Page 56 of Lovers Like Us

This took a bad turn. I tap the counter, tentative, and I’m about to interject. But she speaksquickly.

“She’s always seemed pretentious and just unmotivated. Everyone in her family has done something extraordinary, and she’s just…blah. If I was a Cobalt, I wouldn’t be wasting my potential likeher.”

Shit.

Maximoff mouths,Ican’t.

He can’t reveal himself now. He’d crush thisgirl.

I hold onto the key cards. I can’t let him go to a room withoutme.

Here’s some unspoken history catalogued only by security (not public): two men tried to jump Maximoff in a hotel hallway when he was fifteen. Unprovoked. His old bodyguard escorted him to safety, but that shit is why he’s stuck with me 24/7.

Izzy asks me again, “So who’s yourfavorite?”

“Maximoff Hale,” I say withoutpause.

His chest lifts in an arousedbreath.

My smile is killing me. I rub my mouth a coupletimes.

“Ilovehim,” Sanaswoons.

Same.

“Well, I used to,” she sighs. “I don’t know. That article about him and Jane Cobalt made me feel…weird.”

Izzy nudges Sana’s arm. “It’s fake.Celebrity Crushalready issued an apology, and so did three other tabloids who ran with thefakestory. I think one of them is even gettingsued.”

That’s the work of the Hale and Cobaltlawyers.

“It’s been entertaining,” I say casually, “but we need to grab ourbags—”

“Thatcher to Farrow.” A strict voice blares through my earpiece that hangs on my shoulder. Audible to Maximoff and both girls. “Farrow, are you in the hotel with Maximoff—” I quickly decrease the radio volume, but not fastenough.

Shit.

“Oh…my God.” Sana has her hands to her mouth. Both girls stare intently at Maximoff’s back. “Is that…?” Tears flood her big eyes, upset. Because she knows he heard every negative thing she said. “I didn’t…I…”

I hang back, already knowing what he’lldo.

Maximoff hurriedly spins around, drops his hood, and raises a hand. “Hey, it’s alright, don’t cry, don’tcry.”

Sana bursts into a sob. “I didn’t mean…” Her knees buckle while she cries, and Izzy catches her co-worker’s elbows. Maximoff sprints around the counter, and I follow closebehind.

I fit my earpiece in, but I don’t worry about the volume yet. Instead, I take out my phone and tap into an electroniccontract.

Maximoff crouches to Sana. “I know you didn’t meanit.”

She mumbles something about hurting Maximoff Hale and how Jane Cobalt is his bestfriend.

He shakes his head. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I’m okay. I’m okay. You don’t need to cry.” She’s still sobbing, and that’s affectinghim.

He glances briefly at me, his chestconstricted.

I squat next to him. “Sana, he’s smiling. He’s notupset.”

Izzy wipes her friend’s tears with her blazer sleeve. “He doesn’t look mad at all,Sana.”