“Get out,” Xave practically growls.
“I can’t do that,” West says regretfully. “Please don’t kill me,” he adds, and the fear in his voice is real.
“West?” I ask dumbly as Xave climbs off me and helps me sit up.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, his back still to us. “Please don’t let him kill me.”
I give Xave a look. “No one is killing anyone.”
He nods and keeps quiet, but I can see how pissed he is.
“You can turn around,” I tell West.
Slowly, he turns, and the mix of fear and relief on his face makes him look even more angelic and innocent than usual.
“I’m sorry.” He looks between us. “I didn’t know you weren’t alone, and know I shouldn’t have busted in like that but I thought something happened to you, and your door wasn’t locked and…” He trails off and looks between us a few times. “This is crazy. I knew you were hooking up with someone, buthim?”
“You have a problem with that?” Xave asks, his expression as dark as his voice.
“No! Well, actually, yeah.” West shakes his head. “I didn’t mean it likethat.” He motions toward the bed I’m still sitting on while Xave stands beside it, looking like the apex predator he is. “I don’t have a problem withthat. But I have a problem withthis.” He points between us. “And I don’t mean that in a homophobic way.” He gives me a pleading look. “I don’t care that you’re with a guy, but the fact that it’shimis kind of a problem, isn’t it?”
“How about everyone stop freaking out and chill for a minute?” I tell both of them. “And we can talk this out like adults.”
West’s gaze flicks to Xave nervously, but he takes a few tentative steps closer.
“Sit,” I tell Xave, and he drops onto the corner of the bed without hesitating.
“So you two are a thing?” West asks tentatively.
“Yeah.” I push my hair back from my forehead and scoot to the edge of the bed so my legs are hanging over it and I can sit properly. “You knew I was hooking up with someone?” I ask belatedly.
He points to his neck. “It was kind of obvious unless you suddenly have issues with bumping into things neck first.” He glances at Xave again. “How did he get in here?”
“It’s probably best if I don’t tell you,” I say honestly.
“How long has he been sneaking in?”
“About a week.”
West’s eyes widen. “And he hasn’t gotten caught?”
“Obviously not.” I try not to smile at West’s obvious bewilderment.
“He’sright here and can hear you,” Xave says dryly.
“So you two are a real thing? Like you’re boyfriends?” West asks, looking between us again.
I nod as Xave says, “Yes.”
“Well, my flabbers are ghasted.” West shakes his head a few times, like he’s clearing the cobwebs. “Does anyone else know?”
“Only his cousins, and now you.”
West purses his lips, his expression going thoughtful.
“What?” I ask. I know that face. He’s scheming.
“Are you guys planning on keeping things on the DL until school is over?” he asks. “I don’t know about you, but I think the fallout from him getting caught in here would be worse than people finding out because you told them.”
