When the doors finally open, they’re all incredibly slow to stumble out.
“It’s dark,” someone observes aloud, helpfully.
“It’s alright,” I mutter. “I’ll get the light, when I can get out.”
Dave’s lit his phone, flashing it around the place, until, “Shit, man. That sign says ‘Keep Out.’ I’m not sure we should be down here.”
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Amber asks.
“Yes, I’m sure! Just let me…” Finally, I make it out of the elevator and over to the light. Christ, I’d die a million deaths if I got caught in a time loop with these fuckers. The very thought of it makes me almost sprint to my door, pull out my key, and smash the thing open. I run to the lamp, switch it on, and wait, holding my breath until they wander in, fall all over my mattress, and get to sitting around, or whatever it is they all came here for.
August’s immediately at the wall with Shashi, pulling out my boards, arranging them, chatting away, and how much is he telling her? Andwhydoes she even care?
“Want a sip?”
Jon pushes his beer towards my lips, and I almost spill it in my urgency to slap it away from my face. “No!”
“I can get you one of your own if you want. August never minded sharing…”
The comment’s infuriating on every level. I’m absolutely certain he means more by it. What is he thinking? That I’ll replace August? That with me onside, he might even have a chance with the two of us?Together?
I think it must be that, because he saunters away across the room to August’s side, glances back at me with a wink, then throws an arm across August’s shoulder. August immediately shrugs him off with an irritated movement and slides around the other side of Shashi, continuing their hushed discussion. Jon awkwardly leans in as if he’d understand a word of it. And I would sorely love to know what they’re saying, but before I can take one full step in their direction, Amber’s in front of me, like she was waiting for the opportunity to pounce.
“So… are you and August…” She breaks off there with a knowing eyebrow raise.
“Are August and I what?” Obviously, I know exactly what she means, but it’s the only response I have. What are August and I? I haven’t the vaguest idea. How can I answer that, here, on the spot?
My eyes are drawn to him like two asteroids on a collision course, and I can tell he’s heard us. His stance is a little stiffer, his face slightly turned towards me, like he’s trying to listen in over the top of Jon’s blathering. And now I feel even more on the spot.
“Are you and August… seeing each other?” She lowers her voice to the slightest utterance at the end of the sentence, but it’s not like August couldn’t hear a pin drop in this tiny space.
What do I say?
‘I wish I could, but he’ll be dead soon?’ ‘He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve met in a thousand lives, but I’m not supposed to make a move?’ ‘I want him more than anything, but I’m notgood enough for him, and the sooner I step out of his short life, the better?’
Richie comes to my rescue, sort of, when he quips, “I think that’s fairly obvious.”
“It’s not obvious,” she responds way too loudly, bringing the whole mess out onto the table. “This is a very complex situation.”
“Yeah, so maybe they don’t want you asking about it,” Tico throws out, and I could absolutely kiss him for it.
Then Dave pipes up. “But…” And my stomach clenches at his tone. “I don’t mean August and August… but just in general… if you’re seeing yourself…” I look very hard at him, but his eyes are drifting over the ceiling as he gathers his thoughts, finalising them with, “isn’t that incest?”
“No!” August and I shout at exactly the same time, and he turns as pink as I probably have at the outburst.
Thank god Amber is there with, “They’re not related, you know.”
“That’s exactly right,” I say.
“Notcousins,” August puts in.
“But youdohave the same parents,” Dave pursues.
“That’s a very good point,” Tico adds.
“But they’re still notrelated,” says Shashi.
“Aren’t they?” asks Dave.
