Micah had moved even closer to Noah in the few minutes since, and the moment he did, he did not look happy.

“Oh, Daniel? He’s my best friend from work! Why do you ask..?” Noah tilted his head to the side, very confused by Micah’s sudden change of tone.

Ah… is he okay? Did I upset him? Then again… his voice sounds so hot when it’s deep.

“There’s no reason.” Micah said suddenly and shifted upright. He was still somewhat hovering over Noah, but his weight wasn’t on the blonde anymore. Micah’s tail was stiff, curled around his leg.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Noah asked softly, his voice more concerned.

“I’m fine.” Micah insisted.

“Hmmm…” Noah’s lips shaped into a pout. “You look ready to explode. Is that normal?”

Micah ran a hand through his hair and looked back at Noah, his ears stilling just for a second before twitching curiously.

“So… a friend.”

Noah nodded vigorously. “Now can I please go?”

Micah ignored that request entirely and leaned his face close enough that Noah’s cheeks flushed red, and he shoved against Micah’s chest.

“What are you doing?” he squeaked, his heart pounding louder.

What is he doing? Is he angry? I just want to go to work!

Micah didn’t answer the question. In fact, he said the worst thing possible.

“I want to go with you.”

The blood drained from Noah’s face.

“What?! You can’t. What if you get discovered?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“And I said no.”

“But… I want to.”

“Just because you want something doesn’t mean it’ll happen.” Noah snapped, his cheeks burning from annoyance now.

Micah’s lips curled into a light smirk.

Of course. He just had to look like a supermodel while smirking.

“Human, look at yourself.”

Noah stopped for a second to understand what Micah was saying, and then… oh, right. He technically had no choice but to listen to Micah considering the position he was in. There was no escape.

“Ughhhh. What do you want in exchange to stay?”

“I will stay. If you kiss me.”

“Excuse me? I will not be doing that! You know what? I give up, I’m staying here.”

Micah stared at him, his gaze unrelenting.

“Stop looking at me like that. It’s not going to make me change my mind.”

“I see.”

He lay back on Noah’s chest.

“Ah—! Okay, fine!”

Micah sat right back up and beamed like an angel. Meanwhile, Noah sat up, glaring daggers at Micah before nearing his face and placing a quick kiss on his cheek.

Micah stilled for about five seconds, his cheeks turning pink before he pouted dramatically.

“That wasn’t a real kiss.”

“What exactly were you hoping for?”

Micah said nothing and looked away, his ears turning red and his tail swaying shyly.

Oh.

They were both blushing now.

“Y-you didn’t specify.”

Noah took this as the perfect moment to escape the situation. But sadly, escape was not as easy as it seemed.

Which was how Micah ended up in a black jacket and a cat-ears beanie, with his tail tucked in, walking smugly beside Noah on his way to work.

Why can’t I ever say no? It’s impossible. No matter how hard I try, I always end up failing.

Before they stepped inside, Noah adjusted the beanie.

“Micah, lay low, alright? Please, I’m begging you. Play nice. I’ll take the day off with you.”

“That’s easy.”

Noah could see the wag of his tail through his pants. He exhaled softly.

Noah narrowed his eyes. When even Micah said something was easy, the odds were this would end in disaster.

They stepped inside, the warm café air hitting their faces. Noah walked side by side with Micah toward the apron rack. He fastened it on quickly, hoping to get Micah somewhere discreet before Daniel saw him.

The moment he turned, Daniel was there.

“Hey, Noah, how—”

Daniel immediately stopped talking, and Noah wasn’t sure what was wrong until he remembered Micah behind him, towering over Daniel as well.

Both men stared at each other in complete silence, and both of their gazes darkened, especially since Micah was leaning inches away from Noah.

“Ah…. Hey, Daniel. So… uh, this is Micah… my, umm, new roommate! He’s new here, so I decided to take him exploring.”

This did not help the situation one bit because Daniel raised an eyebrow at the word roommate. It was unfamiliar.

“You never told me you had a roommate.” Daniel said, his voice calm but sharp around the edges.

Okay. This is already a fucking disaster! I knew this would happen!

“How about you two shake hands?”

Noah quickly grabbed Micah’s hand, which snapped him out of his daze, and held it out. Daniel stared at Micah’s hand, and Micah stared at Daniel’s hand as if wondering if he could bite it.

Shake his damn hand already!

Then, slowly, Daniel moved his hand closer and shook Micah’s hand.

Noah exhaled softly, finally breathing properly.

Micah finally remembered Noah’s warning and flashed one of those charming smiles at Daniel.

Yeah… it would’ve gone better if he didn’t look like he was internally committing murder.

“Daniel, I am going to get Micah a seat! You can start without me.”

Noah practically dragged Micah to a secluded table.

“Sit here. I’ll come check on you later. Avoid drawing attention to yourself.”

Micah nodded before Noah left to head toward the cashier counter where Daniel was already working.

“I’m back, Daniel!”

“Oh, hey. You’re back quick.” Daniel said with a small smile.

“Yeah… okay, let’s start the day then.”

The day passed far slower than Noah had anticipated. Mainly because he’d been distracted the entire time and kept glancing in Micah’s direction, who was calmly sitting down, just as he’d been told.

Noah brought him a snack occasionally, but the most important thing he noticed was how a group of girls sitting across from Micah were giggling and twirling their hair, trying to get his attention.

For some reason, jealousy burned through Noah’s chest, which he thought was very unreasonable.

Why does this even bother me? He’s not mine. Hell, he’s not even that attractive… I think.

Unfortunately, Noah continued seething.

Around late noon, Noah was on his break, and he ordered something for himself and Micah. But once he’d reached the table, it was completely empty.

Noah nearly dropped the tray in panic!

Where could he have gone?!

That’s when he heard cheering from a farther table. There was a crowd of people surrounding it, and a huge banner read:

“Donut Eating Contest! Who Can Eat the Most? Winner Gets $250.”

That’s when Noah knew where Micah was.

He pushed through the crowd and found Micah sitting on one of the chairs with five other competitors, devouring donuts like a mad scientist trying to bring a frog back to life.

Clearly, Micah had forgotten Noah’s warning. That much was obvious.

But then… the prize.

Micah wasn’t exposing his ears or tail… he was just eating. He ate more than a human, but that shouldn’t be enough to raise suspicions.

Two hundred and fifty dollars.

Fuck it. Fuck everything, actually.

Noah moved to the very front of the crowd and started cheering for Micah.

Micah was worried he’d upset Noah, but after he saw the blonde’s expression, he ate even more.

As expected, he won.

He won two hundred and fifty dollars.

The moment the crowd scattered and the competition was over, Noah leaped forward and hugged Micah tightly.

“God, you’re such an idiot.” Noah said, his voice muffled by Micah’s chest. “But… thank you.”

This was about how much Noah made in two days. He didn’t have to come to work for the next two days if he didn’t want to.

Micah held him, patting his back.

“You’re not upset?”

Noah started laughing.

“See, the thing is… I was. But then I saw the prize and how determined you looked. I was more excited than angry by the end.”

Micah had never looked happier, and he handed Noah the envelope.

“Here.”

Noah took it and opened it swiftly, counting to make sure it was right.

“So, are you feeling okay?”

“I don’t think I can eat for two days. Human food is so heavy.”

“That’s, Micah, what you call a stomach ache. Don’t worry, it’ll go away after a bit.”

Noah stared up at the taller man.

“I still have to finish my day… but I have a fun idea for later. So wait a little longer.”

Noah reached up and patted Micah’s head.

Then he sprinted back toward the counter to finish his day.