“That’s good, right?” Sonya asks, her brow raised in a sort of confused curiosity, after I've brought them up to to date on the deal between Jace and me.

Beside her Olivia is drinking happily from her pop. Their hands are intertwined on the table while I’m sitting across from them with a scowl. Neither of them bat an eyelash when I reach across and slap their hands apart. Sonya giggles while Olivia rolls her eyes.

What can I say? Cute shit makes me sick.

“I suppose,” I respond with a shrug. “I mean, he isn’t messing with me, so it seems, but there’s more to this I know it.”

“Like what?” Olivia asks before letting out a loud burp. Sonya makes a “nice” comment to which I agree with.

“I don’t know. Listen, he talks with someone on the phone, texts them while we’re out and I know he has a thing for them because he’s...a different person. Looking at him makes me ill.”

“Jealous, you mean?” Olivia grins at the glare I send her. The bitch thinks I won’t attack her in public? Cause challenge accepted.

Sonya snaps her fingers before the two of us, turning our gazes back to her. Olivia returns to all love struck while I try my best not to hurl.

“If he likes this person, why aren’t they going out then? It’s not like Jace lacks experience in the dating department,” Sonya practically voices my own thoughts.

I shrug while leaning back into my chair. My food has been finished but my stomach is still growling. Olivia’s fries look tempting so I steal them to which she shouts at me for but it’s too late. They are in my stomach. We’re in a food court anyways, she can get more! Technically so could I but that’s not the point.

“Maybe they’re with someone else and he hasn’t gotten over them? Oh, what if they’re older...and married?!” Olivia slams her hands against the table, eyes wide while looking at me for a reaction, which I happily give.

“You read too many shitty romance books.”

“You’re shitty!”

“Takes a shitty person to know a shitty person.”

Sonya smiles at our banter, watching on with fascination. She doesn’t even seem bothered with us, which is good because we’re always like this. If she wants to keep dating Olivia, she better get used to our arguments because they are frequent.

“Ok, maybe it’s true that he can’t date this person for some dumb reason. However, I don’t want to be some side hoe that’s nothing more than a replacement. Is he not aware of how great it is to date someone like me? I’m the best catch there is!” I point to myself for emphasis, which only results with Olivia howling with laughter while Sonya pinches the bridge of her nose.

“Oi, it’s true!” I hiss, kicking Olivia beneath the table but she has gotten into snorting territory. “Seriously, I’m a great boyfriend.”

Olivia is actually wheezing. Well, fuck her too.

“Sonya, did I tell you about the time Olivia ate dog food?”

Sonya’s interest is piqued at that, her nose twisting back in disgust while Olivia comes down from her high. She glares at me, cheeks starting to tint with red.

“Mylo!” She calls, trying to kick me beneath the table but her wee little legs can’t reach me. I am grinning like the Cheshire cat while she struggles.

“Wasn’t that long ago either so think about it the next time you two make out.”

Sonya gags.

Yep, I have successfully ruined their relationship. Score!

“Ok, lets get back on topic,” Sonya says, seeming to not want to discuss her girlfriend’s stinky breath. “Why don’t you ask him about it?”

Is this bitch crazy?

“What?” I inquire, narrowing my gaze at the girl who smiles sheepishly at me. “Why would he tell me the truth since no matter what it is I’ll probably be pissed off?”

“But what if it’s not something you think it to be?” Olivia points out, beginning to bend her straw back and forth. “Maybe it’s a family member or someone he cares about but not necessarily romantically.”

“You need to see his face,” I explain, recalling the warm expression he has worn before. It’s something I’ve never seen him have with me or anyone else for that matter. This is no family member. It’s definitely someone he is interested in, romantically.

“If it really bothers you, your only option is to bring it up. You won’t know the answer if you don’t,” Sonya says with a slight shrug.

But that is where she is wrong. There’s sneaking. The real question is how to steal Jace’s phone, the proof.

When Wednesday comes around, I haven’t the foggiest but it lingers in the back of my mind.

“So, what do you want to do?” Jace asks over the phone while I’m basically doing the worm on my bed in an attempt to pull on my jeans.

