Page 37 of Light

Hook winks at me.

"Sure, sure. Next thing you know, she’s over here cleaning your toilet and folding your socks into little hearts."

Pipe leans in with a grin so big it looks painful.

"Whipped."

"Whipped," Brick echoes, smacking the counter for emphasis.

"Whipped harder than a rented mule," Hook finishes proudly.

I glare at all of them.

"I don't get whipped. It's impossible. I’m Light."

I say it like it’s supposed to mean something, but judging by their shit-eating grins, it doesn’t.

Then Hook grabs a dishrag off the counter and twirls it around like a lasso.

"New plan, boys," he says. "We ransom it back to him. Ten bucks or we eat it ourselves."

"Twenty if you want the garlic bread too," Pipe adds, holding up a greasy napkin like he just found the Holy Grail.

I hug the lasagna tighter and back toward my room like they’re a pack of wolves.

"Y'all better step the fuck back. I’m not afraid to fight over this."

Brick smirks. "Nobody fights fair for love, brother."

"I don't love it," I growl.

The second the words are out, I hear how stupid I sound.

Hook howls with laughter.

"Sure you don't. Tell that to the way you're spooning it right now."

I flip them off with my free hand and retreat down the hall, clutching the Tupperware like it is my last goddamn lifeline.

Behind me, I hear Pipe yell,

"Light and Melissa, sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

I slam the door to my room shut with my foot and lock it for good measure.

Whipped?

Me?

No fucking way.

I set the lasagna down on my nightstand and stare at it for a long second.

Maybe... maybe just a little whipped.

But nobody needs to know that but me.

Before I even realize what's happened, the lasagna is gone. I ate it, like an animal, with my hands.

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