“Yeah, probably the grief talking,” Flix said. “We all know how well Kazy copes with being abandoned.”
“Sullivan Void didn’tabandonus,” Kaz snapped. It’s not like the man had chosen to die.
“Exactly,” Flix held his gaze pointedly. “So stop acting like he did. I swear, you’re such a prick. This is why no one can tolerate you as soon as you’ve charmed your way into their pants and drop the act.”
“I’m about to shove my blaster into yours and pull the trigger.”
Flix whistled. “Scary. Anyway.” He shook Nate a little. “Ready to go? Berga’s already waiting after the afterparty.”
“He knows Berga, too?” Damn it.
The future Butcher of the Brumal was scary, even by Kaz’s standards. And not in that in-your-face tough guy kind of way either; that’s half of what made him so creepy. On the outside, Berga looked like your run-of-the-mill nerd. He sort of was, considering he was dedicated to his experiments and the obtainment of knowledge.
“Told you it was a bad idea,” Madden mumbled out of the corner of his mouth.
“I’m not really in a partying mood,” Nate said, his tone lowering some.
At least the guy felt bad about his loss. Good. He deserved it after the crappy driving he’d done tonight. Kazimir hoped he felt terrible about it for weeks. It wasn’t too often that he lost his cool, but Kaz had really needed a fun night out, and this? Losing?
Not. Fun.
Kaz didn’t lose. Ever. No matter what the stakes.
“Sounds like that’s exactly what you need, actually.” Flix tugged Nate back and started for the exit. “We’ll catch you all later then!”
“Don’t let me catch you first, Pretty Boy,” Kazimir warned, unwilling to give it up entirely despite knowing he couldn’t lash out right now.
Nate made a sound of frustration and stopped, jostling Flix in the process. He shoved Flix’s arm off his shoulders and spun back on his heels to face Kaz, that insufferable, arrogant look still in his eyes.
“You go to Vail, right? I’m older than you,” Nate said tightly. “Didn’t anyone teach you how to treat your seniors?”
Madden and Flix both made a choking sound that they smartly covered with fake coughs.
Kazimir’s eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Nate swiveled and headed for the exit, leaving Flix to follow or not as he stepped out into the inky night and the forest that surrounded the back of the boathouse.
Flix shook his head and then took off after him, possibly a little afraid if he didn’t move quickly Kaz would go after him instead.
He wasn’t entirely wrong. The idea was there circling his brain, but fortunately—for Nate—Madden cut through his thoughts before he could come to a decision.
“Take a breather, it’s not that big of a deal.” Madden clapped him on the back and then moved over to drop into one of the three maroon leather loveseats. He tore the black t-shirt he’d been wearing over his head and dropped it to the cement ground with a sigh.
“Sort of like how keeping your clothes on isn’t that hard of a thing to do?” Kaz drawled, but just like that, the anger he’d been feeling drained out of him and was replaced instead with curiosity. He plopped down on the arm of another of the couches and asked, “How do they know each other?”
“Not really sure,” Madden said. “All I know is they’ve got a mutual friend. To be honest, I didn’t think they were that close up until now. Maybe Flix was passing by and overheard you threaten him or something.” He shrugged.
“You think he just played me?” To protect someone? Flix wasn’t the type to go out of his way like that for someone he didn’t at least have a slight fondness for.
“Nah,” Madden seemed to agree. “Clearly they’re close enough for him not to want to see the guy’s face rearranged.Which, for the record, neither do I. Nate is a good guy. Super helpful around here.”
“Why haven’t I heard of him before then?”
“This isn’t exactly your scene, Kaz.”
He hummed because there was no arguing with facts. “Define good?”
“What?”
“You said he was a good guy.” He strummed his fingers on his thigh and peered out through the opening in the back where Nate and Flix had disappeared a few minutes ago. “What’s that mean?”
