Page 69 of Lovers Like Us

When she leaves, his eyes briefly flit to me inthanks.

I nod. Dick-grabbing crisis averted. The only person touching his cock will beme.

Oscar’s voice floods comms. “Now confirmed, this is takingforever.”

We’ve barely made a dent in thelines.

“It’s Sulli,” Quinn says through mics. “Someone tell her to stop having twenty-minute conversations withfans.”

Oscar returns. “Look at you, little bro, trying to take charge and keep an eye on a Meadowsgirl.”

I click my mic. “Shit, it’s like he’sAkara.”

“He wants to be,” Oscar says, his tone half-joking.

“Fuck you, bro.” That was a realfuckyou.

“Hey,” I cut in. “He’s fucking with you, man.” I’ve seen some Oliveira fighting flare-ups on the bus, and to be honest, I don’t like it. I prefer all of us ribbing Quinn and him smiling at the end. Not this pile ofshit.

“He’s a fucking asshole,” Quinngrowls.

I can’t believe I’ve gone from mentor to mediator. I speak into my mic. “Akara, this is allyours.”

“Chill on comms,” Akara says, “and leave Sulli alone. She’s new to this. I’m getting her line coordinator to usher people outfaster.”

“Smart thinking, boss,” Donnellyadds.

Thatcher has been absent from comms, and I quickly scrutinize Jane’s line next to me. Three feet from her, he stands like a brick wall, hands cupped in front. Zeroed in on fans who excitedly bob up anddown.

“Maximoff, this is for you!” A boy hands Maximoff a scrapbook he made. I watch the friendlyexchange.

“Redford,” Oscar says in my ear. “Look at Charlie’sline.”

I reroute my attention for only a second and crane my neck to the very end of the set-up. Charlie is the furthest from Maximoff, and his line is almostempty.

One blonde girl snaps a picture, and I read Charlie’s lips that move with one word:bye.

The girl grins from ear-to-ear. Taking no offense to his curtness. And she slips into Beckett’s windingline.

I click my mic before he rubs in the success. “You mean the guy who has a reputation of being elusive can blow off his fans and none of them bat an eye? If others copied him, we’d haveCelebrity Crushcalling them rude bitches andassholes.”

Oscar laughs. “Look who became apublicist.”

“Sucking Maximoff’s dick must give superpowers,” Donnelly says withoutthinking.

“Cut it out,” Thatchersnaps.

I’m not easily offended, and Thatcher’s all up-in-arms because Donnelly is speaking about a client’s dick. Not necessarily because that’s my boyfriend’s dick. But I’m of the mindset that if you dish it, you better be able to take it, and I dish a fuckington.

Not listening to the bane of my career and my sanity, I speak into my mic. “And no one knows what sucking Donnelly’s dick does because no one wants nearit.”

Donnelly lets his laughter filter through thecomms.

“Farrow,” Thatcherwarns.

I roll my eyes. I let go of my mic. Still observing Maximoff and the overzealous fans. I have faith in our entrance security, so I’m not paranoid about concealedweapons.

Maximoff accepts a basket of cookies from a girl, and he’s about to pass the present to an assistant. But I tell her that I’ll getit.