Page 77 of Psync
“You know I’m washing it off before I leave this room, Alice.” Eli went up to Haruka. A curl of anxiety twisted in his stomach. He didn’t want Haruka think he looked stupid.
Eli’s fingers found the edge of his hood.
“Don’t.” Haruka pulled his hand away. “I want to see it.”
Click
“Alice! You have to warn people before you take a picture. Haruka might not want to be on the club page.”
Haruka took Alice’s phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Sending myself a copy.”
“No, don’t delete the original!” Eli tried to grab Alice’s phone, but it was too late. “She’s just going to take another one.”
Alice snatched her phone back and snapped three more pictures, then stuck out her tongue.
Haruka huffed.
He still had no idea if Haruka thought he looked stupid or not. Bond or no, he was still a bit of a jerk sometimes. Like . . .
Eli’s mouth dropped open.
“Hey . . . you called me a beautiful moron!”
“Um, Eli, he didn’t call you anything.”
Haruka burst out laughing. It lit up the room like a roman candle—or maybe that was just how it seemed to Eli.
No, he wasn’t the only one who thought so. Everyone in the room turned to watch as taciturn, cool-as-ice Haruka laughed so hard he had to lean on Eli for support.
“You are a beautiful moron.” Haruka wiped a tear from his eye.
“Yeah? Well, you’re a hot jerk.”
Alice snapped another picture, and Haruka and Eli both turned to look at her. “Don’t mind me. Please, feel free to keep providing us all with quality entertainment.”
“That’s enough pictures, I think. Makeup wipes please.” Eli held out his hand and wiggled his fingers.
Alice took one more picture, then handed him the box. “Do you need help?”
“I’ve got it—hey!”
Haruka plucked the box from Eli’s hand and took his chin in one hand. “Hold still.”
“Haruka’s showing off,” someone said from the back of the room.
“What qualifications does it take to get into Eli’s inner circle? Is there a class you can take?” Alice teased.
“It’s an exclusive club. Only one member,” Haruka said as he gently, but thoroughly, cleaned Eli’s face.
Eli wanted to pull his hood down over his entire head. “You all suck. Hey—ow!”
“Sorry.” Haruka frowned at the sequin he’d pulled off of Eli’s cheek. “Is there a better way to get these off?”
“Just time and patience. I’m sorry, Eli. I got a little carried away there at the end.”
