Page 174 of Wild Like Us
“Fuck,” I mutter, cigarette in my mouth while I fumble for a lighter.
Akara shakes his head. “I wish you would quit.”
“I already did,” I remind him.
He tries not to smile and digs in his pocket for his buzzing phone. “I wish that stuck.” His face sobers as soon as he sees the name on his phone screen.
“Who?” I ask.
“Loren Hale wants to talk.” He checks his watch. “I have to call an SFO meeting.”
“Now? Really?”
Akara says, “Your brother wants to hold one too. Think of it as a bachelor gift to him.” The fact that they’re both so ready to jump into ameetingduring a party reminds me that they’re best friends.
“Fuck it.” I light my cigarette. “Let’s get some.”
41
AKARA KITSUWON
Outside the lodge,the Montana land rolls towards foggy mountain peaks, and a fall breeze passes through the ranch. Quinn Oliveira zips up the hoodie underneath his blazer.
I like Quinn a lot, but man, do I wish he didn’t take after Farrow. The maverick, the rule-breaker. It’s hard enough having one on the team. It’s even harder when Quinn tries to go rogue—because I really don’t like being tough on him. He’s theonlyguy on Omega who’s younger than me. So disciplining him feels like disciplining a little brother.
I’d rather just guide him. Teach him.
Thankfully, he’s here for the team meeting and I didn’t have to go flag him down somewhere.
I snap my finger to my palm while all of SFO gather on stone stairs that lead to the brewery we just exited. I stand before them. At the bottom, but I don’t need to be towering over them to wield authority.
They know I’m at the top.
Thatcher and Banks sit side by side on the middle stair. Banks smokes on a cigarette, ignoring Thatcher’s side-glares, but they’re both quiet, waiting for me to start.
As I look between them, it’s easy for me to say that Thatcher is my best friend. I’ve always been closer to him. We’ve been leads at the same time. Dealt with shit that Banks never had to, but when I think of Banks, I inhale a stronger breath and I can’t help but picture what we’ve been through recently.
Not just the intimate parts. The cougar attack. The way he’s been there. He’s always there. How much I’vereliedon him. And needed him.
I’ve known that I can’t live without Sulli.
But it’s starting to feel clearer and clearer how much I can’t live without Banks, and I hate the scenario where our friendship gets decimated.
It’s the most plausible outcome.
The most likely thing.
Because if she chooses Banks, I can’t stick around and watch him be with her. No more than I know he could stomach watching me with her.
Too painful.
Even thinking it draws down my face, and so I try to regroup.
Farrow has Ripley on his lap.Baby needs a bodyguard.I swallow those words. If I had more time, I’d definitely fling that issue into today’s meeting, but it’s not important right now. And I want this to be quick because we’ve all been drinking and it’s still Thatcher’s bachelor party.
“So here’s the deal,” I tell them, “as of now, you’ve probably heard about the incident at the Hales with Donnelly accidentally causing Ben to fall into the pool.” I’m guessing this is why Loren Hale wants to talk.
Donnelly hangs his head, his hands cupped together. Oscar squeezes his friend’s shoulder.