“I told you what I wanted already but you said no.”

“We’re not having sex in a movie theater.”

“But, babe, why?”

“Do you want to see a movie?” Jace snickers, which has my lips twitching back into a smile.

“Not really.” I try to think over what else we could do that doesn’t involve public nudity. “We could have sex at my place?”

“Mylo.”

“You’ll be screaming that later.”

“Mylo, please.”

“That too.”

“Text me your address-”

“Holy fuck, are we really?” I gasp, sitting up so fast it gives me whiplash and I fall right back into bed.

“No, I’m picking you up and taking you where ever I want to go since you refuse to give me a serious response.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, I mean, I did, but you said no.”

“Address.” His voice is anything but annoyed though, which informs me that he enjoys my constant need to tease. One of these days he’ll say yes and he won’t regret it, I promise.

Finally, I give out my address and, while waiting for Jace’s arrival, go about cleaning the apartment. My dad offered once when I was younger to hire a maid but I refused to accept. I don’t know if it’s because I want to feel like I’m doing my part but I’ve always been the one to clean ever since mom left. Even when the house is spotless I find myself doing something.

I’m sweeping away like Snow White when my phone suddenly goes off. It’s a message from Jace that reads, did you really give me the right address?

Yes, why? You lost? I reply.

Not a second passes before he responds, there is no way you live in these apartments.

I chuckle, not at all surprised to read it. I tell him to head on up and find out so, minutes later when the doorbell rings, I know exactly who it is. After putting the broom away, I hop on over to the door and open it to find Jace on the other side with a perplexed but also fascinated expression.

“I honestly thought you lied to me about your address,” Jace whispers like he thinks his voice will upset the furniture.

He quietly steps into the apartment, kicking off his shoes while eying the entryway. His gaze falls upon the few pictures mounted on the walls of my father and me before taking in the living room a few steps in.

“What? Someone like me can’t have a nice place?” I tease, shutting the door behind him while pressing my palm into his back to push him forward since he refuses to do so on his own.

Yes, I was tempted to tap his ass first but I am a gentleman and would never do such a thing...until I know I can get away with it.

Jace literally tip toes into the living room, standing on the carpet with tension in his shoulders. The reaction isn’t uncommon since most people see me as a typical run of the mill teenager from a middle class family and while, at one point, that was true it isn’t anymore. My dad makes good money and takes care of us.

“What do your parents do?” Jace inquires, appearing to be investigating the apartment now that he realizes it won’t come to life and devour him for defiling the land. He’s currently holding up a picture of me as a baby, smiling from ear to ear.

“My dad is some fancy-shmancy architect that’s rarely home,” I answer with a shrug, which has Jace’s smile falling while he faces me. “And my mom isn’t around.”

“Oh.”

Jace sits the picture aside, the tension returning to his shoulders. I guess I could have answered that better but it’s best to get the awkward conversations out of the way. Family is not something I enjoy discussing, it always ruins the mood.

“So, are we fucking or leaving?”

And Jace’s tension disappears when he faces me with a very “I’m so done with you” expression. I blow him a kiss that he actually dodges making me gasp in fake offense.

“How dare.”

“You forgot a word-”

“No I didn’t, just, how dare.”

Jace shakes his head before walking over to me. Now it’s his turn to push me along, his hands on my shoulders first to spin me around then walks us both to the door. He’s kicking his shoes on while I’m doing the same.

After walking out the door I ask, “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” Jace says with a wink that he is not allowed to do to anyone else or I will be forced to murder them.

“Don’t wink at other people.”

Jace crinkles his nose in confusion. It’s adorable and I think I shouldn’t let him do that in front of others either.

“Why?” Jace sounds very hesitant about asking.

“I will have to kill them for witnessing such a thing. It’s mine now.”

“My wink?”

“Yes.”

Jace and I step into the elevator, the boy seeming to take a moment to actually consider my request. It isn’t actually a request but we can let him think it is. After a second, he laughs softly, looking at me with a gaze I can’t quite explain.

“You baffle me, Mylo.”

I think that’s a compliment. Either way, I’m going to ruin the moment.

