“Well isn’t that just so great!” Gem half-laughed, half-wailed.
“I won’t say anything.” Bryce stepped out of the way of the door so they could leave. “It’s none of my business, and probably no one else’s either. So… yeah, I won’t say anything.”
Gem sagged in relief. “Thank gods.”
At Gem’s reaction, Rusty flinched, his tail lowering to the curl around his leg. He masked the expression quickly, covering it with neutral boredom before Gem noticed.
“It’s not like we’re hiding it,” Gem said, fidgeting with his dress. “It’s just… complicated, you know?”
Bryce didn’t know, but he nodded anyway. “Okay. Like I said, it’s no one’s business, right?”
“Thanks,” Gem whispered, gripping Bryce’s wrist in his lowest hand and squeezing. “Believe me when I say that your discretion is keeping Rusty alive.”
An awkward chuckle escaped him, but it died off when neither Gem nor Rusty joined in his humor. If anything, Gem became even more serious as he squeezed Bryce’s wrist again.
“Seriously, his life and, more importantly, his beautiful, silky pelt relies on your silence.”
“More importantly? Really?” Rusty huffed.
“Oh, you think Toni’s above shaving you bald? He’s a petty bitch.” Straightening, Gem propped a pair of hands on his hips as he waved over Rusty. “Or do you want to spend the rest of your life looking like a naked golrath.”
“You mean, mole rat,” Bryce whispered, and Gem shot him a warning frown.
“I know what I said.”
“I don’t want to look like a naked mole rat,” Rusty whined, and Gem jerked several thumbs at Bryce.
“Then get on your knees and grovel, bitch.”
“No groveling,” Bryce said in an attempt to bring order to the chaos Gem thrived on. “I already said I wouldn’t tattle on you.”
Stepping forward, Rusty gripped Bryce’s arm, claws pricking his skin through his flannel. “Thanks, man. You’re doing me a real solid.”
“No problem.” Bryce patted the back of his paw, and Rusty released him. “I’ll do you another. You have lipstick in your fur.”
“My gods, Bryce, what a hero,” Gem said sincerely, pressing a few hands to his chest as Rusty rubbed at his cheek. “It’s like we’re becoming best friends right before our eyes.”
The door behind Bryce opened, and all three of them jumped as Toni staggered in. “What the fuck is going on in here?” he demanded drunkenly, blinking bleary black eyes.
“I couldn’t find the bathroom,” Bryce lied, hoping Toni was too drunk to notice that he wasn’t very good at it, “and Gem and Rusty were showing me where it was.”
“Yeah, we were helping,” Gem agreed quickly, showing off the toilet stall with a flourish of his many hands. “Here you are, Bryce! The toilet. For your pee.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Rusty struggled not to laugh as Bryce headed toward the toilet. “Thanks, Gem. I appreciate the help.”
As Rusty slipped out of the bathroom, an unhinged smile stretched Gem’s mouth, and Toni stared at him in confusion. Not wanting to get mixed up even more in whatever this was, Bryce took refuge in the stall and shut the door, locking it securely behind him.
Chapter nine
Fuckin’ Bitchin’
Zef
By the time Zefhad changed into their normal streetwear and washed most of the makeup off, their friends were well on their way to drunkenness. Toni, Oliver, Jude, Liel, and even Willow were quite sloshed when they came upon the table. Gem was doing shots “to catch up,” and Glyma was flushed and giggling, leaning heavily on Quin. Bryce and Rusty were sober, and Tad…
Well, Tad was simply very good at holding her liquor. It was impossible for even Zef to figure out if she was inebriated.
Not that it mattered to them. They rarely overindulged, but they never judged others on their consumption. In fact, they found it very humorous, especially when Toni and Gem got drunk together.
