“—can put a bed down there,” James was saying as he walked through with another box. “It’ll be totally humane.”
“We’re not locking Holden in the basement,” Kit said, without looking up from his phone.
“Spoilsport,” James said with a sigh, moving into the kitchen.
Bedroom allocation was going to be interesting. Kit wanted to sleep with all three of them all the time, but he wasn’t naive. Sharing too much space for too long would get someone killed. Besides, Kit liked his alone time, too.
That was a concern for later, though, as a text notification slid distractingly across his screen.
Devoted Admirer:hello sweetheart!!!
Devoted Admirer:just got out of class, missing you the whole time
Kit:gross
Devoted Admirer:can’t wait to see you again!!! did d and j already fuck you in the new house?
Kit:maybe
Devoted Admirer:you’ll have to tell me all about it ;) btw i finished looking at j’s scrapbooks
The change of subject was jarring. Holden wouldn’t interrupt his own shameless flirting for frivolous reasons. Kit had to think before remembering the scrapbooks from James’s dad. Friends, family, events, a snapshot of daily life that might hold a clue.
Kit:have you told james yet
Devoted Admirer:not yet
Kit:did you find something????
A pause before Holden’s reply.
Devoted Admirer:nothing dramatic. a few faces j should look into. just wanted to tell you first in case you think we should loop B in
Kit frowned. Of course James would loop Bishop in—no. James deliberately hid the Terry operation from Bishop. Which Kit had been happy about, since he was mad at Bishop for the egregious crime of being suspicious of Kit’s suspicious background.
This text conversation was Holden’s subtle way of saying he disagreed with that policy.
Kit:you think james is too impulsive
Kit:you do remember you drugged and kidnapped me once
No pause here. Holden’s reply was instant and shameless.
Devoted Admirer:that wasn’t impulsive, that was meticulously planned and calculated
Devoted Admirer:your call. I don’t care about J getting in trouble. Just you
Maybe someday Holden would get along well with the others. That would be adorable. Or terrifying. Right now, Kit shared Holden’s concerns. And Holden was right. Kit, Holden, and Darius weren’t enough to rein James in if he lost control.
Kit:wait until tomorrow to show james what you found
Kit:i’ll invite bishop over
Holden’s answer was a string of heart emojis. Then a truly filthy account of what he wanted to do to Kit later.
Kit shifted uncomfortably in the armchair and muted Holden’s thread. Just for a minute. He didn’t want those thoughts heating his mind as he texted Bishop.
Kit:are you free tomorrow night?
