Page 33 of Lovers Like Us

My jaw muscle tics, but I lean casually on the granite counter. I didn’t imagine that dating Maximoff would affect his relationship with his brother, and I’m not happy about this atall.

“He didn’t mean it,” Luna says, panting as she runs inplace.

Xander tugs down his headphones again. “Yeah, Idid.”

I unpocket my phone to text Maximoff. “Your brother’s been trying to get ahold ofyou.”

Xander sits up, elbows on the lip of the tub. “He could’ve convinced someone to keep Thatcher on my security detail, but no, he wanted to fuck his bodyguard, and now Ilostmine so you two could have a stupidchaperone.”

He’s fourteen-going-on-fifteen. He’s upset. I’m not about to tear into the kid, but I’m fucking irritated that he keeps referring to me as his brother’s fuck-buddy.

I loosely cross my arms. “If you think your brother would risk everything just to ‘fuck his bodyguard’—” I use air quotes “—then you don’t know him thatwell.”

His gaze hits thefloor.

“Man, if Maximoff or I had the power to return Thatcher Moretti to you, we would in a fucking heartbeat. I want him around me like I want gangrene and a rootcanal.”

I recognize that Thatcher voted for me to remain Maximoff’s bodyguard, but I can’t even feign obedience. I’m not accustomed to being indebted to anyone either. I’d rather buy him a bottle of booze and call it even, but knowing Thatcher, he’ll want my firstborn and my coronaryartery.

Xander mutters under his breath, “Moffy could’ve made it happen if he wanted to. He can doanything.”

I’m fucking glad Maximoff isn’t here. If he heard that, guilt and pressure would crush his shoulders. Then he’d make himself sick trying to fix this for his little brother, but he has no power over the Tri-Force.

Security switches happen, and Xander has to accept that Thatcher isn’t his bodyguardanymore.

“He can’t do everything,” I tell Xander. “Right now, he doesn’t even have alicense.”

Xander gives me a weird look. “Shouldn’t you be his number one supporter? You’re datinghim.”

He didn’t say “fucking” him.Getting better.“And I’m not overestimating his abilities and putting him in a shit bind. I call that…” I start to text Maximoff. “…love.”

Kinney lunges to steal my phone. Reflexes quick, I raise my cell in the air and then put a hand on her forehead. I use minimal strength to keep herback.

“You can’t tell anyone we’re here,” she sneers and flails for thephone.

“I’m texting yourbrother.”

Her thrashing ends, and she suddenly acts blasé and uncaring, sitting on the tub ledge. “Fine. He can join. As long as we leave soon.” She rolls her eyes at me. “God, stop looking at me like I’m a moron. I knowthings.”

I pop my gum and smile before texting:Come to the hall bathroom by the kitchen when you can. Xander is here with your sisters.I tuck my phone in the back pocket of my track pants and then swivel the volume of myradio.

“Wherever you need me to take you three,” I say, “I’ll need to call your bodyguards tojoin—”

“Uh-uh,no,” Luna pants, swinging her arms left and right in a retro dance move. “Just us,Farrow.”

I rest an elbow on the sink. “I can’t,Luna.”

“Excuse me.” Kinney gawks. “You’re a rule-breaker. Break therules.”

I’m not a fan of Epsilon, but the guys in SFE will want my head on a platter if I take three of their clients on a joy ride to fuck-knows-where withoutthem.

I shake my head. “I bend rules for the benefit of myclient and his privacy. You three aren’t myclients—”

“But my bodyguard is a nark,” Kinney says. “Luna’s bodyguard is a bigger nark, and Xander’sbodyguard—”

“—is cool,” Xander interjects, “but Banks will tell Thatcher, who’lltell—”

“I’ll stop you there,” I say, my brows spiked. “That’s the definition of anark.”