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“Wow, thanks, Kat,” Leo snickered. “But I think I’m gonna need a few cup sizes down.”
“You mean Felix?” I asked, ignoring Leo’s comment. “Yeah. Did you know he was going to be there?”
Elliot nodded. “He didn’t really give us an explanation. Something to do with his dad.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What do you mean, didn’t give you an explanation? Aren’t you his best friend?”
I glanced at Leo to see if he was the least bit interested in our conversation, but he was busy fiddling with the bra clasps at his back.
“Since when did you get so defensive of him?” Elliot replied. “He’s my best friend, so what?”
“Guys, I don’t think I’m doing this right,” Leo whined.
“So, you should know why he’s leaving the fucking country for who-knows how long,” I snapped back, thinking of Pierre. I’d kill him if I found out that he just up and left without telling me—but then again, we had a different sort of friendship.
Or, did we?
“Why do you give a shit?” Elliot responded, trying his best to keep his voice level. “If he didn’t want to tell me, it’s none of my business. Best friend or not.”
I let out a huff of a breath. “Guess you’re right,” I said, and tapped on my phone to check the time. “Anyway. We should go. My mom wants to see me for lunch.”
“Lunch?” Leo hopped off the edge of my bed, wearing the bra over his shirt. “Count me in.”
Elliot rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Even though I didn’t catch it, I felt it had something to do with Leo.
“What?” I said. “Are you going to be like this the whole time? Because if that’s the case, you can leave.”
“Whatever,” he said, as if he was an angsty middle-schooler and I was his step-parent. “Fuckin’ baby.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”
“He can’t hold a serious conversation,” he exclaimed, throwing an arm up toward his friend. “You think you can meet up with Kat’s mom for lunch? Are you kidding? What’re you going to say to her?”
“Whatever comes to mind,” Leo replied with a shrug, and winked at me. If there was anything the both of us excelled at, it was getting on Elliot’s last nerves. Leo did it without a thought—they were practically brothers. I did it because I was angry, and wanted to see him angry, too. “You know, how are you? Your daughter’s amazing. What’s your favorite thing on the menu? And so on …”
Leo got off the bed and started toward me.
“Why, what are you gonna say?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at Elliot as he rested his elbow on my shoulder. “Sorry? ’Cause if anything, that’ll make for an awkward conversation starter.”
Before Leo could move, I snuck my right hand into his armpit and tickled. He leapt away with a yelp, and I threw my head back with a cackle and ruffled his hair.
“Don’t listen to him,” I whispered, leaning in toward Leo, pinching his earlobe with my other hand. “He’s just mad that he has to share me with you.”
“So am I,” Leo replied, and I felt his hand glide seamlessly down my side. “Except I know how to control my emotions.”
“At least one of you does,” I muttered, pulling away from him, and sighed as I caught Elliot dropping his gaze to the floor. I patted and reached for my pocket as I felt my phone buzz. It was my mom. She was waiting outside.
I looked up at Elliot, and couldn’t help but give him a sly grin. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on him. Two days?
It had felt more like two months.
“My mom’s here to pick me up,” I announced. “You guys going to come with?”
The two boys shared a look with each other, then both shrugged.
“If that’s okay with you,” Leo replied, while Elliot remained silent. I took that as a yes. He had nowhere else to go.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said, nodding at them, and went to yank open the door.