“Whatever, it’s fine,” I kind of felt bad for using my eyes as a cop-out for sucking at video games. “You guys probably also playthis game a lot. So, I never really stood a chance with, like, an hour of experience.”
Jae scrunched up his mouth in thought, “Yeah, we’ve probably played this game thousands of hours.”
“Right,” Nox nodded. “Jeez, we really don’t have a life, do we?”
“Speak for yourself,” Jae scoffed. “I have a very active social life.”
“With who, your dick?” Nox smirked.
Teenage boys. I rolled my eyes, almost laughing aloud.
“Shut up, you dip!”
Nox caught the pillow Jae threw at him and flashed me with a smile when he caught me staring at him.
Fucking hell, Shiloh. Stop acting like a fucking creep. You’re friends.
“Anyways,” Jae sighed. “How about we get back toStranger Things? My hands are cramping and need a bre—” Jae squinted his eyes and shot Nox a look. “Don’t even frickin’ try. I walked right into that one, so just don’t.”
Nox tried to stifle a chuckle as he sealed his lips, locked, and threw away the key.
“Don’t worry, Jae. We’ll take a break from gaming, so your precious hands are rested for all the socializing they’ll be doing later,” I deadpanned before smirking at Nox who placed his hand in my lap for a high five.
Jae groaned, and I shrugged innocently before slapping Nox’s hand.
“What?” I asked with feigned ignorance at Jae’s embarrassment. “There’s no shame in masturbation Jae, really. It’s the twenty-first century.”
“Cheese and rice,” Jae grumbled, slapping his forehead. “Can everyone just shut up about masturba—”
Jae abruptly shut his mouth, his eyes widening, and Nox and I turned towards the entryway behind us.
“Masturbating. You guys are talking about masturbation…” Dan looked between us with a look of disbelief as he shook his head.
“No, Uncle Dan we—”
Jae snapped his mouth shut once again when Dan raised his hand with a smirk, “Save it. Ireallydon’t want to know. I, um, just wanted to say I’m going to pick up my parents from the airport. I hope you guys aren’t in the exact same position when I get back. Maybe go outside for a couple of minutes at least so you don’t forget what reality looks like. You know, touch some grass.”
Nox rolled his eyes with a smile, “Yeah, yeah. Like you’d do anything different if you were in our shoes.”
Dan chuckled and waved as he walked out of the living room, Jae’s lethal glare returning as soon as his back was turned.
“Should I, um, should I head home?” I asked awkwardly to Nox.
“What? No,” he shook his head adamantly.
“But your family is going to be here soon, and I’m like…you know. Not family.”
Nox placed his hand on my knee, “Seriously, you’re fine to stay as long as you want. I mean, hell, stay the whole weekend. My parents really wouldn’t mind.”
I gave him a‘bullshit’eyeroll.
“Shy, I’m not exaggerating. You are welcome to stay as long as you want to—”
“But your grandparents are going to be here…where would I even sleep? And don’t you guys have, like, family stuff to do or whatever? I thought you said it was Ruthie’s birthday. Isn’t that why your grandparents are coming. I’m sure you have to do stuff for her birthday party.”
“My grandparents are taking the guest room, and my room will be empty tonight until my sister comes tomorrow with Ruthie and Sebastian. We can sleep down here or up in my room.”
I bit my lip, glancing at Jae who nodded at me in agreement with Nox. I honestly wanted to stay as long as I could, I wasn’t ready to go home and face reality yet, but I felt way out of my comfort zone. Nox was probably just being polite, and it wasn’t a genuine offer.
