Chapter 9

He smiled when he saw me. “Hey Kuro. Congrats on the new digs.”

“Phillip isn’t here.”

He rolled his eyes. “Actually, I came here for you.”

“What is that?”

“It’s a succulent. They’re like an adorable, low maintenance houseplant.”

“Okay,” I took it from him. “Thanks.”

I opened the door and he followed me inside the building. He whistled.

“Damn this is a dump.”

“Rent is cheap here,” I replied. “And we have our own separate bedrooms, too.”

“Oh, so it’s like that.” he examined his cuticles.

I couldn’t tell if he was insulting me, or relieved that I wasn’t sleeping with his ex. I smiled thinly, turning around to face him.

“It’s like what?” I challenged.

“Nothing. I just thought you…well…never mind. It’s nothing.”

“No, Mizu. Say it.”

“Kuro, I’m not sure why you’re—”

“You thought I was sleeping with him.”

Mizu shrugged his shoulders, kind of wiggling in place uncomfortably. “I don’t know what I thought, honestly. It’s hard to tell with you.”