I’d like to be stopping on the third floor and knocking down Sparkle’s door—she shut us out last night—but I have to respect her wishes. Maybe Lu was there for a visit or something.
But my doggy senses were picking up sadness rather than sexiness. No bueno. But, she is the queen, so as her courtier, I will follow the law.
Her law, that is, and no other.
Dono beats on the penthouse door. “Hey, lover boy, open up!”
Nothing.
“Paging Cosmo Singleton-Smith, is there a Cosmo Singleton-Smith in there?” He then starts singing, ‘Here comes the bride’.
Oof. Not sure how that’s going to land.
The penthouse door swings open and before either of us can say another word, a fist thrusts out, connecting with Donovan’s jaw.
Thwack.
Ah. So, I guess that’s how it landed.
I step over Donovan and enter. Cosmo’s eyes are bloodshot, and he’s dressed in sweats. Expensive designer sweats, but still. As I get close, something tickles my hound-senses. A scent that doesn't belong. In slow motion, I point a finger. “Sparkles.”
He says nothing.
Donovan comes in moaning and groaning but I ignore him and pace closer to Cos until our faces are only a couple of inches apart.
“Sparkles,” I say again.
I can fucking smell her. Sense her. On Cosmo Douchehole Drakeward.
Slow your roll, Maximus, slow your roll. If the princess wants to swap saliva with the dragon that’s her business.
Right?
Except, he’s such a fucking douche. Yeah, I like him as a bro-buddy, but it’s not like I’d let him date my little sister if I had one.
“What. Happened?”
“That was twenty-four hours ago.” He collapses onto the couch and holds his head in his hands like a man on the edge of insanity. Maybe he is.
“What was twenty-four hours ago?” Dono asks, pulling an ice pack out of the freezing and gingerly pressing it to his jaw.
“He made out with Theo.”
“Wah?” Donovan’s expression goes through a range of emotions and settles on confused. “Was she drunk?”
“Nice,” Cosmo grumbles.
“No, seriously. She had to be, right?” Dono pleads.
Now that I’ve had a beat to consider, I’m not pissed. I understand it. Cosmo, even though he’s a total fuckbonnet, is one of us.
Team-Sparkles 4eva.
“Please, at least tell me you made her come?” I say, snatching the stupid gold coffee filter thingy out of his hand.
“It wasn’t like that,” he grumbles, grabbing a sponge and mopping up the minuscule drop of liquid on the counter. “We talked. She was really overwhelmed and worried, then the Lumina just…did something. Forced her to kiss me, I guess. It’s not like she’d want to do that without being compelled to.”
“True,” Dono says, rooting through the fridge. He comes out with a long green stalk of something. “What the fuck is this?”
