It was a clunky question, but a decent one. I eyed Wes, watching his face. It was smooth and non-reactive.
“Correct,” he said. “And I intend to keep it that way. In fact, I would prefer it if neither of us interacted with the group ever again.”
Delilah nodded, her face softening. She looked to Hudson, as if for approval.
But Hudson wasn’t nearly finished yet. “And what is the nature of the predilections that led you to a BDSM cult?”
“Objection,” I called out, shaking my head.
“Sustained,” Delilah said. She lightly elbowed Hudson.
“What are you objecting to?” Hudson scoffed. “I’m trying to make sure he’s not going to turn your skin into a lamp!”
I rolled my eyes.
“If that was my intention, I’m not sure that’s something I would disclose,” Wes said reasonably.
“We’re going to need to have your ID on file,” Hudson said. “Standard procedure for men Nova meets in sex cults for evil wealthy people—especially when said men have zero online presence.”
Wes’s face was suddenly unreadable, and I felt defensive of him as Hudson inadvertently struck a nerve with his dig at the rich.
“Okay, okay, we’ve entertained this long enough,” I said. “You’re not scanning Wes’s ID. I will continue to share my location with both of you so you will know where to find my skinless body.”
“I prefer your body intact,” Wes said, making me wrinkle my nose and giggle.
Delilah smiled. “That’s so romantic.” She sighed. “I’ve heard enough. I like him. He has good banter. And the age gap and Southern gentleman vibe is sooo Lana-coded.”
“Lana Del Rey,” I explained to Wes.
“Thank you, Gen Z, but I actually understood that reference,” Wes drawled. “Born to Dieis one of the greatest albums of all time.”
Delilah’s entire face lit up with sheer delight. Hudson’s lips poised to call Wes aperformative male, but I communicated with a wordless, pointed look that I’d truly had enough.
Hudson pressed his lips together. “I will be assessing you and how you make my best friend feel very closely.”
I smiled at Hudson’s use of the termbest friend. What the world needed to understand about Hudson was that his outer shell was only a hater to protect his gooey, lover center.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Wes said. He kissed my temple, and we both moved to our feet. “I’d love for you both to join us at Third House tonight. They’re celebrating four years in business.”
“I can come for like an hour, and then I have a date,” Hudson said.
“Me too,” Delilah said. “Except I don’t have a date. I met a person named Goose at Brooklyn Harvest Market who invited me to a warehouse party in Bushwick.”
Wes grinned and looped his hand around my waist.
“Delilah…” Hudson and I said at the same time, preparing to tell her we were too old to be attending parties spearheaded by people named Goose from Bushwick.
“That is exactly the name of a person who should be throwing parties,” Wes said.
Delilah beamed and made a gesture with her hand as if to say,see?
Wes and I led my roommates out of the apartment and the rundown, roach-infested building. His fingers intertwined with mine as we headed north.
“Don’t fight me on this, but I got you a new phone,” he said, low to my ear as Hudson and Delilah lightheartedly bickered behind us. “They didn’t have your model at the store anymore, so I got the oldest one they had, in case that would help you feel more comfortable.”
I sighed. “I still feel very uncomfortable. But it needed to happen, and I can’t do it myself, so…” I looked down at our feet. “Thank you, Wes.”
“Of course. I just want you to be safe.”
