Page 30 of Lovers Like Us

“I was thirteen,” I tell my dad. “There just hasn’t been a lot to cry oversince.”

Twigs rustle in my peripheral. I crane my head over my shoulder. Two figures hide poorly behind leafless maple trees. Only about twenty feetaway.

85% chance ofeavesdropping.

My dad gapes in mock surprise. “Christ Almighty, I wonder who the hell that couldbe.”

Connor and Ryke emerge and glare at each other, shirking blame for beingdiscovered.

My dad touches his heart. “I had noidea.”

I almost smile. As they dip into the hut, Ryke removes his gloves and stomps snow off his rubber soles. “Cobalt wouldn’t move his ass any higher up the fuckingridge.”

Connor unzips his navy blue jacket. “I lost cell signal. Of course, you wouldn’t understand the importance of needing to be reachable because not many people need to reachyou.”

“Fuck off.” Ryke throws a glove at Connor’s face, but without even looking, Connor dodges the glove and it plops in the hottub.

I grab the soaked glove and toss it back to Ryke. “If I remember correctly, you both were also at Camp Callowaydoubtingme andJane.”

Ryke sheds down to his bathing suit. “We were also there trying to fucking protectyou—”

“Is anI’m sorrythat damn hard?” Iask.

His frown darkens, and he climbs into the hot tub. “I’m fucking sorry.” It sounds sincere, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder. Giving me a side-hug.

Connor places his jacket on a wooden table. “I apologize for hurtingyou.”

“I accept,” I say, “but Janie’s gonna need more thanthat.”

Connor nods. “I’m aware. She already asked her mom and me to write a three-thousand word essay on why we love her.” His lips pull upward, admiration for his daughter clear in hiseyes.

My dad flashes a dry smile. “That’s what happens when you raise a bunch of geniuses and make your family motto:loyalty to thedeath.”

Connor grins a billion-dollargrin.

I lie back, but my shoulders won’t unwind. “Isn’t the Cobalt motto,‘let me play the lion too: I will roar’and whatever else Eliot says?” My younger cousin always recited that Shakespeare quote fromA Midsummer Night’s Dream, and it’s weirdly become the unofficial Cobalt rallyingcry.

“We have many mottos,” Connor says and finishes undressing to his blue bathing suit. He joins us in the hot tub, sitting closer to my dad while Ryke stays next tome.

Connor sets his phone in a cup holder, and I remember what I’ve been meaning to tell all three ofthem.

“I’ve been working with a tech & security company.” I capture their attention. “The engineers are updating all of our electronics and the security team’s to ensure no hacks from any outside sources. Phones, computers—everything will be safer to use. It was supposed to be my Christmas present to everyone, but I’ll roll it out before the tourstarts.”

Connor looks marginally impressed. Which is more than he gives most people. He nods repeatedly. “This’ll allow you to text Farrow without fear of a publichack.”

Sudden mention of my boyfriend/bodyguard heavies the air. “Yeah. It’s an added benefit.” I start to unconsciously smile when I imagine us texting like we’re together, forreal.

I’ve never had thatbefore.

Connor reads my features. “You likehim.”

“I love him,” Icorrect.

Ryke scratches his unshavenjaw.

“Say it,” I tellhim.

“Look, we hired these fucking bodyguards. All of our kids trust them. You lower your guard around them, and it feels fuckingwrongfor security to take advantage of yourvulnerability—”