Page 59 of Wild Like Us
I’m burning up.
But I pivot and ask, “Who else is here?”
“Akara is outside, and now Farrow and Thatcher are with him.” Jane names Moffy’s husband and her soon-to-be husband, both also their personal bodyguards. “As well as Ripley.”
Ripley is Moffy’s eight-month-old son.
“And Oscar.”The tactical badass bodyguard to Charlie.She nods to punctuate the end.
But Charlie adds, “And the drooling canine. My pants werewetfor three-fourths of the ride here because of Arkham.”
My brows jump. Less on the fact that Moffy and Farrow brought their puppy along. “You rode with their dog?” I ask Charlie.
“Regrettably,” he says.
Moffy gives him a look. “You chose to ride with us.”
“You did?” My jaw falls. I knew Moffy and Charlie had patched up their fucking horrible feud, but Charlie actively choosing Moffy’s car for a road trip is like bridging two sides of the Grand Canyon.
Then again, Charlie did recently oust the CEO of H.M.C. Philanthropies, giving Moffy a chance to be head of the company again. But as far as I know, Moffy is still deciding whether to give up teaching swim classes for the stress of being CEO.
Charlie sighs. “Because I knew my sister would spend every hour discussing wedding details in the other car, and no offense”—he speaks to Jane—“I couldn’t withstand that.”
“None taken, little brother.” She smiles brightly, genuinely, and looks between her brother and Moffy, who’s her best friend. Glad that there is less friction between them.
I am too.
But with all three of them merrily together like they were in high school, it makes me feel more on the outs. I’m now the only one with a busted-up friendship.Beckett.
He’s not here.
Obviously. And I don’t even know why Maximoff, Jane, and Charlie have showed up yet.
But I point out, “Couldn’t you have just rented your own car?”
“Yeah?” Moffy says to Charlie with a rising smile. “I could’ve sworn that was an option, wasn’t it?”
Charlie clearlychoseMoffy rather than going off on his own. Instead of acknowledging this, Charlie zeroes in on my face like a target.“Enough about me. Aren’t we here foryou, Sulli?”
“That’s fucking news to me.” I smile though because I guessed right, and fuck it feels good to know that they’re here for me.
Maximoff crosses his arms over his firm chest, confusion knotting his brows. “You and Banks were in the bathroom together?”
My smile vanishes. Cheeks heating. “Because of the scorpion—he was helping me catch it,” I say quickly. “It was in the bathroom.” I jab a thumb to the bathroom behind me. “I mean,kind ofcatch it. He fucking killed it. But…yeah.”
They can’t tell that I just had the most epic kiss of my life, right? My lips aren’t red or anything. My hair isn’t messy. Strands are just damp, air-drying. And I’m in PJs. Nothing out of the ordinary.
It’s late.
And it’s not like I want to hide kissing Banks. But Akara should know first. Out of respect for him.As my bodyguard.
As myfriend.If we’re even still that to each other.
I just don’t want to lose Akara.
Charlie plops down on the bed like it’s not stained or infested with bed bugs. Do I understand Charlie Cobalt?
Not always, not really.
