“You are…” Zane said, trying—and failing—to sound encouraging. “Much improved.”
Felix sucked in a sharp breath, clutching at his chest dramatically, slumping back into the pouf like a Victorian child with a fainting couch. “How can you say that?”
Zane put his arm around Felix, pulling him into a hug. Felix immediately melted into it, chin tucking under Zane’s jaw, fingers curling into the front of his sweater. “It’s just that you don’t get many chances to practice and that’s okay. You haveus to drive you anywhere you need to go. And we love you.”
“Even if you are the worst driver we’ve ever seen,” Avi said, beaming at him like it was an accomplishment. He said it with genuine fondness, like Felix’s terrible driving was just another charming quirk to collect. For Avi, it was. Felix was perfect in his eyes. No matter how many cars he’d wrecked.
“Wow,” Felix said, glowering at them. His ears were pink now, whether from embarrassment or the mulled wine, it was hard to tell.
“Felix,” Asa said, his tone matter-of-fact. “I’ve seen blind people who drive better than you. It is what it is. You’ve got lots of other things going for you. You’re talented, smart, funny—though usually unintentionally—and you’re a total smokeshow. Nobody cares that you’re the literal worst driver we’ve ever known.”
“You guys should stop helping,” Zane said. He rubbed Felix’s arm soothingly, thumb tracing slow circles over his soft skin.
“What were we even talking about?” Felix mumbled, taking another sip of his drink. The mug clinked softly against his teeth.
“The roads. We were talking about the roads,” Avi said.
“Yeah,” Asa said. “It’s odd. It’s like they were built around the houses and the houses were built around…something else.”
“Isn’t there a community garden in the center of the old neighborhood?” Zane asked. “Isn’t that what Adam’s geriatric besties are always beefing over?”
Asa nodded. “Yeah, but it’s more like the community garden was built to cover up something in a space thatalready existed. It wasn’t part of the urban landscape. The neighborhood wasn’t designed to be self-sustaining, it’s not like an eco-build. And houses in developments like this usually plot the land, build the roads, then start building. This is like they built the houses, then just created the roads to accommodate them.”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding through the academic explanation.
“Huh,” Felix said. “That does seem kind of strange.” He shifted closer, knees brushing Zane’s thigh, unconsciously seeking contact as the conversation drifted toward unsettling.
“Yeah, and it gets weirder,” Asa said. “Adam said that every single basement on that side of the development looks identical.”
Zane frowned. “Why is that weird? Don’t most of these developments have the same builder?”
Asa nodded, but still looked disturbed. “He said they aren’t similar. They’re identical. Same depth, same square footage, same central layout. He said you can’t tell one basement from the other. He called it disorienting. Said he thinks they all connect somehow.”
The room went quiet for half a beat, the fire crackling louder in the pause.
“Connect? Like underground tunnels?” Felix asked, leaning forward a little, like he was hoping for some good gossip. His eyes were bright now, curiosity overriding his earlier indignation.
Avi scoffed. “Noah is right. This place does make people crazy. I’ve never heard of an architectural conspiracy.” Heflopped onto his back on the floor beside the abandoned pile of wood-like pieces, staring at the ceiling.
Asa rolled his eyes. “Look, I’m telling you, it’s weird. This whole place is fucking weird.”
Zane bit back a smile as he asked, “Are you implying that there’s some secret geriatric cabal building underground tunnels…for what?” He tightened his arm around Felix instinctively, playfully, like he was cowering at the ridiculous notion.
Felix’s eyes sparkled as he suggested, “Worshipping Satan?”
“Aren’t they a little old to be devil worshippers?” Avi asked. “Do you age out of that, or…?”
Felix shrugged. “Never too old for hobbies.”
Zane shrugged. “Weren’t all the devil worshippers old inRosemary’s Baby? Maybe the real mystery is why so many old people turn to Satanism after retirement. Maybe you don’t age out, you age in? Is that a thing?”
“So does this mean Adam’s murder plot could be connected to the community garden and the community garden is run by devil worshippers? All of whom are connected by underground tunnels?” Avi asked, grinning.
He looked delighted by the idea, like he’d just unlocked a secret bonus level.
Asa rolled his eyes. “Don’t believe me. I don’t care. But I’m telling you, this neighborhood—and these people—are fucking hiding something.”
He jabbed a finger at the half-assembled shelf like it was personally responsible for the mystery.
