Page 84 of Tag

Cloe’s voice was more certain. “You love him too.”

I looked down at the vase, hugging it closer. “Of course, I love him, but—.”

“Every time you lie, your tits shrink,” Roxxi cut in.

I half-laughed, half-snorted. “Where did you hear that?”

“And,” she went on, all faux-serious, “you love him like a best friend, sure, but you also stare at him like he hung thegoddamn moon, and I know you fantasize about him in those grey sweats he wore last week.”

“Roxxi!”

“Oh, you mean the ones that had her ready to demand he take his ass home and change?” Cloe grinned. “We all saw the moment your brain emptied of everything but print.”

“I was protecting his dignity.”

“Uh-huh,” Roxxi smirked. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. We all saw that mega boa.”

“Shut up.” I laughed.

Kellan made a noise in his throat and immediately began to retreat. “Okay, that’s my cue to exit this conversation.”

“Will you be okay on your own?”

He chuckled. “Sanj, what did I tell you? They’re not taking us out like that. Besides, The Hunt doesn’t start for a few days, and I’m already Marked. They can’t double-up. Sophie and her brother are meeting me at the quad anyway, so I’m good.”

“Alright,” I relented, gently squeezing his arm. “Let me know if anything weird happens.”

“Same to you. I’ll see ya’ll at practice later. My bad about the other day, Cloe.” He waved and disappeared through the East exit doors.

Cloe’s lips pursed for a moment. “Sophie?”

I gave her a tired smile. “Yup… that’ll be a fun conversation.”

She shut her eyes for a second and sighed. “I told Rook to leave it alone.”

“Something happened then? Is that why he just apologized?”

“I knew it,” Roxxi quipped.

“It’s a long story,” Cloe replied, already brushing it aside. “I’ll tell you at home. That’s where we’re going, right?”

“Yeah. I want to drop these off, and I didn’t grab my cheer bag.”

“I can whip up something light before practice,” Roxxi offered. “I’m starving. Lunch did nothing for me.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll meet you guys at the house,” I said, shifting the vase carefully in my arms. “Do one of you wanna ride with me?”

“I will,” Aril answered.

“Wait, before you guys go,” Roxxi reached into her designer tote like it was a portal. “Take one of these, Sanj. I know The Hunt doesn’t officially start for a few days, but just in case.”

Out came a blindingly pink fuzzy keychain, equal parts adorable and unhinged. Hanging from it: metallic pastel brass knuckles, what looked like lip balm but probably wasn’t, and—

“Is that a Swiss knife?” I asked, eyebrows raised.

Cloe grinned. “Sure is. Roxxi meant to give it to you this morning, but forgot.”

“How do you just have these on standby?”

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