Page 6 of Feast

Felix’s voice hit my ears as I tried to look around my twin. “Gotta say, I half didn’t expect you to show up.” I tried to see who it was.

Who is here? Is it Hui?

Haze’s posture stiffened, and he nearly backed into me. I listened to a second set of footsteps as they walked back towards the table, followed by a voice that made my own body tense.

“Long time no see, Haze.”

Is that—no…it can’t be.

“Is this some kind of fucking joke?” Haze snapped, turning to face Felix as he returned to Dream’s side. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

It is him. But…why? How…I don’t understand.

The man walked around and stepped into view, his hands in his pockets, wearing a cocky little expression as he took a seat at the table, adjacent to me. The smell of weed flooded my nostrils as I blinked, realizing that the brown-haired man before me was exactly who I thought he was.

What the hell is going on?

Those deep, dark brown eyes of his locked onto mine as he flashed me that damned, playful grin…the same expression he wore even back then.

“Nice to see you again, Indi.” He looked me up and down, flicking an eyebrow. “Time’s been good to you.”

“Why you—” Haze nearly rushed at the man, seething as I reached out and stopped him.

Felix cleared his throat, attempting to break the tension. “Enough.” He took another sip from his mug. “Haze, Indigo…you remember Spider.”

My blood ran cold at the verbal confirmation that one of my ex-boyfriends was sitting at the same table as me and my family. The very one I had caught cheating on me long ago.

Dream, seemingly lost as to what the hell was happening, finally spoke up. “Um…Spider?” She looked over at the man, wearing baggy street clothes and skater shoes. He looked almost the same as he did back then, except now he was covered in tattoos and piercings, and looked as if he could stand toe to toe with either of my brothers. “That’s such a unique and interesting name.” She bit her lower lip, then smiled. “You all have such pretty names.” Her smile fell. “But…how do you know them?” She asked, pointing from the man to my twin and me.

Spider grinned, cocking his head to the side as he looked back at me. “Oh, me and Indi go way back…don’t we?” He winked.

Haze ripped his arm from my grasp and dragged a chair from one side of the table to the other, while aggressively planting it between us with a loud thud before plopping down. He glared at the man and crossed his arms, visibly pissed. “I’ll ask one more fucking time.” His head then turned to Felix. “Hermano, what the fuck is he doing here?”

Felix dropped his head and groaned, too tired to deal with everyone’s shit. “Look…there’s really no simple way to put this but⁠—”

Spider scoffed. “Yeah, there is.” He looked straight at Haze, unphased by his temper. “In simple terms, I’m your boss, Haze. And I’m here ‘cause I wanted to be here.” His eyes moved past Haze to me. “Surprise.”

What did he just say?

The room fell into complete silence as Haze and I tried to process what was just said.

Felix leaned back in his chair, lighting up a cigarette. “Well, I guess there was a simple way of saying that,” he muttered to himself. Dream watched us all closely, still trying to piece it all together. Felix noticed her expression. “I know…it’s a lot⁠—”

Haze shot to his feet, kicking his chair back as it scraped along the floor. He marched towards Spider, moving so fast I could barely blink before he was gripping the man by the collar of his shirt. “I don’t fucking know what the hell is going on, or why the fuck you’re here, but I do know one thing for sure!”

Spider grimaced at my twin. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?” He slammed his forehead into Haze’s as the two glared at one another.

Haze clenched his jaw and snarled. “You’re just a drugged-up skater who fucked with Indi.” He gripped the man’s collar, tugging tight. “And no one messes with my little sis.” He reeled his arm back and readied to swing as Felix shot to his feet, slamming his hands against the table.

I noticed as Dream flinched and softly covered her ears, visibly reliving some sort of trauma. Felix followed my gaze and noticed as well, stepping back to comfort her before scolding the two grown men. “Enough, you two,” he growled. “Haze…back off.”

My twin glared back at our older brother, stubborn as hell.

Felix looked over the brim of his glasses as a dark shadow cast across his face, one I’d witnessed him wear when he worked. “Now.”

Haze’s nostrils flared as he struggled at the idea of being told what to do. He’d mentioned before how much he despised being commanded around. Though he never was good with authority.

Typical Taurus.