Queen of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #4) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,175

compensated. Pick any house within a five mile radius of your lab and it’s yours.”

“But I like my home,” Martina said, glancing around the place and Saint frowned at the higgle-piggle of white cat ornaments on her mantlepiece.

“Why?” he muttered, and I jabbed him in the ribs with my finger.

“I like this place too,” I said with a smile.

Saint looked confused while Martina quirked a grin at me.

A white cat suddenly jumped onto Saint’s lap and I expected him to flip the fuck out, but instead his features softened and he stroked its head, making it purr loudly.

“Of course you’re a cat person,” I said in realisation.

“Cats know their own minds and have no toleration for ninety nine percent of the human population. Of course I feel a kinship to them,” he said then looked to Martina who was reading through the contract. “What’s his name?”

“Artemis,” she replied. “Arty for short.”

“Hello Arty.” I tickled his chin and he nuzzled into my hand.

“I despise a nickname,” Saint muttered then stroked his hand down the length of the cat’s back. “You don’t want to be nicknamed, do you Artemis?” His voice softened a little and my smile grew.

“Oh my god, was that Saint Memphis’s baby talk?”

“I do not do baby talk,” he said stiffly as the cat jumped down.

“You just did,” I whispered excitedly, and he casually took a pocket-sized lint roller from his coat and ran it over the white hairs left on his clothes.

“You did not just do that,” I laughed as he tucked the roller away with a shrug.

“Okay, this all seems very generous,” Martina said then signed her name on the contract and passed it back to Saint with hope and fear dancing in her eyes.

“Thank you for this,” I told her, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “It means everything.”

She smiled, still seeming a little cautious but her eyes said she really did believe all we’d told her. And I felt in my heart that she was going to be the one to save the world.

***

I crashed out with Blake and Nash back at the house while Saint and Kyan went off to explain where we’d been to Liam. I had no idea what they were gonna say, but I was sure Saint had planned out some whole bullshit story which was infallible. Curiosity got the better of me though so I shot them a message through the private chatroom.

Tigress:

Good morning *kiss emoji*. How did you explain away last night, Squid?

Scorpion:

Good morning, Tigress. I see you’re hankering for a punishment already today.

Tigress:

I don’t know what you mean *angel emoji*

Koala:

He prefers when we use his full title, baby. Lord Squidington.

I snorted a laugh, typing out my reply, able to picture Saint’s furious expression perfectly.

Tigress:

Ah yes, Lord Tentaculus Squidington. Forgive me, my Lord.

Scorpion:

We are quite amusing this morning, aren’t we?

Koala:

Holy fuck did you just use the royal ‘we’? That’s got me feeling all kinds of *octopus emoji*

Tigress:

We shall be most unamused when our fine Lord Squidington takes payment out of our rations.

Squid:

Oh, it shall not come out of your rations, it shall come out of your flesh.

Koala:

Check yo user name bro *squid emoji*

*Squid has left the chatroom*

Tigress:

Hahahaha how did you do that??

Koala:

In the account settings. LOL. He’ll never be Scorpion again.

Tigress:

You played him diiiiirty.

Koala:

That’s the only way I play and you know it *wink emoji*

Tigress:

Hm, I don’t think I know it well enough. Come and prove it once you’re done talking to your grandpa.

Koala:

I cannnnnnn’t *angry face emoji*. He wants to take me up to pride rock and show me the lay of the land like Mufasa did to Simba. If I don’t blow my brains out from boredom, I’ll come eat you out later.

Tigress:

This message is to confirm your dinner reservations at Pussy de la Wife. Please don’t arrive late or your table may be given to one of the three hot guys on the waiting list.

Koala:

God I fucking love you. And I won’t be late, I’ll be there to eat you out of house and home. But be warned, I won’t be tipping the waitress Baboon because she stuck a finger in my cherry pie last time without asking. Filthy bitch.

Tigress:

Hahaha. Maybe I like watching when she diddles your pie though. Love you too, hubs. What did Squid say to explain away last night?

Koala:

He said something about a sick relative, I kinda tuned out while he went overkill on the acting. Squid’s gonna head back to you guys in a sec so watch out if you don’t