Page 50 of Wanna Bet?

“That’s crazy. I think I own like, one pair of swim shorts.” Ellis laughed before turning and walking towards a long hallway, “Follow me.”

Myah turned to follow and a gross, misshapen thing darted past her.

“Fuck! What is that!” She shrieked, dramatically pulling her bag and right leg up at the same time as if to recoil from said creepy thing.

“What is what?” Ellis looked legitimately concerned, eyes darting around for what Myah was talking about.

“I don’t know! It looked like a rat or something!”

“A rat!”

Said freaky creature skittered back around the corner and stopped in front of Ellis. He looked down at it and then up at Myah. Ellis blinked so slowly. Twice. Then his face grew a little irritated or something.

Myah couldn’t tell.

“This is my cat!” He proclaimed.

Oh, he was offended.

Ellis scooped the “cat” up off the floor and held it out for Myah to get a closer look at. Sure enough, it was a cat. A scrungely, weird looking cat-like creature.

“That is not a cat.” She said, just to be difficult.

Maybe just to see what Ellis’s face would do next.

“This is my cat! His name is Pickles and he is adorable. I found him in the park.”

“The park! You gotta put that thing back where it came from, it looks diseased!”

Oh no, too far—Ellis looked like he was going to shed actual tears over that comment. His cat was mangey looking, some sort of calico. Orange, brown, white and too many other colors. It resembled a mouse that resembled a vintage couch. But, Myah supposed, it was his cat. Probably very dear to him or whatever.

“Wait, no!” She tried to save, “I didn’t mean it. He’s… so cute. Very charming. A face that a mother and more people could love.”

Maybe Myah hadn’t made the biggest faux pas ever because Ellis started that tinkling laugh again. He hid his smile behind his cat, looking amused instead of distressed. Good save. Good save.

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A half hour later, Ellis was sitting on his bed while Myah conducted what could only be described as a swimsuit fashion show.

She had changed three separate times. The first bikini had been bright yellow, the second was floral, and the third involved enough cutouts that Ellis nearly choked on his water he’d been drinking.

"No."

"What?"

"No." Ellis sat the glass on his side table and shook his head.

She looked down. "What do you mean no?"

"It looks uncomfortable." Ellis said.

"It's fashion." Myah argued, throwing her hands up.

"It looks like one wrong movement and you'll be arrested." Ellis said, clearly trying to hide a laugh.

Myah gasped. "I asked for advice, not judgment. Are you slut shaming me, Ellis Carter?"

Ellis rubbed his forehead. "First of all, you literally asked me to judge them. Second, I love sluts."