Nico
So, that’s it. That’s your advice? Just like be happy and shit?
Seven
What more do you want? Wedding venues? Florists? Just get married already and stop being so annoying.
Nico
Not you, too, Seven. I expected it from the others but you know better than to believe relationships work. They ruin everything.
Seven
Stop being a drama queen. Mal loves you. He tolerates all your dumbass ideas. Hell, he thinks you actually have good ideas. He watches your stupid nature documentaries and anime. He feeds you. Even when you’re bouncing off the walls in crackhead mode, he gazes at you like you’re his sweet baby angel. You can’t chase him off. He won’t let you.
Nico
Wow. Whatever. You guys suck. I’m going back to class.
He closed his phone, contemplating turning it off. But before he could make a decision, another message came through.
Mal
Hey, Fidget. AC went out at the studio. Heading home. Negative: The bus driver is driving so slowly. Positive: There are three guys on the bus all dressed like different versions of Elvis. Look.
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Nico swallowed the lump in his throat as he stared at three men dressed like Elvis all shooting the peace sign at him.
Mal
Oh, and Bekari’s had one slice left of that jiggle cheesecake you like. The strawberry flavor. I snagged it for you.
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Nico bit down on his lip, tears threatening once again as he stared at the picture of the small pastry box sitting within a bag, swirls of pink whipped cream visible through the plastic window. Mal really did take the best care of him. Nico didn’t deserve him at all.
Mal continued texting without waiting for Nico’s answer, probably assuming he was actually focusing in class.
Mal
Figured it would tide you over until our diner trip tonight. I know you are going to stuff your face with waffles. Wanna do laundry until we have to go? Jericho’s letting us borrow the Bronco.
Nico blinked back tears, hands shaking, his palms damp. How had he never noticed? They really were married.
He sent a dancing heart-eyed hamster sticker. Then an excited hamster sticker.
Nico
Looks yummy. Thanks, Bunny. Laundry sounds good.
It did sound good. It sounded so mundane. But nothing was really mundane with Mal. His phone vibrated in his hand with another notification. It was another photo—a selfie of Mal, but this one had a bunny filter on it, making him look like a cartoonrabbit with enormous eyes and teeth. Nico choked on a wet laugh, wiping at his eyes just as the others in class stood and gathered their things. The kid beside him gave him a wary look like he thought he might have snapped.
Nico just sat there, staring at the photo, his heart beating so fast and so off-kilter he worried he might be having a heart attack. Was that what a heart attack felt like?
His friends were right. It was already too late. He was madly in love with his best friend. He wasdatinghis best friend, living with him. Mal really had been playing the long game. And Nico had fallen for it. He’d been so busy trying to outrun a relationship only to trip and fall in love with his best friend.
And now, he was trapped. Forever. Because he couldn’t picture his life without Mal.
