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“Oh yeah, I slept great.” He smirked at me, then lowered his voice to add, “Well, after I jerked off again thinking about you.”

My breath caught. I quickly glanced back at the door, then whispered, “M-me too.”

His smile widened, pale eyes darting to my mouth. “After we close up tonight, do you maybe wanna—”

“Why does it smell like beer in here?”

My head whipped around to see Brett standing in the doorway. He looked a little green, his hair messy and his eyes bloodshot.

A bolt of panic kept me silent as I darted a look at Elliot. Last night, after kissing for a long, long time, we’d finally mopped up the beer I’d accidentally spilled—as well as the, um, other fluids on the floor—before Elliot handed me a new one, and we sat there drinking a can each and talking. And kissing more. It’d been so rad. We’d finally left when we heard the security guard out in the food court, hastily sneaking out after Elliot finished locking up.

He looked calm and unruffled as he glanced over at Brett. “It doesn’t.”

“Yeah, it does.” Brett took another step into the room, the little color in his face leaching further as he sniffed. Then he narrowed his eyes at Elliot, not even glancing at me once. “Did you drink in here last night? For real?”

“Did you have fun with your girl at the party you left early for?” Elliot countered in an easy tone, shooting me a secret grin as he sauntered toward the door. “You smell like beer, dipshit. Not the office. It’s coming out of your pores.”

He clapped Brett on the shoulder as he passed him, then winked at me from behind Brett’s back before disappearing. I lowered my head to hide my smile.

Brett swallowed, looking nauseated, then lifted his arm to give it a sniff. “Shit, he’s right.”

“Did you have fun?” I asked, hoping I sounded somewhat normal.

He gave me a tired grin as he dumped his backpack after pulling out his apron. “Big time, bro. Got to spend some quality time with my girl, if you know what I mean.”

He chuckled and nudged me with his elbow, so I smiled weakly back.

“You got a girl?”

I tried not to tense up at the question. “Uh, nope. Not… Anyways, better get in there.”

Managing to give him a bright smile, I beelined for the door. Brett followed.

“Tiff has some friends I could introduce you to. Some total betties. What’re you doing tonight, bro? We’re gonna hang out at the beach later.”

I let out a nervous chuckle. “Isn’t it getting a little cold for that? It’s nearly Halloween.”

“Not if you got a girl on your lap.” Brett nudged me with a sly grin as we walked into the kitchen. “So, wanna come?”

Not in a million years. Especially because it sounded like Elliot had been about to ask me to hang out again before Brett interrupted us.

“Can’t tonight.” I managed a rueful smile. “Sorry. Thanks for the invite, though.”

“Another time. You seem like a legit dude, Rick.” He paused, looking over at me curiously as I heaved a big bag of onions onto the counter. “Hey, were you talking to him in the office before I got there? Elliot?”

My face flamed red. “Um, yeah. Why?”

Brett shrugged. “No reason, I guess. Those guys in the other kitchen are just kinda freaky, dude.”

I frowned. “He’s not freaky.”

“He kinda is, dude.” Before I could answer, he smirked and asked, “You notice the weird smell yet?”

I tensed, trying not to get too mad. I had noticed Elliot’s unique scent, but it wasn’t weird. It wasn’t bad. It was super nice. He smelled like sweet almonds. Kinda like cherry pie. And I freaking loved cherry pie.

“They don’t smell weird.” I dropped the sack of potatoes on the counter with a bit more force than necessary. “And they have a medical condition.”

Brett lifted his hands placatingly with a little chuckle. “Woah, don’t wig out, man. I’m just saying. I know it’s not their fault they look like that, but… they’re still kinda creepy, dontcha think?”