Page 80 of Four for a Boy

The worry and fear melted away until Chad leaned back into Romeo with a sigh.

Romeo took in a deep breath.

“I love that you smell like me.” He slid his hands over Chad’s stomach. “I love that you’re all mine.”

Chad’s eyes fluttered. He loved that, too.

“I love that no one in here has a clue who I am. Makes it kind of exciting.”

“Terrifying.”

“Exciting.”

Chad’s heart ramped back up again when Josh made his way towards them. He’d slipped his mask over his hair, revealing his red face, and blond hair plastered to his forehead.

He smiled at Chad as he came closer, but there was confusion tugging at his expression too. Romeo had his arms firmly fastened around Chad’s middle, and at Josh’s approach, they tightened further.

“Hey,” Josh said, grinning. “You good?”

He didn’t lean any further forward, but Chad managed to read his lips. Romeo gave off a don’t come any closer vibe, and Josh unconsciously respected it, not advancing on their space.

“Yeah, I’m good.” Chad patted Romeo’s arm and took a deep breath to shout as loud as he could. “This is…”

Fuck

He deflated.

Romeo’s mask pressed to his ear. “Romeo, my name is Romeo. I’m the killer you’ve been fucking. The one you live with. The one you call home. Tell him, Chad, tell him my name. I’m Romeo Knight.”

Romeo laughed, but Chad got his own back.

“Frank,” Chad shouted, plucking out a few hairs on Romeo’s arm.

“Fucking Frank?” Romeo growled.

“No way,” Josh said. “You’re dressed as Frankenstein, and you met a guy called…”

Chad nodded. “That’s how we started talking.”

Josh stuck his hand out. “Nice to meet you!”

Time slowed as Romeo unpeeled an arm from Chad and reached to take Josh’s. Chad stared at their joined hands. His knees shook. He waited for something to show on Josh’s face, a realization, but instead, he just beamed at Romeo.

Chad doubted Romeo smiled back.

“I like the tattoos.” Romeo mumbled.

Josh’s smile climbed higher. He yanked the top of his t-shirt down, showing Romeo as much as he could. “This is my latest. Are you into video games?”

“No, I much prefer old-school games, like puzzles and crosswords.”

“God.” Josh’s nose wrinkled. “So does Chad, and he likes the lamest jokes.”

Chad’s cheeks grew warmer.

“Lame jokes?” Romeo shifted. “Like what?”

Josh snorted. “What was that terrible one last month … what do you call a bee’s ass?”

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