Page 180 of Lovers Like Us

I chew my gum, not looking up from my phone. “You want me to hustle your brother,” I say, partially interested. I read a recent message and lean some of my weight on my cue stick. My boot rests on the rung of a shortstool.

I’d say this is heaven but it’s missing someone…–Maximoff

He included a selfie that could be part of a Calvin Klein campaign. Fucking gorgeous. Halfway submerged in his family’s pool, his wet hair is slicked back, and beads of water roll down histemples.

My mouthrises.

Luna photo-bombed him, her tongue touching hernose.

Our clients are spending the night at the gated neighborhood, visiting parents and siblings. Maximoff invited me to join him, but since the tour officially ended early yesterday, Omega wanted to goout.

And I need to be withsecurity.

I start texting him back:I’d say you’re missing a comma.Before I hit send, Akara plucks my phone right out of my hand. He wafts smoke out of his face, the barclouding.

“When’d you get here?” I ask, noticing a beer bottle in his grip. I’m not sure how he managed to push through the hecklers at the bar without causing afistfight.

Donnelly saunters towards Oscar, beer also in hand. Through the cigarette smoke, I make out his septum piercing, a new thing, and he cut holes in his Studio 9shirt.

“Five minutes ago,” Akara answers me, his sweaty muscle shirt suctioned to hischest.

I pop my gum. “You smell like a five hourworkout.”

Akara rubs my phone on his sweat stains, making a point. “We all agreed not to stalk the stalker tonight. You know Maximoff is safe with hisfamily.”

“I realize that.” I don’t need the reassurance. I’m confident whoever the fuck is behind the sick photos won’t reach Maximoff at his parent’s house. It’s decked out in security alarms andcams.

I extend my hand for thephone.

Akara rubs it on his chest again. “You really want this thingback?”

“Man sweat really doesn’t bother me.” I motion to him. “Giveme.”

He slips my cell into his backpocket.

I roll my eyes. “Akara—”

“You can get it back later tonight.” He squeezes my shoulder. “No client, no boyfriend. Justrelax.”

I chew my gum slowly. “I’m the definition ofrelaxed.”

Akara swigs his beer. “You’ve been the definition of hyper-vigilant. I’ll let you know when you’re back to Farrow ‘chilling in hurricanes’Keene.”

I’m not dwelling on that. Mostly because a brawny fucker yells, “Go eat shit,posers!!”

Donnelly leans on the pool table. “Haters gonnahate.”

“Get outta Philly!” a collective jeer comes atus.

Donnelly suddenly straightens up and outstretches his arms. “I’m from Philly! You get outta here,man!”

Oscar pulls Donnelly back by the shirt before he storms the bar, and then he steals Donnelly’sbeer.

“Hey,” Akara says, “let it go. We don’t need to make another headline.Security Force Omega Gets in a Bar Fightreflects badly on ouremployers.”

Donnelly glowers at the bearded, tattooed guy who’s been staring me down. “What aboutSecurity Force OmegaWinsa Bar Fight,boss?”

“No,” Akarasays.