Page 73 of Bro Amazing

Helix and Miles are both down here.

"We thought you might need help setting up," says Helix, currently loading our streaming service onto the screen.

"And you can't watch a movie without snacks." Miles tops off a bowl of chips, then comes around to shake Sasha's hand.

"I'm Miles, and that's Helix," he says. "I think you met a couple of our teammates already."

"At the bar," clarifies Helix, also shaking Sasha's hand. Like it needed clarifying.

"So then there's just one more of you I haven't met yet," Sasha points out, still clutching Helix's hand.

"I doubt you'll meet Ethan," says Miles, coughing to cover his snicker as Helix yanks his hand back.

"Do you want to join us for the movie?" offers Sasha.

"Well, Clarissa had mentioned this was kind of a work session for the two of you," says Helix, "so we're going to get out of your way. But text us if you need anything."

Miles leans in as they pass as if he's going to kiss me. It's normal, but at the last minute we both realize that we have a guest who doesn’t know our situation, and I turn slightly away from him as he awkwardly pats my shoulder instead.

"Alright, what movie do we want to analyze tonight?" I flip through potential options, breathing a sigh of relief at the averted crisis as the guys make their way upstairs.

"Let's do the one about the fashion designer from the south who is accidentally still married to her husband," suggests Sasha, settling into the sofa.

"Sounds good. There are a lot of tropes in there to discuss. Especially because it's kind of enemies to lovers, but also a second chance romance." I cue up the movie and take a look at the array of snacks my boyfriends provided. They actually did a decent job—chips and salsa, popcorn, some sodas, a bowl of chocolate candies. I shouldn't really be surprised, though. Before I moved in, they pretty much survived on snacks.

We watch the movie in silence, and my focus wanders to what my roommates could be doing right now. Slipping myphone out of my pocket, I check the their subscribers' chat, since I can't see if they're live streaming from my phone.

There seems to be a conversation about an upcoming ARAM, and one of their followers is claiming a female gamer could never be an AP Carry. Some of the others are bringing up strategies of the other team, such as their tendency to camp. And still others keep commenting, "BM".

My fingers hover over the keyboard. I've always lurked as other subscribers chatted because I don't want my boyfriends to find out I'm basically spying on them, and because I'm still getting a grasp on the lingo and how to play the game. But no one should bash a player simply because they're a woman.

"BM. Toxicity is not allowed," posts Hel.

The chatbot states that the asshole has been removed and banned.

"We're not afraid to enforce the rules," posts Faker.

I delete everything I'd been typing because my boyfriends dealt with the misogynist quickly and didn't let it get out of hand. They stood up for her before I could, and now I want to thank them for being so awesome.

"Who are you texting?" asks Sasha, her attention on me and not on the movie.

"Oh, no one." I set my phone facedown on the coffee table and grab a handful of popcorn.

"Last time we watched a movie, you were texting your roommates, and then suddenly had to leave," she points out.

"I think they're gaming, actually." Or at least chatting with their fans. "I'm not sure though."

"Is something happening between you and one of your roommates?" Sasha fully turns to face me on the sofa, the movie forgotten.

"What? Why do you ask?" I focus on my popcorn, chewing one kernel at a time. My stomach is somersaulting. I was afraid she was going to do this.

"You've never gone out much, and as soon as you moved in here, it seems like whenever we're hanging out, you're texting someone." Sasha leans forward to snag a couple of chips.

The way she phrases it makes me feel shitty, like I'm a bad friend for ignoring her when we're supposed to be spending time together. I wouldn't like that if she did it to me.

"Besides, your writing has improved so much, you must be getting inspiration from somewhere. And if you're not watching porn, you must be sleeping with someone," she says, watching my reaction carefully.

"Is that what you'd do?" I'm not sure if I'm ready to have this conversation with anyone. It has to happen at some point, and it makes sense that Sasha would be the first person I tell about my unconventional relationship, since she's my closest friend here, but it still makes me nervous that she might judge me.

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