Page 40 of Sinful Like Us

Possibly that’s what I can offer him, an open window into my family that he can easily crawl into. But how?

Life is chess. And I need to be ten moves ahead of Charlie.

“Jane.” Thatcher draws my gaze upward. “I can handle whatever they throw at me.”

Even if this were true, I have to help him. “Ensemble,” I say deeply, a word meant for my family, and I want that to include him.

Together.

His chest rises, and he nods.

I type on my phone, my sibling group chat relatively quiet tonight.

I send:How many of you are coming here?

“What in the ever-loving fuck…? Where’s everyone going?”

I look up.

Sullivan Meadows, my twenty-year-old cousin, suddenly arrives. Her bodyguard Akara Kitsuwon safely leads her against the grain, and they enter the bar while masses barge outside.

Sulli unzips her puffy teal jacket. “Are we supposed to be here?”

“It seems that way,” I tell her. “Someone’s bought out the bar for us.” Much earlier, I invited Maximoff, Sulli, and Luna—my three cousins who live with me in the old townhouse—to join Thatcher and me at the bar. I haven’t heard back from Luna, so I suppose she’s busy tonight.

Akara fixes his mic on his red windbreaker. He speaks in short glimpses to the other bodyguards. Including Tony who hovers far too close. His proximity might as well light Thatcher’s eyes on fire.

My phone buzzes.

Have I missed something? Where is everyone going?– Audrey

If my little sister has no clue about what’s happening, then it’s likely that Moffy is right. Charlie isn’t coming here.

None of my siblings are.

“Oh hey, you don’t have to get up for me.” Sulli knots her long brunette hair in a messy top bun. “Really, I can just fucking stand or take another stool.”

Banks has already risen. “It’s not like you’ll block my view or anything.” He’s six-seven to her six-foot. “Go ahead.” He’s offering her the seat beside me.

“Thanks.” As Sulli sits, she watches Banks and Akara clasp hands and pat each other’s back in greeting. To me, she says, “I heard we’re going to Scotla—I mean,Hawaii.Fuck, I suck at code names.”

I smile and scoot closer. “Have you decided on whether you want to bring Will Rochester along?” Sulli and Will have been dating privately, and she’s admitted that they probably would’ve kissed atHallow Friends Eve if the party hadn’t been cut short. Will hasn’t pressured her to move faster or made her feel badly for ending the party early—a party that he threw for her.

So far, he seems honorable and decent.

Yet, surfacing his name suddenly silences the bar. The door bangs shut, the last stranger leaving.

She catches a look that Banks and Akara give each other. “What? You don’t think I’ll invite Will? That I’m chicken shit scared?”

Akara grimaces. “No. That’s not it, Sul.”

Banks tilts his beer to his mouth. “Why would you even want to invite the Rooster?”

“The Rooster?” Sulli and I say in unison.

I swing my head to Thatcher. He rubs his temple and shoots his brother an annoyed look.

Security Force Omega.They must’ve jokingly coined a code name for Will Rochester. I shouldn’t be too surprised.