Triple Sec

by T.J. Alexander

Hell was empty. All the devils were at the Javits Center.

And after Mel had dressed semiprofessionally for the occasion! Her patent Docs with unripped black jeans and a crisp black button-down telegraphed “fun undertaker,” if anything.

“Are you two really going to fight over who gets to carry my books?” She preened, pretending to toss an imaginary length of hair over her shoulder. “I’m the luckiest gal in school.”

What was the etiquette for your ex-wife meeting your polycule? Miss Manners never covered shit like this.

Bebe was so hot when she was contrary. “Sounds complicated!” Chris said in an upbeat way. Kade smirked. “Not really.” They were also a very hot contrarian, Mel realized.

At the other end of the judging table sat Ray Lyton, who’d founded a craft beer label uptown a few years back. They were young, white, nonbinary, and apparently a fan of every beverage ever created, because as hard as Mel looked, she couldn’t find any evidence of flavors they didn’t vibe with.

me literally being like haha wonder if this takes place in the other book’s universe and then not even noticing that this is ray😭😭😭😭😭

heels? Not the everything bagel seasoning rim! Kade was going to be so smug that their prediction so many months ago, as sarcastic as it had been, had come true.

“No one is throwing us out,” Kade intoned. “Yeah, I would love to see someone try to throw you out, St. Cloud.” Mel leaned into their space with a leer. “You’d just glower at them until they shrank into the fetal position.” “My point is—” Bebe broke in. “I don’t glower,” Kade said, glowering.

And the easiest to love.”

This book would not exist if not for all the sluts, slags, and dirty girls (gender neutral) who are there for me when I drop an unhinged idea into the group chat.

And finally, a soft, tender, well-deserved forehead kiss to everyone who loves in their own way, with their whole heart, in defiance of anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. Cheers, my loves.