Page 110 of Wild

“You wish, Little Hayes,” he remarks, picking up his bowling ball to take his turn.

“You’re going down, babe,” Kira tells him.

He looks over his shoulder at her. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”

“I’m just fucking you.” She shrugs. “She’s my best friend. I choose her.”

“I’ll remember that,” Rush begins with a wicked grin, “when you’re begging me to lick your pussy.”

A woman gasps and we look over to see her slapping her hands over her son’s ears. “There arechildrenin this establishment!”

“My bad,” Rush apologizes, but he doesn’t sound sorry at all. Kira herself is trying not to laugh.

I take a seat next to Hollis, Fox on his other side—Cannon has gone outside for a smoke break.

Hollis has been distant the last few days and I don’t know why. Isuspectwhy, but we haven’t discussed it.

“Are you mad at me?” I ask, picking up a crinkle fry and dipping it in ketchup.

“No,” he sighs, and the word is honest. His golden eyes meet mine. “I’m worried.”

“About my dad?” I guess.

“Yeah,” he confesses. “It feels wrong, him not knowing. I see him five days a week Mia. Sometimes even on the weekends if he’s feeling particularly power hungry.” With a sigh, he shoves his fingers through his hair. “He should know, Mia.”

“I know,” I whine. “I know,” I repeat in a defeated tone. “I’ll talk to him soon,” I promise.

This shouldn’t be so difficult, telling my dad, but I’ve always been one to follow the rules and going against him on this could cause a rift between us. I just want him to accept this without an argument and I don’t see that happening.

He gives me a look.

“I’m serious. I will,” I vow.

I know with my birthday coming up, and Christmas, I can’t keep this a secret any longer because I want Hollis to be there for those things.

“We can do it together,” he says reaching for my hand under the table.

It’s so kind of him to offer and shows how much he’s grown, that he’s willing to stand by my side and face telling him together.

I shake my head as Rush cheers. “It’s just a spare!” I yell at him. “I got a strike!”

Rush gives me the finger and the mother at the lane beside us makes a disgusted face and storms away—no doubt to report us to management, but I mean she’s the one bringing a five-year-old to the bowling alley at eight at night on a Friday.

To Hollis I say, “I think it’s better if I do it alone. Otherwise, he might kill you.”

He laughs and it’s good to see the light come back into his eyes. “Do you really think he’ll resort to murder?”

I give him a look.

“Right,” he drawls.

Fox leans over to Hollis. “Not that I’m eavesdropping or anything, youareright next to me, but um … yeah … Hayes would totally kill you. He probably will even if she tells him alone.”

“Thanks for the boost of confidence, Fox,” Hollis grumbles.

“Yeah, my dad’s notthatbad.”

They both glare at me. “Okay, so he’s overprotective. But he’s a father. It’s his job. He’ll get over it. I’m turning twenty-three in two weeks. I’m anadult. I make my own decisions and my dad can’t tell me who I’m allowed to love. That’s not the way it works.”

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