Page 86 of Charming Like Us
Without the details of the fight, I might not be on the right side of morality, but I don’t always need to be.
“It was that kid named Jesse,” Tyson complains. “Not me.”
Sinclair spins onto Jack. “Your brother Jesse?”
Jack tucks his camera under his arm. “It was a misunderstanding—”
“Did I mishear the part whereproductionis starting fights at a charity event?” Sinclair cuts him off.
The Epsilon lead cutting off one of his bodyguards,fine.Him cutting off Jack Highland,not fine.Not at all.
“It’sdiffused, Sinclair,” I rebut and tell him lowly, “we should leave this area before more runners pass the finish line and need water.”
He’s stewing more than the douchebro.
But Tyson blurts out, “I wasjoking.That guy Jesse can’t take ajoke.”
“What happened?” Sinclair questions.
“I was fake-humping the table, and Jesse got bent-out-of-shape over it because another person—not me—said that’s how I should ride Winona Meadows.”
My jaw hardens, eyes narrow, head cocks because I’musedto these aggravating comments. No one likes this kind of peanut gallery, but they can’t shut up when it comes to the famous ones.
Jack looks exasperated, also too used to hecklers. “Your friends can’t talk like that here, man, and they shouldn’t talk like that anywhere—”
“Let security deal with security issues,” Sinclair cuts in before reiterating the same shit to the teenager. “That’s no way to talk to any woman or any person.”
Tyson scratches a pink bumpy patch on his fair skin, and what do you know—I think I gave the douchebro poison ivy.
I’d laugh about it, but I’m busy watching Jack back away from the situation. I only want to follow close before he disappears on me. And also, I left my vanishing clientalone.
It’ll be a miracle if Charlie is still waiting for me.
Sinclair surveys the mess of water and cups on the grass. “Clean this up,” he orders the temp guard. “More runners are about to come in.”
Jack exits the tent, but not before casting a glance back. Our eyes catch in a beat that says,we’re on the same side.
Not necessarily as production and security.
But just as myself and him.
As Oscar and Jack.
I’m really falling for this guy, aren’t I?
He disappears.
It pounds my pulse. Aches my joints and muscles, almost pushing me to go after him.Run after him.With one more professional exchange to Sinclair and a short talk with Akara over comms, I sprint out of the tent.
Jack is already gone.
Charlie….is also gone.
My muscles are on fire, breath caged as I click my mic. “Oscar to Farrow, is Charlie in the med cabins?” Farrow has been off-duty for security and on-duty for the med team.
Right now, my desire to chase after Charlie has been replaced with a full-fledged desire to chase after Jack.
Comms crackle. “Farrow to Oscar, that’s ayes.”
