Chris pointed a fry at me like it was evidence in court.
“We don’t see you anymore.”
“I was literally here yesterday.”
“You were physically present,” Mark said. “Spiritually? Gone. Empty shell. Body snatched. Replaced by some lovesick pod person.”
Beth smiled into her iced tea. “You do disappear a lot lately.”
“I have a life,” I said.
Mark barked a laugh. “Yeah. Her. Getting love-bombed.”
He waggled his eyebrows obnoxiously.
“Sage,” Chris said dramatically, like narrating a documentary. “The myth. The legend. Who shows up like cat woman all high heels and mini dresses than disappears like smoke.”
Beth snorted.
“No seriously,” Chris went on, counting on his fingers. “She’s either married, works for the CIA as a honeypot, or using you as her summer plaything before she moves back to Monaco.”
“Monaco?” Mark said.
“No one would honeypot, Ethan? For what— marketing secrets?” Chris snorted.
Tony finally took his sunglasses off and pointed at me with them.
“Also,” he said, “it’s my boat.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You’ve basically moved in,” he continued. “Using it to seduce her. At this point I’m charging rent. Slip fees. Utilities. Emotional support tax.”
Mark nodded solemnly. “Yeah dude. You’re gonna start owing him money.”
“I rebuilt that boat,” I said.
Tony grinned. “Cool. You can write me a check.”
Chris laughed. “He’s not joking either.”
“I am absolutely not joking,” Tony said. “You’ve spent more nights on Artemis than I have this month. I show up and there’s like scented candles and designer body soap. It’s suspiciously romantic down there.”
Beth choked on her drink.
“Shut up,” I muttered.
Tony smirked. “Just saying. You’re treating my boat like a honeymoon suite.”
My ears burned.
Because… not inaccurate.
Then Mark leaned forward.
“Alright,” he said. “Real question.”
Here it comes.
