Page 204 of Alphas Like Us

“We’re doing a long engagement,” I tellXander.

We discussed it at length, and it seems like the best idea to wait for the public and media attention to die down before we have a wedding. There will still be chaos, but I figure if we give it some time, there’s a greater chance someone else in my family will take the spotlight for a little while. I just would really love a wedding that isn’t crashed by helicopters anddrones.

“I figured,” Xanderreplies.

Farrow finishes with his hand wraps and then tosses a pair of boxing gloves to him. “We’ll start with an easycombination.”

I watch as my future husband teaches my little brother how to box. He keeps glancing at me, a smile inching across his mouth. He knows how much I love him. How much I love this. And I think about what Farrow once toldme.

It’s the littlethings.

It reallyis.

40

FARROW KEENE

TheWe AreCallowaywrap party is held at an artsy studio in Center City, and I’ve been to one of these before on Lily’s security detail. Never as Maximoff’s bodyguard. And definitely not as a face featured in the docuseries. This is new for me, and I keep catching myself taking in this different vantagepoint.

“Few month’s time, Redford, and we’re all going to watch your smug ass on TV,” Oscar tells me, all of SFO congregating around a few wooden high-top tables we shoved together. Plates of finger-food and nonalcoholic drinks cover thesurface.

We’re all on-duty.

I wondered how being a bodyguard again would work. How the guys would handle me coming back after I willingly quit. That same day in Greece, during the sandcastle contest, the news wasannounced.

And then all of SFO pushed me in the motherfuckingsea.

Injest.

Akara knew what was happening way before. Apparently, the Tri-Force had talked to Lo in advance, and he would’ve never offered me the spot if they saidno.Akara told me they were unanimous in favor of bringing meback.

I didn’t need to know why the security team would want me. I just figure it’s easier to have me on the team than a new hire. It’s what Thatcher said a while back. Trust is invaluable with these families, and they trust me a hell of alot.

Enough to let me marry into Americanroyalty.

I prop my boot on the rung of a stool that Donnelly sits on. Most of us are standing, and I tell Oscar, “You can watch my smug ass in reallife.”

“Already accomplished.” Oscar dips a fry in ketchup. A long,longbuffet table spans an entire brick wall. Invite-only guests amble around the open space, mixed drinks and beers inhand.

The food isn’t the main attraction. Cameras and lighting equipment point at a white backdrop. See, these wrap parties are always half-cocktail-hour and half-photo-shoot. The famous ones have to take promotional shots for the premium cable-network’s digitalapps.

“You don’t want us to watch your episodes?” Akara asks, giving me a weirdlook.

“Eh…” I waver my hand. Being honest, I don’t give ashit.

“Did you embarrass yourself?” Oscar asks. “Bro, I told you not to talk about serious shit with the parents oncamera.”

“It happened,” I say truthfully, picking up a whole apple off my plate. “Connor was offered a condom sponsorship.” I let that out, trusting these guys, and also that footage with Connor is going to beaired.

Banks laughshard.

“Cobalt Condoms.” Donnelly flips a page in a gossip magazine. “Magnum-sizeonly.”

“For the wealthy man,” Oscar chimesin.

“Nah, I’d wanna buy some,” Donnellynotes.

I whistle. “These are definitely fictional condoms when Donnelly thinks he can fit into amagnum.”