“Mm-hmm.”
“Okay.” Val leaned back on the wall, mirroring Kaj’s position. “So, you storming out like that was just because you wanted to smoke?”
“I didn’t storm out.” He didn’t, for real.
Val chuckled.
“What?” Kaj snapped.
Sighing as he looked back at Kaj, Val said, “You didn’t storm out, fine, but we’ve been friends since kindergarten, dude. I know how to read all the little tells of your non-verbal language.”
“Never intended to be the mysterious type of guy.”
“Are you two fucking?”
Kaj coughed as he was taking a drag from his cig. “Where did that come from?”
“I haven’t been around you and Noah together a lot for the past few months, but during the video filming session I got the impression something was going on, and the days we’ve been traveling have confirmed my suspicions.”
“Whatever witchy powers you think you have aren’t working. We’renotfucking.”
“But you want to. Am I right?” Val flashed Kaj a mischievous grin that made him want to rip his face into such little pieces he’d end up with face confetti.
“No,” Kaj grunted, looking ahead as he took a long drag of his almost dead cig. Maybe if he inhaled too much nicotine in one go, he’d get dizzy enough to stop listening to his friend.
“Who are you trying to convince?”
“No one.”
“Come on, man. Admit it, you’ll feel much better. You were jealous just now.”
“Why would I be?” Kaj glanced at Val for a moment before going back to staring into nothingness. “He can do whatever and whomever he wants. I don’t care.”
“They’re just friends, you know? Been following each other’s channels for a while.”
“Good for them.”
“If you want my opinion—”
“I don’t.”
Val rolled his eyes and ignored him. “I think you and Noah are the same idiots you were a decade ago. Neither of you would admit to still having feelings for each other, yet the way you were so relaxed and chirpy after yourencountersmade it so obvious.”
“You’re asking to be hit.”
“You’re just wasting precious time. I’ve never seen two people with the same chemistry you two have.” Val paused. “You know, Noah is as sexual as a rock when he’s not interested in someone, but these days he’s got a desperatefuck-meaura that I’ve only seen when you’re around.”
As if someone had yelled his name, Kaj jerked his head toward Val. His heart thumped.
A shit-eating grin stretched Val’s lips. “I knew it.”
Kaj splayed his palm over the side of Val’s skull, Kaj gave it a little push, making his stupid silky blond hair swish. “It’s creepy that you keep tabs on your friend’s sexual needs like that. Maybe you’re the one who wants to fuck him.” He threw the stub on the ground and stepped on it.
“I’m not keeping tabs on anything. I just know both of you,” Val said. “And for the record, he’s not my type. I like them more delicate,prettier.”
Kaj’s brows furrowed.
“And now you’re thinking ‘Noah’s pretty, the fuck is this asshole talking about?’” Val tossed his head back and laughed.
