a one-night stand, I got the clap.”
“Why didn’t you use a condom?”
“I did!”
“Then you wouldn’t have gotten the cl—”
“What, you’re a doctor now?” he snaps.
She snorts. “It’s not rocket science, Kaden.”
“It’s not rocket science, Kaden,” he parrots in a silly voice. I glance at him, snorting a laugh.
“Wow, you’re really mature when you want to be.” Iggy nods, eyes wide.
Kaden flips her another bird and drags a hand down his face.
“We used one the first time, but then I didn’t have one for round two, so…” he says, shrugging.
“That’s both stupid and disgusting.”
“Why are you even here?” he barks. “Don’t you have an essay to write or something?”
“Seth,” she says, looking at me. “You use condoms, right?”
“Always.”
Not. But this high horse looks really comfy. And maybe I’m also embarrassed because I was young and stupid that one time.
“I was twenty-two!” Kaden shouts, throwing his arms out.
I whip my head towards him, gaping. “You haven’t had a one-night stand in four years?”
He shrugs. “I’ve had girlfriends.”
Yes, I’m well aware.
He and Tara were together for two years. And I really liked her. She had this infectious laugh and always complimented my skin. And she could sing—damn, that woman could sing.
One night, Tara, Kaden, and I got absolutely wasted at Kaden’s place, and she put on a really good show. Kaden couldn’t keep his eyes off her, making me sick with jealousy as I watched him watching her with hearts in his eyes.
“So, why don’t you take him up on the offer?” Iggy smirks, nodding my way.
“What?” Kaden pushes his head forward.
“If you’re so scared of people and diseases, why not just do Seth?”
He frowns. “’Cause I’m straight?”
“So? A mouth is a mouth. Right, Seth?” She chuckles, leaning back.
“Damn straight! Well, not straight but…”
Iggy laughs, and I wink at Kaden, who’s shaking his head, before he punches me on my arm.
And none of them know how fucking dead serious I am, and how I’d sell my soul in the blink of an eye to be with Kaden just once.