“Fuck!”
Sammie fell back against the couch cushions, dropping her controller into her lap. Vash, the cat, gave her a glare from where she was curled up on the back of the couch, before tucking her head under her paw and going back to her nap. “Ivy, don’t let him win!”
Ivy was seated next to her, legs pulled up onto the couch. She leaned forward, laser-focused on the television and the battle playing out there.
Pikachu versus Marth.
Ivy versus Kai.
“Damn, sis.” Atticus plopped down on Sammie’s other side, a seltzer water in hand. “You actually held your own against the nerds.”
“I hate playing with these two.” Sammie glared at the screen. “This was the only game I thought I was actually good at before I met both of them.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll bask in mediocrity with you.” Atticus bumped her shoulder before handing her one of the cans he’d brought them. A round of whooping went off from the mass of bodies huddled on the floor.
“Shield, shield, shield!” Eric was practically screeching as Ivy’s Pikachu took a hard blow from Kai’s Marth. Aaron was next to him, eyes glued to the screen. They’d both been knocked out of the game early on, followed by Kieran, then Bowen, then Atticus, and finally Sammie. Bowen rose from where he sat next to his teammates, raking his hands through his hair, nearly vibrating with excitement.
“Don’t let him hit you again!”
Ivy didn’t flinch, her eyes never leaving the screen, thumbs moving over her controller with a practiced ease.
“Bro, you’re so fucking sweaty, get off me!” Eric swatted at Bowen’s hands that had landed to rest on his head, pushing the other man away from him with a sharp grin. Bowen crouched down, wrapping his arms around Eric, pinning him in place. “Fuck, stop!” Eric wriggled in his grip, even as Bowen’s eyes stayed glued to the screen. “You don’t even sweat this much on the court.”
Aaron nodded. “He’s right. It’s weird.”
“Video games are a different kind of stress.” Bowen released his hold on Eric. “A sweatier kind.”
Sammie chuckled as the final member of their party came back into the room. Kieran also took a seat on the floor, next to Aaron, but his eyes met Sammie’s before turning back to the battle playing out on the TV.
“I saw the video.”
Sammie nearly came out of her skin at her brother’s whispered confession. She whirled on him.
“What do youmeanyou saw the video?” Surely he was lying. Otherwise, Sammie would have to actually kill him, and she didn’t think murder really suited her.
“Not the whole thing.” Atticus was grinning,soproud of himself for making her squirm.
“I don’t want you to watch any of it!”
“Keep your voice down, you dork.” He shoved her with his shoulder. “I thought you wanted this to stay a secret.”
Sammie frowned. “Don’t watch the videos,” she hissed. “You fucking pervert.”
Atticus was still grinning, bright and shit-eating as ever. “It was just a few seconds and I told Kai to turn it off or else I’d puke.” A seriousness spread over his face, clouding hisexpression. “I just wanted to check on you, after what he told me you’re doing.” He nodded toward the group on the floor. “With Kieran.”
Anxiety tickled down Sammie’s spine, and she glanced at Ivy on her other side. Her friend was fully engrossed in the game, and didn’t seem to be listening to what Atticus was saying.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” He poked Sammie’s thigh, pulling her attention back.
“It’s fine,” she mumbled. “I’m fine.”
And she was fine. Mostly. When she’d watched the video back, a newfound pride had filled her, swelling in her belly. She’d lookgood. They’d both looked good, especially together. Kieran had posted it after she’d given him the go ahead, and had sent her his login information so she could keep an eye on the notifications too.
Kieran’s subscribers were feral for more. One video, and they were already begging for another. Kieran had posted a few stills from the video on his other socials. Sammie in his lap. She looked like sin from the camera’s angle, the slight hourglass shape of her waist, the swell of her hips and belly, her thick thighs on full display. His fans were eating it up and already asking for seconds.
Sammie wasproudof what they had done. Of what she had done.
Never mind the fact that she wished it was all a little more… real.
