Zach: No. Look, just ignore me. I’m in a mood. It’s my problem, not yours.
Denny: Why do I feel like that’s a lie, lol?
Denny: What’s going on, babe?
Zach: I justneed space to work through it
Denny: ?
Denny: Work through what, exactly?
Denny: Zach?
Denny: Zach? Jesus. What the hell’s going on?
FIFTY-SEVEN
CHOKING ON RED PILLS AND GRIEF
“Why isDenny calling me in a mad panic?”
Tightening my lips, I focus on my computer and the project that’s due the day after tomorrow.
“Yo, bro?”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Pecan.”
“You might not but Denny clearly does.” He dips his face over my shoulder. “What’s going on? You okay?”
“Do I look okay?”
“You look how you’ve looked since she went to Europe. In dire need of a blowjob and a hug. I’m just not sure which order’ll work best. The hug I can do, but the BJ, nah?”
“Do I sense a question mark? Did breaking things off with Hailey make you question your sexuality?”
He shoves my shoulder. “Already questioned that. Got Neil Randolph to suck me off in?—”
I spin around in my chair to gape at him. “Are you messing with me?! Neil Randolph?! I hated him!”
First Denny, now Pecan?! What the actual fuck?!
“Hey, we had that enemies to lovers vibe going on.” He shoots me a dopey grin. “One of the best BJs I ever had.” Then he elbows me in the head. “Now that I got you out of your funk, what’s going?—”
“Why aren’t you answering Denny’s calls?! If she phones me one more time while I’m?—”
Brows high as Callan verbally skids to a halt, Pecan prompts, “While you’re what, Cal?”
“Never mind that.”
“Did my bedroom become a meeting room or something?” I rock back in my seat so I can glower at them in stereo.
“Denny’s worried. Which means she won’t stop calling either of us by the looks of it because you’re not answering your cell,” Callan points out. “Which means we won’t get any peace until you answer her. Why aren't you answering her calls? Answer her damn calls, Zach!”
I tip my head to the side. “You look pink.”
“Pink?”
“Pink,” Pecan confirms, also studying him.
