Page 119 of Fragments

Kang whistles, nodding me over to the doorway where Jasper is standing, eyes flicking between the two of them like they’re mental.

Tip of the iceberg, my friend.

Standing up with a tired breath, I wander over and force myself into charm mode, pleading with him to bring us to my cell.

Come on, Jake… Just say no. Let that grumpy bitch side shine!

The universe clearly hates me, though, because Jasperdoesn’t even argue. He just asks Hancock tohold down the fort, leading us out into the hallway.

He’s not even cuffing us!

What the hell is going on in this place?! The one time I could use the rigid rules and regulations ofprison, and everyone’s acting like we’re guests on a Carnival Cruise!

When we get to my cell, I’m stewing. Jasper pushes on the bars a few times, but they won’t budge. He turns and flips off the camera at the ceiling, pressing once more to finally open the door.

“I’ll be back in a half-hour,” he mutters. “Forty minutes, tops.”

Then he leaves, slamming the door behind him. I watch him go until he’s fully out of sight, spinning slowly to face my friends, already dreading this with every fiber of my being.

Lex and Byron are just shifting awkwardly, peeking at each other in between looking around my cell. It’s pretty nice for a prison cell, because of all the stuff I’ve accumulated over the years. I have pictures I drew hanging up on the walls, a Styrofoam cooler full of drinks and snacks, toiletries and products lining my sink, clothes hanging from the top bunk.

It’s a prison bachelor pad, for sure. The perfect place for a theoretical cuckhold.

“Would anyone like a… drink?” I offer, wringing my hands.

Byron shakes his head as he takes a seat on my bed, kicking off his shoes. Lex is too busy staring at my drawings, I assume the one I did of him from memory catching his attention.

He peeks at me. “I just want to be clear… Doing this doesn’t mean you and I are getting back together, or whatever. It’s just something to… even the score a little.”

“Fine,” I sigh. “Where should I, um… sit?”

“Wherever you want.” Kang smirks, reclining on his elbows. “It’s your cell.” His gaze flings to Lex, who grins like they’re already in on some secret joke, and it’s making me want to gouge my eyes out.

“Alright, listen up,” I bark, plopping on my knees on the bed next to him. “Ground rules… No fucking, no sucking.”

Kang sneers at me, “Sorta limiting, no?”

I shrug. “Don’t care.Iget his firsts.” My eyes are on Lex, who’s all squirmy and flushed.

But he forces a scowl and mutters, “Not that anything of minebelongsto you… But I guess I agree.” He looks to Kang. “I don’t want it to get weird.”

“Why would it get weird?” Byron breathes, whipping his shirt over his head. “Just two homies messing around, right?” His face turns to glare at me. “All in good fun.”

I lean over him quickly, grabbing his throat. “You got something you wanna say to me??”

“Yea,” he croaks, lifting his foot to run it up my leg. “I’m gonna fuck your boyfriend.”

I’mseething, two seconds from head-butting that smug look off his face, when Lex pushes me off.

“Alright, you guys. Jesus…” he grumbles, eyeing Kang. “He’s right. No fucking.”

“Your loss.” Kang shrugs, taking Lex’s hand and pulling him onto the bed. “We could’ve hooked up without him, ya know? That night in the hallway, when Velle jerked Rook off into Dash’s mouth…”

Say WHAT?!

“Wait, hang on a sec…” I grumble.

Lex peeks at me, then goes back to Byron. “Voyeurism at its finest. I came just fine watching that little show.”