Page 57 of Bro Amazing

"Game?" asks Lionel, perking up a little as he plops back down at the table with his sandwich. He threw it together so fast, it looks more like a pile of lunchmeat and bread and cheese than a proper sandwich, but he doesn't seem to care that half the filling is falling out as he raises it to his mouth. "What kind of game?"

He looks between us as if we might be planning something devious.

Ethan convinced me last night that we should take the rest of the week off and continue our Artist Dates, doing things we wouldn't normally make time for. No work, and all new fun.

"And what are you doing home already, Ender?" asks Lionel, popping a chip in his mouth.

"I wanted to spend some time with Clarissa." Ethan stares at me as he says this, and I feel my cheeks redden.

"Which I appreciate, because I didn't realize how big this house is until I was alone here," I quickly add, changing the subject to protect the secret Ethan entrusted to me.

"Same," agrees Lionel, nodding at Ethan. "That, and I couldn't take any more of my family constantly talking to me and dragging me around to visit everyone they've ever met in theirlife. I don't think they have ever heard of personal space or alone time."

"Sounds like they love you and want to be part of your life," I point out.

"They could love me a little less," says Lionel, polishing off his sandwich. "Or at least give me a moment alone sometimes. A guy has needs, after all."

Ethan nearly chokes on his sandwich as he laughs. "Did they walk in on you walking the dog?"

"Twice!" yells Lionel, holding up two fingers for emphasis.

"Wait, what?" Why is it that every time there are more than one of them in the room, they slip into a language I don't understand?

"His family walked in on him masturbating," clarifies Ethan.

Lionel chomps on another chip, still glowering.

Now it's my turn to laugh. It sounds like it's right out of one of my romance books, but it really happened to him.

"If you want to go upstairs and take care of yourself, we promise not to walk in on you or interrupt," I say, attempting to be serious but unable to stifle my giggles.

"Or I could just ..." Lionel reaches for my waist to pull me closer.

"You smell like an airport." I scrunch my nose and scoot farther away.

"Fine," he grumbles, putting his plate in the dishwasher. "I'm going to go shower."

As soon as he's out of the room, Ethan and I double over laughing.

Chapter Twenty-One

"Honey, I'm home!" yells Quintin from the front door.

"We're in here!" I call from the kitchen. I'm in the middle of checking that I have all of the resources I need to upgrade my cities in Settlers, and it's crucial to balance my items perfectly.

Quintin comes to the doorway, but instead of greeting us, he looks at Ethan and Lionel and says, "What are you two doing here?"

"I'm trying to trade some wool for ore," says Lionel. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"It looks like you're in Chicago when you're supposed to be hundreds of miles away with your family," says Quintin.

"Fuck that," Lionel scoffs.

"Agreed," says Ethan. "Will either of you trade me two bricks for one ore?"

"No, I'm trying to get ore," argues Lionel. "You can't take what I need."

"Of course I can," says Ethan. "Clarissa?"

---