Nico snatched the bag. “Mine next. Mine next.”
He pulled a large bag free then tore it open, taking one and eating it before he offered the bag to Ever. It occurred to Arsen then—they were each trying the candy they offered to prove to Ever they weren’t trying to trick him or give him something dangerous.
Arsen’s chest felt tight. He made eye contact with Cree, who smiled and nodded, like he knew what Arsen was thinking. Maybe he did. There was something almost magical about Cree. There always had been since the day they’d met.
Ever took the candy—a sugar-coated worm—then popped it into his mouth. It took about thirty seconds before his whole face contorted, like he’d sucked on a lemon, his body shivering.
Ever blushed as the others laughed.
“Sour gummy worms,” Nico said. “They’re the best.”
Arsen smiled as Ever continued to chew thoughtfully. “Do you like it?”
Ever nodded and reached for another, popping it in his mouth then repeating the shiver that came once he started to chew, smiling the whole time. Arsen felt himself smiling, too. Just seeing Ever happy made Arsen happy.
Was that love?
The taste test continued for almost an hour. Cree brought Reese’s Pieces and Milk Duds. Felix brought Starburst. Ever liked the pink ones the best. Lake brought Skittles and Life Savers. Lake brought M&Ms, Hershey’s Kisses, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The only thing Ever didn’t like was the Milk Duds, but he hid it well. Only Arsen knew he was faking it. He always did.
Just when it seemed like the taste test was winding down, Levi stepped forward, a sulky look on his face. He didn’t say anything but thrust the large plastic bag at Ever. “Here.”
Ever took the bag, a guarded look on his face. He peered inside, then pulled the last items out one by one. Jolly Ranchers, Gummy Bears, and two Pixy Stix. Ever tried the gummy bears first, popping two in his mouth and chewing, then going back in for more.
Arsen gently plucked the bag from his hand. “You’re going to make yourself sick. Here.” He handed him one of the sugar-filled straws. “Try this and one of the Jolly Ranchers and then maybe we take the rest of the day off from sugar, yes?”
He wasn’t trying to parent Ever, but he had a hard time getting Ever to eat three times a day as it was, much less feed him his body weight in candy. Arsen didn’t want Ever making himself sick attempting to appease his friends. Even now, Ever made a show of upending the sugar-filled straw into his mouth, nodding at the others to let them know he liked it.
Disaster nearly struck when Ever attempted to bite the Jolly Rancher and almost broke his teeth, but soon, he figured it out, tucking it into his cheek like a chipmunk.
The guys stayed a few more minutes, each of them making small talk before they disbanded, giving various excuses from school to work.
As soon as they were alone, Arsen stepped between Ever’s open knees, hands finding his waist to help him down. Ever wrapped his arms around Arsen’s neck, gazing at him, lips puckered, clearly expecting a kiss. Arsen smiled, then plopped a kiss on his perfect mouth. When he didn’t deepen the kiss, Ever made a disappointed sound.
Arsen was also disappointed. There was nothing he wanted more than to take Ever upstairs and eathimfor lunch, but he had to focus on work and then stream for a couple of hours. Then he would spend the rest of the night making Ever beg, cry, and scream in whatever way he could.
He pressed another kiss to his mouth, then said, “I have to finish my shift. Jericho isn’t coming in today. Later. After I finish my game. Okay?”
Ever’s full lower lip jutted out in an exaggerated pout, but Arsen wasn’t buying it. The little shit was learning all too quickly how to get what he wanted from Arsen. If he didn’t set some kind of boundary, they’d have no place to live because Arsen would give up all his responsibilities just to have Ever naked and willing underneath him twenty-four hours a day.
“Don’t you make that face at me,” Arsen murmured, even as he leaned in and gave him a kiss that lingered, giving in to the urge to slide his tongue between Ever’s slightly open lips. He tasted as sweet as he looked. “Go read your book, okay?”
Ever sighed, then nodded.
“Good boy.”
Ever’s lips fell open, a hazy look crossing his face. Arsen had no idea how to decipher what had just happened, so he just ignored it…for now. “Do you want me to order you lunch?”
Ever shook his head, putting his hand on his stomach. “I think I’ll throw up if I try to eat lunch.”
“Yeah, you might just want to sleep it off,” Arsen said, helping him from the counter.
Ever stood on tiptoe, threading his fingers behind Arsen’s neck and forcing his head low enough for him to kiss him again. Arsen allowed it, even as he walked him backwards towards the steps, only breaking the kiss when they reached the bottom tread. “Upstairs, now,besenok. Let me know if you get hungry.”
Ever sighed, glowering at him. “Fine.”
Arsen watched him go with a smile.
He really had created a monster.
