you talking about?”
Owen snorted. “Like I need to tell you.”
“Try.”
“Seth’s always had a crush on you,” Owen said, hoisting himself up onto the counter like he belonged there. “Everyone can see it.”
Self-awareness, or the complete lack thereof, was a bitch of a thing. “They can? I didn’t see anything!”
“That’s because you’re adorably clueless about most things.” Owen grinned at him. “I think it’s cute.”
“How long has he had a crush on me?” Nick demanded. “And why didn’t you tell me?”
Owen laughed, flashing those perfect teeth. “Because I had a crush on you too. Why would I tell you about it, when I wanted you for myself?”
Nick grimaced. “Dude, that’s gross. You’re gross.”
“Eh. I never claimed to be a saint. And it’s been going on forever. Maybe you don’t see the way he looks at you, but the rest of us do. And it’s not exactly one way, you know. When we were dating, it was always Seth did this or Seth said that. Honestly, it got really annoying after the first few days.”
“We were together for three months.” Sort of. Together was a bit of a misnomer.
“I know,” Owen said. “Imagine how I felt by the end.” He batted his eyes. “Why, I even began to doubt my worth.”
“Oh, that’s crap. You’re the most conceited person I know.”
Owen pressed a hand against his chest. “That hurt. Right here. And it did upset me, I think. Everything was Seth, Seth, Seth. Always has been.”
“This is a little life changing for me,” Nick said, feeling numb. “Do I need to apologize? I don’t know if I need to apologize.”
Owen waved him away. “Nah, I got over it a long time ago.”
“Still. I’m sorry.”
“You could make it up to me, you know.”
Nick didn’t like the sound of that. “How?”
Owen waggled his eyebrows. “For old time’s sake?”
Yeah, no. “Never again. Consider it an extended lapse in judgment, and one that won’t happen again.”
“You wound me.”
“I don’t know if that’s possible.” Though Nick didn’t know if he believed that anymore. He hadn’t realized Owen was actually capable of being hurt. Sure, he was human, but he’d always been so cool and aloof and— “You broke up with me.”
“I did,” Owen said, sounding bored. “Thought it was best. Right thing to do, and all that. I’m a nice guy.”
“You’re really not. Mostly.”
“Mostly. I’ll take it. So, you’re in love, or whatever. That’s great, man.”
“I don’t—it’s not—ugh.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know what I’m doing. Everything is so weird right now. I didn’t sleep very good last night. Not after what Pyro Storm told me about—”
“Pyro Storm?” Owen said, and Nick looked up in time to see Owen’s eyes narrow. “You talked with Pyro Storm?”
Nick nodded. “It was … I don’t know what it was. I thought he was supposed to be this bad guy, but he—”
Owen hopped off the counter. He was frowning. “Nick, what the hell are you doing? Pyro Storm is dangerous. You could have been hurt.”
“I know that. But that’s the thing.” Nick began to pace back and forth. “He and Shadow Star were fighting yesterday, right? And it was all ka-bam and ka-pow, and then I was standing in this alleyway in my underwear—”
“Wait, what?”
“—and then Pyro Storm was there, and then I punched him on the side of the head, and he held my hand to make sure I was okay, and it was so strange. Like, if he was supposed to be a villain, why didn’t he toast me right then and there? And then there’s the other thing. He knew my name like Shadow Star did. Why do they both know my name? Am I some kind of Extraordinary catnip and they all want in on my bidness?” Nick stopped pacing, thinking hard. “I shouldn’t be having those images in my head. I mean, how would that even work, all three of us? There’d be so many fingers—”
“I thought you were all about Shadow Star,” Owen said stiffly. “I mean, he was there first and all, right?”
“That’s just it,” Nick said. “I don’t think he was. I need to show you something. Come up to my room.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice. Should I take off my shirt now, or…?”
“Oh my god. Keep all your clothes on, or I’m going to shove you down the stairs.”
Owen held his hands up in defeat. “So violent. Have you always been like this? If so, I’m lucky I escaped with my life.”
Nick ignored him, heading for