STORM - (Intersex)

CHAPTER 3

TYLER

As I rushed out, I returned to my booth only to find Fran there, giving me a knowing look.

"You're going to get blue balls, you know, and I'm not dealing with your cranky ass," she quipped. I shot her a glare and then hurriedly called a taxi. Once it arrived, I dialled the one person I felt could understand.

"Can I come over?" I asked as soon as she answered.

"Yeah sure, just let me know when you're outside."

I ended the call, gave the taxi driver the directions, and sank back into the seat. After the embarrassment I'd just endured, leaving was my only option. I didn't want to keep running into Lee and Clara.

Fuck's sake!

CLARA

As the night wound down, we all headed home. Fortunately, I didn't have work the next morning, which was a relief—it was Sunday, and I was pretty sure it would be a day spent lazily chatting with Lee. Despite trying to push the memories of last night to the back of my mind, they lingered stubbornly.

I was in the middle of making breakfast when Lee emerged from the guest room.

"Dude!" She halted at the threshold of the kitchen, staring at me in astonishment. I returned her gaze, utterly confused. "You have hickeys! And they are dark!"

Her exclamation jolted me fully awake. I dashed to the nearest bathroom, my heart racing. The mirror confirmed my fears as I brushed aside my messy hair, which had been concealing the evidence. There, on my neck, were four unmistakable hickeys.

FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" I exploded, seeing the marks in the mirror.

"Tyler really did a number on you!" Lee chimed in, smirking from the doorway like a Cheshire Cat.

"I'm going to need some serious makeup to cover this up."

"It looks sexy. You two looked like you were really enjoying yourselves last night," she commented as we made our way back to the kitchen.

"Yeah... can we not talk about that? It was a mistake and it's not happening again."

"If you say so," she replied, her smirk broadening knowingly.

It's Monday morning, and all I crave is my coffee. Last night, Lee was raucously loud while we played video games—sometimes I think she uses my gaming system more than I do. On top of that, thoughts of Tyler have been swirling in my mind, leaving me feeling unexpectedly flustered.

As I step into the building, I keep my sunglasses on, a silent signal that I'm not in the mood for conversation. The click of my heel's echoes on the marble flooring, punctuating the quiet. I press the elevator button and step inside, hearing the hurried footsteps of someone trying to catch it too. I deliberately avoid looking up, maintaining my aloof demeanour, until they finally slip in beside me.