“Don’t you dare,” Gem hissed as he attempted to run after Toni in his high-heeled boots. “I love his face exactly how it is.”
Rusty weaved through the tables, Toni hot on his heels. Gem stood near the counter, stamping a foot childishly as he pouted. “This is ridiculous. Toni, stop chasing him.”
“If he stopped running, I wouldn’t have to chase him,” Toni said.
“Stop chasing me, and I’ll stop running,” Rusty said.
They faced off with a table between them, shuffling a few feet one way, then the other, mirroring each other.
“I’m going to eat you,” Toni threatened, low and dangerous.
“That’s gonna cost extra,” Rusty slapped back, and Toni snarled and dove over the table.
He snagged Rusty’s tail and yanked, and Rusty yowled in pain as he tumbled to the floor. Before Toni could get a good grip on him and tear out anymore fur, Gem was looming over them, expression furious. He plucked Toni off the table with two hands as another reached down to haul Rusty to his feet.
“Deities below, you’re both acting like children.”
Once both Rusty and Toni were stable on their feet, Gem released them, and Toni glared up at his best friend as he gestured violently at Rusty. “He’s the guy? Really, Gemae? Him?”
“Yeah, him,” Gem said firmly. “He’s the guy. He’s always been the guy.”
“How long?” Toni demanded, and Gem glanced briefly over his shoulder at Rusty.
“I don’t know. I guess it depends.”
Toni fisted his hands on his hips and ground his teeth. “Depends on what?”
“Well, like, do you mean since I first caught feelings? Or, like, the first time we kissed or slept together? And then that opens up a whole other can of bugs because what is sex, really? Like, are you asking about full penetration or does just-the-tip count?”
“Gem!” Rusty cried in mortification, and Gem made a noise of distress as he warded off another lunge from Toni, who’d grown even angrier at the wordsjust the tip.
“Sorry, pretend I didn’t say that last part,” Gem said.
“I don’t think we can,” Oliver muttered from his spot behind the counter.
“You just-the-tipped my best friend?” Toni roared, still struggling against Gem’s many arms. “I’m gonna kill you.”
Clamping every arm around Toni in a mockery of an embrace, Gem trapped him. “Toni, stop yelling at him, and yell at me! I’m the one you’re mad at, not him. So be angry with me.”
For a moment, Toni hesitated, but then his anger turned to betrayal, and he shoved Gem hard, forcing the Araknis back a step. “You’re godsdamned right I’m mad at you! What the fuck, Gem? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“How could I have?” Gem shot back, motioning between them, between Toni and Rusty. “Look at how you’re reacting. What could I have possibly said that wouldn’t have resulted in exactly this? For fuck’s sake, Toni, you freaked out when I told you that me and Rusty were just friends. How could I have told you that we were something more?”
“You fucking hypocrite,” Toni accused, and Gem flinched. “You were so judgmental about Jude being secretive and not telling Ollie about us, and now look at you.”
Gem’s voice wobbled with emotion as he said, “Okay, you’re not exactly wrong, but I wanted to tell you. Of course I did, because you’re my best friend and I wanted you to share in this with me. But you wouldn’t have been happy for me, and we both know it.” He hugged himself with several arms as Toni deflated. “You would have talked shit about Rusty and made me feel bad for liking him. Or you would have tried to change my mind or stop us from hanging out. And that would have sucked.
“So, yeah, I didn’t tell you because it was easier and safer not to,” he said with a sniffle, and Toni’s throat bobbed, expression crumpling. “I’m sorry for lying to you by omission and hurting you. But I’m not sorry for choosing him.” Glancing over his shoulder, Gem smiled down at Rusty, eyes wet. “I’ll never be sorry about him. He sees me, Toni. Everyone elselooks at me, but he sees me. And I really hope you can support us, but if you can’t—” Gem’s breath hitched as he faced his best friend once more, and Rusty stepped forward, taking Gem’s lowest hand and squeezing in support. “If you can’t, then I kindly request that you keep it to your fucking self.”
The entire cafe was so silent Rusty could have heard a pin drop as everyone waited for Toni’s response. The Elas looked utterly gutted, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he stared up at Gem. He opened his mouth several times, but no words came.
With one last heavy swallow, Toni reached out to cup Gem’s face in his hands. “I’m sorry I wasn’t a safe person for you to come to about this. You’re my best friend, Gemmy, and nothing’s gonna change that. I got your back. Always, okay? And I’m sorry I made you doubt that.”
Gem sobbed and enveloped Toni in his remaining arms, keeping a firm grasp on Rusty’s hand with his sixth. “I didn’t know how to tell you, but I wanted to.”
“I know. I’m sorry I wasn’t at a place to hear it,” Toni confessed into Gem’s neck. “But if he makes you happy—”
“He does. He’s honestly amazing when you give him a chance,” Gem said, and Rusty’s face burned with embarrassment as several onlookersawwed.
