Zyan
They were all lying on the fold-out couch: Zyan on the edge, with Carter by his side. Their shoulders were pressed together to make enough room for Jessica and Ava as they drifted back and forth between paying attention to the TV and getting lost in their own heads.
Ava seemed immersed in whatever was happening on-screen, while Jessica played with her fingers, drawing shapes into the smaller palm and curling and uncurling the fingers, as if it were fascinating to her.
When he looked back at Carter, he noticed the faraway look on his face. Zyan would've asked what he was thinking about, but he knew from experience that he wouldn't get a clear answer. Both their trains of thought were muddled, so loaded with memories of history long gone that there was no keeping track. Each image and moment in time branched into another, all of them riddled with the question of whether it had even happened, or if it was a false memory created over time.
Still, he wanted to pull Carter out of it. "Earth to Carter," he said quietly, so only he would hear.
Carter lightly shook his head before he shifted his gaze to look at Zyan. "Yeah?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Carter replied. "I was just thinking."
Zyan nodded and looked back at the TV.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Carter do the same, though his hands seemed restless. A few minutes passed before Carter pulled at the leather cord around his neck. He tugged the rings from beneath his shirt. His fingers began to fiddle with them. Zyan could guess what he'd been thinking about.
*~*~*
Jessica, Ava, and Zyan were still lounging on the couch after Carter had taken his phone into the bedroom to order lunch.
"I'm so glad we took the day off," Jessica said. "I don't think I could live with doing inventory right now. But hey. Carly's been begging for a chance to prove herself for months, so this is her opportunity." She paused. "I hope the store is still standing by the end of the week."
Ava patted her on the shoulder in support. "It'll be fine."
"I sure hope so."
"If she messes up, you can sue her," Zyan commented.
Ava looked over Jessica's shoulder at him.
Jessica turned around to face him. "You're always so radical."
Zyan only shrugged.
"You and Carter, huh?" Ava prompted.
"I've heard of him, yes," Zyan replied.
Ava huffed a breath.
Jessica rolled onto her side to look at him more comfortably. "Carter seems unsure of where you two are standing. Maybe you should have a talk and define this…thing you've got going on."
Zyan glanced up at her. "We're good."
Ava snorted. "Come on, honey, you gotta talk to your man and make sure you're on the same page. I don't want to see either of you pining again—I've had enough of that for the rest of my life. Just grab him and give him a smooch, exchange some cheesy lines, and maybe get married again in a coupla years. You know I'd make one hell of a groomsmaid."
Zyan frowned. "Come again?"
Ava sighed. "Talk to Carter. Give him a kiss. Tell him you love him," she summarized.
Jessica nodded. "In any healthy relationship, communication is key." She sounded like she was quoting something.
Zyan gave both an unimpressed look. "I'm a lot older than both of you combined, so I don't think you're in any position to give me relationship advice."
"You're a man," Ava said. "You'll always need advice."
Before Zyan could respond, Carter returned from the bedroom. "Food's on its way," he announced.
"What took you so long?" Jessica asked.
Zyan rolled onto his back and pushed onto his elbows to get a better look at Carter. "Yes. How dare you leave me with them for so long? They're so nosy."
Carter huffed a laugh and crawled back onto the sofa, reclaiming his spot between Jessica and Zyan. "I had a long discussion with the employee because of your special order, Jess."
"You'd think the broad public would be more used to veganism by now," Jessica muttered.
"And yes," Carter told Zyan. "I'm well aware of their nosiness, but I'm sure you were holding your ground, so I won't apologize."
"I can't believe you're already starting to get thoughtless again," Zyan said. "After less than a day, you should still be burying me in gifts and chocolate."
"Wouldn't that be a waste of my time and effort? You already know what you're getting into, so there's no reason to pretend."
Zyan huffed a breath. "No matter how old you get, people will always find new inventive ways to disappoint you."
Carter pressed a short kiss to Zyan's temple. "You love me."
Zyan rolled his eyes. "Don't even start with this again. This is no way to end an argument."