Page 196 of Alphas Like Us

She expels a giant breath, hands on her thighs hunched forward. “Thank fuckingGod.”

I’ve known that she’s been afraid I’d hurt myself, but I thought if I could do it for her—it’d mean something in theend.

I was wrong. I think quitting meantmore.

37

FARROW KEENE

Beach parties with the Hales,Meadows, and Cobalts consist of one massive sandcastle competition, and since I’m with Maximoff, I’ve been recruited onto TeamHale.

And if I look at the water’s edge—which I try not to do all that much—SFO are on-duty and placing bets on thiscontest.

“Wait, I’m confused,” Xander says. “How do we make the towerspointed?”

“Just pack it in,” Lily replies. “Pack that sand in.” She pats at the base of the structure. Being brutally honest here: it looks likenothing.

We’ve been at this shit for ten minutes, and the furthest we’ve reached is a huge mound of sand that’s supposed to be the mountain beneath the castle. Maximoff shaves the “sculpture” flat with a shovel, and I lean back on my hands. More or lesswatching.

His movements are tensed like his entire body is sore. Muscles shot. The source: the stair climb from this morning. It’s hard to believe he’s even out here and notresting.

But that’s classic Maximoff Hale. At least he listened to his doctor and soaked in an ice bath before the beachparty.

I’m his doctor, by theway.

I catch myself unconsciously smiling before I focus back on myboyfriend.

Maximoff takes a quick glance at the competition, then turns back to the mound of sand. “You know,” he tells us, “we still have time to build something other thanHogwarts.”

My smile widens as Xander, Kinney, Luna, and their parents look at Maximoff like he’s spokenblasphemy.

“Because I love you,” his dad says, “I’m going to forget you said that,bud.”

Maximoff wipes sand off his hands and onto his bathing suit trunks. He’s eagle-eyeing the two other sandcastles-in-the-making.

“Someone’s competitive,” I teasehim.

He fixates on my upturning lips and my piercing. “I’m compensating for your slacking,” herebuts.

“That’s cute.” I just stopthere.

His neck almost flushes, and he’s trying to stay on course. But I’m definitely distracting him. When he gets a better look at the competition, he says, “Christ.”

“What?” Lily pops up. “Are welosing?”

“We’re definitely losing,” I answer, not needing to look. Bodyguard Facts: if you’re looking towina wager, you don’t bet on the Hales. I was the only one who ever did. And right about now, the radio in my ear would be full of nonsensicalshit.

I almost roll my eyes at myself. Fuck, I really,reallydon’t want to reflect on that. Because at the end of the day, I would never trade being a concierge doctor for security. Medicine is a part of me, and I can’t shake that need and that hunger. Being able to help these families with my medical skillset, it’s invaluable tome.

And my father would say,I told youso.

But at least he never gave me a hard time when I quit my residency and decided not to be board-certified. He was just proud I’m still working as a doctor. Because using my talent matters more to him than anyprestige.

On top of that, he texted me thismorning.

I’m sorry about Rowin. We should have enough hands on the med team with you and me, and Trip may end his sabbatical. I wanted to let you know there’s no plan to hire. We’re keeping it in the family.–Dad

I sleep easy knowing that I chose the Keene legacy the second time around, and my father never forced myhand.