Page 91 of The Gaybor War

Fun. The word lands strangely. Like something I used to understand and haven’t practiced in years.

"And if I don’t?"

Mark snorts. "Please. You’re already gone."

"I’m not gone."

"Carter, you just spent five minutes listing reasons he's annoying and somehow made him sound adorable."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

I hate that he's right. I open my mouth to argue but nothing comes out.

Mark laughs softly. "Buy the costume."

Then he hangs up before I can defend myself.

I stare at my phone for a long moment before opening the links he sent.

The first option is offensively tight and appears to involve decorative buckles that serve no structural purpose whatsoever.

Naturally, it’s exactly the kind of thing Benji would approve of.

I set the phone face down on the counter and glare at it.

I don’t know when my life veered into pirate territory. Somewhere between HOA newsletters and Benji’s relentless winking emojis, I apparently lost the ability to say no because this stopped being about whether I like Benji Stewart weeks ago.

The answer to that question is obvious.

The problem is that every day I seem to like him a little more.

Chapter 23

Iwake up before my alarm, which is irritating because my alarm is set for five-thirty. I lie there staring at the ceiling for a full minute before accepting the obvious.

I'm excited.

I thought I’d be nervous or conflicted or even having an existential crisis.

But no, I’m excited. Which feels deeply embarrassing.

Across the street, Benji is probably still asleep. Or doing yoga. Or color-coding luggage tags. I have no idea what his travel habits are, and somehow that thought occupies more space in my brain than it should.

I throw the covers back and start my morning routine.

Coffee. Shower. Suitcase. Check suitcase. Check suitcase again.

The suitcase remains successfully packed.

By six-thirty, I'm standing in my kitchen with a travel mug in one hand and absolutely no reason to leave for another twenty minutes.

My phone buzzes.

Benji: IMPORTANT QUESTION.

Oh good, he’s up.