“Thanks, but you know, I have something else that can baffle you.”

Jace doesn’t respond verbally, just shakes his head and walks out the elevator doors when they open. Rude, that was funny and he should have laughed.

“Why aren’t you laughing?” I call after him, smiling while I catch up to him. Without much thought, my hand reaches out to take his and the moment it’s in my grasp I come to a complete halt. Jace does too, stopping in order to look down at the connection of our hands. Unlike me though, who is wide-eyed, Jace appears calm.

“Something wrong?” Jace questions while intertwining our fingers like it’s natural. I guess it is to him, he’s dated more than me but they’ve always been girls so…

“You’re uh…” I look about the lobby of the apartment building. The only person here resides at the front desk and she’s not paying any attention to us. “You’re ok...with this?”

I point to our hands. Speaking of hands, mine is starting to shake and he has to notice it. Jace mentions nothing of it though.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Jace gives a slight tug towards the exit. My feet are kind of cemented in place so I don’t move, which makes him chuckle. “What? Is holding hands too innocent for you?”

“I’d rather be holding dicks to be honest-”

“Does your mouth run off whatever comes to your head?”

“Yes.”

Jace bites his bottom lip to hold back a smile but I can still see it clear as day. His hazel eyes sparkle for a moment before he shakes his head and tugs once more insisting that I follow. My legs are slowly turning to jello so they easily start to move once Jace does and we’re at his car in no time. My heart decides to race faster than usual and I have to remind my body that holding hands is not that big of a deal. It needs to calm its’ shit because I cannot act all love struck right now. I’m going to look ridiculous!

The car ride is surprisingly short. We find ourselves before Jace’s date destination that has me both confused and excited.

“You know, when I imagined us getting hot and sweaty together it involved more nudity.”

Jace bites his lip and closes his eyes while letting out a long sigh that has me snickering.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Jace doesn’t sound apologetic and his eyes certainly aren’t sorry when he looks at me. “Do you not like rock climbing?”

I shrug while opening the car door to step out. Before shutting said door, I lean down to reply with a teasing grin, “I enjoy rough activities.”

Jace gapes. “Do you ever-”

I shut the door and quickly make my way to the entrance. Jace is right behind, his hand coming out to yank on the back of my hair childishly. I yelp but don’t complain since he’s paying for us. I’m not all that surprised that he picked a more physical activity, although I had a better one in mind.

Jace is the active type, always has been. While I’m not as eager as him, I certainly enjoy a good adventure or trying something new. Rock climbing isn’t new for me but I haven’t done it in a while so it actually sounds pretty fun.

Lets make it a bit more fun though.

“How about a race on the last climb of the day?”

Jace perks at the mention of it, eying me with curiosity after the two of us got our gear on and are ready to try out the first wall.

“That confident, are you?” There’s a spark of competition in his eyes.

“I like a challenge every now and again. If I win-”

Jace interrupts, “I swear if it’s sex related.”

“A kiss.”

I look to Jace with a serious expression that he quickly mirrors. A silence falls between us that makes me wonder if he realizes why I’m asking for that. How long have we been “dating?” Three weeks or some shit and we have yet to kiss, which is weird. There should have been some kind of action going on but all we’ve done is hold hands, once, on accident!

If Jace really is bisexual then he’s never going to figure out the truth if he doesn’t go for it and, well, I’ll find out if he’s actually interested. So, with a nod, I ask again, “If I win, I want a kiss.”

Jace looks about ready to nod but the tension is killing me so I decide to break it.

“Not some pansy, peck on the lips style. I mean full on making out, swapping of saliva, moaning like a very satisfied hooker afterwards type of kiss.”

And the moment is ruined. I try my best! Jace is hiding his face with his hands, shoulders shaking from his laughter before he drops his arms to the side. With a wave of his hand he says, “You have very high expectations of me. What if I’m a bad kisser?”

“Then we’re breaking up. Immediately.”

“Wow.”

“I have needs, babe.”

I’m almost proud how Jace reacts after my teasing. He just goes with it at this point. I’ve trained him well so, with a nod, Jace agrees to the race.