Page 50 of Lovers Like Us

“They didn’t,” I assurehim.

He nods, and his hand slides towards my knee. He rubs my leg, almost comfortingly. In a way that relaxes me against my seat.He cares aboutme.

I could get way too used tothis.

We start talking about nineties bands when he raises the stereo volume. Not loud enough to wake everyone else. Halfway through, he off-handily mentionsThatcherbeing a stick-in-the-mudasshole.

“What’s your deal with Thatcher anyway?” I ask and swig from a bottle ofZiff.

“The fucker tasedme.”

I choke on my sports drink. “What?” I wipe my mouth with the back of my arm. “You’rejoking.”

“I’m not,” he says. “We worked an event together a couple years ago in NewYork—”

“What event?” It had to be related to myfamily.

“You weren’t there,” he prefaces. “It was a cover photo-shoot for Forbes magazine, and paparazzi leaked ourlocation.”

I remember my parents, Aunt Rose and Uncle Connor, and Aunt Daisy and Uncle Ryke were all on that cover together. “Why was Thatcher there if he was assigned toXander?”

“We took extra security that day.” Farrow looks to me, then the road. “Once we exited the building, all hell broke loose. Paparazzi stormed Lily’s car before I led her to the door. Hecklers appeared, and one tried to grab your Aunt Rose’s purse.” He shakes his head. “By that time, I’d already safely locked Lily in her car without me. I could see this dickhole behind me, messing with Rose. I turned, cold-cocked him, and as soon as I put a hand on Rose’s back—I wastased.”

“Why would he dothat?”

“Thatcher said he ‘mistook’ me for the shithead I punched. But it just so happens that the only mistake he’s ever made sent electric volts through my body.Sure.” He rolls his eyes. “We’re not supposed to take out our weapons in crowded areas. It causes fear, panic—and we’re hired to deescalate these situations. Thatcher knew that. Yet, the rule-abider didit.”

My mouth parts in shock. “Fuck…I can’t believe hetasedyou.”

Farrow lets out a short laugh. “My first day on the job, he made me do a 19K in the Poconos Mountains. Alone. In the dark. The first day for Donnelly, a pancake breakfast. I can’t fabricate this shit.” He flips on his blinker and switches lanes. Letting a speeding carpass.

Since Thatcher is a lead, he has power over Farrow. Just picturing him using his position against my boyfriend—my jaw sharpens. “And now, I want to go kick hisass.”

His lips quirk. “That’s sweet that you think I needprotecting.”

“Maybe youdo.”

Farrow changes radio stations, his smile extraordinarilylarge.

Before he says,you’re the famous oneoryou can’t be the knight in every situation, I ask him, “Why did Thatcher single youout?”

“Before I was hired to your mom’s detail, Thatcher’s twin brother was supposed to fill the position. But Lily found out that I finished security training, and she requestedme.”

Realization washes overme.

Farrow Keene used to just be the son of our concierge doctor, and my parents had always really liked him. So I could definitely see my mom requesting Farrow as her 24/7bodyguard.

Farrow watches my reaction for a second, his tattooed hand back on mythigh.

I place my palm on top of his hand and twist one of his silver rings. “I didn’t know any ofthat.”

“You wouldn’t. That kind of information stays in security.” He pauses. “Do me a favor? Grab the USB fromthe—”

I already lean forward and open the glove box. In a quick second, I connect his phone to the stereo and put on his ninetiesplaylist.

He nods a couple times, a smile in his eyes. And I wonder if he’s thinking,Maximoff knows me. Reallywell.

I lick my lips. “So you took Bank’s job and that put you on Thatcher’s shitlist?”