Page 121 of Twisted Needs

“Hey, I am trying very hard to be nice,” I argue. “As of today, I am in a new phase of life. No more bitchy Anders. Only when he needs to come out.”

“That’ll probably last two days,” Lee laughs. “Why the hell are you trying to be so nice all of a sudden?”

“Sign from the universe, I guess,” I smirk. “Just…feeling happier these days.”

Parker is coming home today. I haven’t seen him in a week.

“Okay, so you got fucked is why,” Aviva retorts. “I can sense it. You have the sex glow.”

“Yeah, but who the hell would fuck Anders?” Lee snarks. “Besides closeted DL frat brothers?”

“Are you calling me a twink?”

“If the shoe fits, pal. Or, in your case, the gay little necklace.”

“Oh fuck off. It’s a fucking Van Cleef!” I scoff. “Sorry I don’t like wearing your hippy-dippy macaroni bead necklace. My four year old niece could make something better than that piece of shit hanging around your neck…” Who am I kidding? I can’t be nice. Not around Lee. Aviva is an enabler.

“Gay little necklace…” She repeats to herself, laughing. She reaches across the table and steals Lee’s Paloma, finishing that one off as well.

“Wha- okay, woah. What the hell?” Lee exclaims. “Aviva, it’s your turn to be the DD. Stop swiping our shit.”

“That’s why I didn’t order a drink,” she shrugs. “Who’d you sleep with, Anders?” She turns and gives me a cocky look. “Pray, tell.”

“I dunno. Maybe I would’ve felt tipsy enough to spill the tea if I was able to finish my drink, but it looks like that’s not happening.”

“Real nice, Anders,” she mutters, reaching into her purse and pulling out a metal flask. She pours a splash of it in her soda, stirs it with her straw and slides it over to me. “All yours. Take a sip,” she orders. “Fucking alcoholic.”

“Says the one who carries a flask with fireball everywhere she goes,” I say quietly, holding the straw and chugging just about half of what’s in the glass.

“Was it Seth?” Lee presses, folding their arms across their chest and leaning back against the booth. “Oh my God. Connor and Seth? Eiffel Tower part two?”

“Seth and I don’t really hook up anymore.”

“Okay! Then just fucking tell us who!” they groan impatiently. “Don’t drag it out and act so fucking cryptic. I don’t have the patience for your riddles.”

“Wha-” I mouth. “What riddles?”

“Did you forget to take your Adderall today?” Aviva asks them. It’s only funny because she’s genuinely asking. It’s very noticeable when Lee isn’t medicated.

“Shh,” Lee chastises. “Anders. Say it.”

The look they both give me makes my stomach twist in knots. This is a terrible idea. “It’s Parker,” I say quickly, too quickly, like if I get the words out fast enough they won’t sound real. Heat crawls up my neck as I duck my head behind my drink. “I slept with Parker.”

“Actually?” Aviva beams, her eyes widening like she was just handed a puppy. “Deadass?”

I bite back an embarrassing grin and nod. “Yeah.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” she snaps. “Lee—I get. But me? Really, babe?”

I knew she’d make it about loyalty before she made it about concern. That almost makes this easier. Maybe this isn’t all that bad and I’m just overthinking it. Lee’s lack of a reaction is what makes me nervous.

“We haven’t really discussed telling people…it’s still new.”

“You’re not beating the twink allegations,” Lee tells me. “You’ve got yourself a fucking Daddy. How gayer could you possibly get?”

“There’s still a long way to go until I reach your kind of queer,” I shrug a little smugly. “But, yeah. Something like that.”

“Wait—deadass?” Aviva asks again. This time the excitement starts fading from her face. I can actually watch it happen. The realization settling in piece by piece.