Page 42 of Gambler's Conceit
“Have you ever taken it up the ass, Vortex?” Seven asks out of nowhere.
Vortex almost chokes on nothing at all. “What?”
“I mean, if you’ve never gotten fucked up the ass, how do you know it’s not good? Shouldn’t you try everything once, too?” Seven asks innocently.
Havoc bursts out laughing. “He’s got you there, Vortex.” He sets the takeout bag on the table. “Sushi is good when you aren’t ordering it in the fucking desert, though.”
“It’s good even in the desert,” Vortex argues. “Besides, it’s on Caleb’s tab, not mine.”
Seven sits up so he can peruse the bag. He takes the different dishes out, critically examining each one. He settles on the chicken katsu, sounding relieved when he says, “Oh, it’s just chicken tenders. With… ketchup?”
“Sounds like we need to introduce Seven to more types of cuisine,” I say. The other two settle on the empty armchairs. I pick up one of the plastic forks and hand it to Seven before taking a pair of chopsticks for myself.
Havoc looks at the TV. “What’re you watching?” he asks with genuine curiosity.
“Anime,” Seven says as casually as if he hadn’t just learned what it was not even an hour earlier. “The baker does karate to make shit happen. Caleb and his niece like it.”
Vortex quirks a brow. “Wouldn’t have pegged you as the type, boss,” he says. “It would make sense for Havoc, though.”
Havoc scoffs loudly. “Sure, if I ever got to choose what was on TV. It was either sports or nothing at my house.”
Seven digs his fork into the katsu. “You could maybe watch this with me and Caleb, if you wanted.” He glances warily at me. “If that’s okay. And if Vortex isn’t above watching Japanese cartoons.”
“I don’t have a problem withanime,” Vortex says with an exaggerated roll of his eyes as he takes one of the containers of sushi and settles down on an armchair across the room from us. “My sister went through a whole anime thing when she was younger.”
It’s strange. There are three men in my home, and although the memory of our activities from last night linger in my mind—I certainly will never forget Seven’s beautiful reactions—I don’t have any desire to lead this into something sexual.
I don’t remember the last time I had anybody over who wasn’t related to me. I suppose Vortex and Havoc are my employees, but they aren’t working now.
It’s almost like they’re friends.
I glance at Seven, who smiles as he recaps what has happened so far in the show.
I wouldn’t be able to keep him smiling like that on my own.
It’s a bit unorthodox, but I feel justified in my decision to allow Vortex and Havoc access to Seven. He needs more than just me.
It’s the best way to ensure Seven won’t want to run away.
ELEVEN
HAVOC
What do you mean,you got a job?
I glare at the text my stepfather sent.
First he wants me gone, now he’s upset that I’m working my way up to it?
Fuck, I just need to wait it out until my first paycheck and I can finally move out. Sorry for my mother, but I’m not going to deal with my stepfather’s bullshit any longer.
Provided I can actually find a place to live, and that my spotty background doesn’t scare off landlords.
“Sir?” a timid voice asks, and I realize the vet clerk has been trying to get my attention for a while.
I force myself to smile at her. “Yeah, sorry. Is Nacho ready?”
She points at the cat carrier on the counter. “He was a sweet boy. Very affectionate, and didn’t even fight when we had to give him the meds.”