Page 98 of Bazooka
At the sound of the door opening, he flinched. Maybe I did, too.
“Hey,” Patricia said, walking inside. “Am I interrupting something? I just came to pour myself a glass of water.”
“No, come on in,” I replied. “I was just chatting with the cook.”
“The sink is over there,” Luz said, rolling his eyes. “The glasses are in the cabinet.”
I gave him a stern look as he mouthed, “What?”
“How are you, Levi?” Patricia said. “I hoped I would see you tonight. You owe me a drink or two.”
“I’m good. About that drink—”
I paused when I felt a hand on my chest. A very proprietary hand.
“Oopsie. I lost my balance for a moment. Sorry,” Luz said, but he didn’t sound sorry at all. He also wouldn’t remove his hand from my chest until Patricia left, which was childish, but I let him do it anyway.
“Again, sorry,” he said with a shrug after we were left alone. “Old habits die hard, I guess.”
I smirked. “I can see that. What are you baking, brat?”
“Something sweet. It’s finished, so I’ll hit the shower now. Pinky swear you won’t leave while I’m in the bathroom.”
I chuckled because he was ridiculous and hooked my finger around his. “You got it, pest.”
I finally got the answer to my question when Luz appeared in the living room half an hour later. He was dressed in jeans and a dark blue shirt, and his hair was still damp from the shower. Almost all his bruises were gone, and it only enhanced his beauty—and I could say it objectively.
“I made you cupcakes, guys,” Luz said, carrying a bunch of cardboard boxes in his hands. “The lemony ones are for you, asshole Adam. The poppyseed ones are for Maddox, and they are thank-you muffins. You know why, cool guy. The poisoned ones are for you, Office Vile. Best quality strawberries, though.”
Jordan choked with laughter as Luz gave out everyone’s boxes.
“Yours are in the kitchen, roomie,” Luz told him before walking up to me. “These are for you,kochanie. The vanilla ones because they smell like you.”
“Thank you,” I said, taking the box, feeling awkward.
“Oh, Luz, it seems you’re sitting on the floor,” Patricia said, smiling sweetly. “Good thing for you, the movie is short.”
She had a point because Jordan was sitting on the sofa next to Adam and Maddox, and there was no room there for anyone else. Patricia was sitting in an armchair, the same as I was.
“Oh, you’re wrong,” Luz countered. “I have a seat right here.”
He plopped down in my lap with a satisfied sigh. “Yeah, I think I’ll just park myself right here.”
Patricia let out an incredulous laugh as Jordie announced, “I’m putting the movie on. Everyone, shut up.”
“More bad habits?” I said to Luz in a low voice. “Why are you picking on her?”
He moved closer to whisper in my ear. “I hate her. And she’s picking on me back.”
“You’re being childish. And you can’t watch a movie like this.” I said what was obvious, because he was facing my neck instead of the TV.
“Doesn’t matter,” he whispered, his lips grazing my earlobe. “I’ve already seen it.”
I cocked my eyebrows. “So, I’ll be watching the movie, and you’ll be watching me?”
“You know I don’t mind watching you, Baz.”
When I wrapped my arm around him to make sure he wouldn’t fall, he relaxed. His breath fanned my neck, warm and sweet. He smelled of shower, shampoo, and cupcakes, making me inhale more air than I needed to.
