cash in. (au story)

chapter 35; bond.

"okay," richie breathed out, sitting at a table with kevin, who avoided eye contact awkwardly. "you better be eatin' a feast."

"i'm not that hungry, rich," he chuckled. richie shook his head.

"nope, we're buying a bunch."

"dude, i'm not trying to waste your money."

"hey, it ain't wastin' when it's feeding you, who hasn't eaten in god knows how long," richie said, reading over a menu. kevin smiled to himself, doing the same.

the two obnoxiously talked the entire time, realizing they had more in common than a shitty home life and a shitty work life.

"okay wait," kevin said with a mouthful of steak, swallowing it so he could talk. "so eddie?"

"what about 'im?" richie asked with a faint smile.

"you tell me! so he's your boyfriend, right?"

"yes."

"okay okay, i also never got to know what your drama was last week!"

"ah, we both just had a little fight when i went over and he kicked me out," richie explained, chewing his food, "and that's what led me to go home. so yeah."

"ah," kevin nodded, glancing down at the table. "damn, do y'all fight often?"

"more than you and i ever have."

"damn!"

"but he's been with me like- all week, so," richie chuckled.

"well good," kevin nodded.

"yeah. his birthday's in like- three weeks."

"oh, cool."

richie glanced up at kevin, whose gaze was down. "you alriiiight?"

"yeah," kevin said.

"when's your sweet seventeen?"

"like three weeks," he chuckled sheepishly, avoiding eye contact.

"oh? what day?"

"third of august."

"oh.." richie uttered.

"what?"

"nothing, that's uh- just.. eddie's birthday, too."

"ohh," kevin said, putting a piece of steak into his mouth. "so what's the big deal?"

"well i mean— i wanna celebrate with you both! you know? i love you both, eddie obviously more, but still."

kevin chuckled. "that doesn't matter, you go celebrate with eddie. i don't ever celebrate my birthday."

"what?? now i feel bad!"

"what? no, don't, seriously. go celebrate for your boyyfrieeeend!"

"oookay, shut up," richie chuckled.

"never."

"aright gentlemen, would you like me to get your bill?" the waiter interrupted. "kevin?"

"oh. mason. hi."

"long time no see!"

"yeah.."

"how've you been?"

"oh.. good, how about you?"

"amazing! working here has done so much for me. how's the uh- pharmacyyy?"

"it's great. great."

"cool, cool! okay so should i go get the bill?"