Page 47 of Tangled Like Us

I watch Farrow dip a spoon in oatmeal, but he’s taken a pause. His focused brown eyes are on me.

He’s dressed in his usual black V-neck tucked in black slacks with a black belt and security radio attached, and he’s been sitting casually on the Victorian loveseat. One tattooed foot on the cushion, elbow to his bent knee, and he’s holding an oatmeal bowl.

Farrow tilts his head. “You saw Moretti.”

He’s also observant and perceptive, exactly what I’d hope for in the bodyguard to my best friend.

“Wait, what?” Maximoff whips toward his one true love so quickly that he nearly sloshes hot tea on himself. “Fuck.”

“Careful.” Farrow smiles into a bite of oatmeal.

Maximoff almost reddens, not in embarrassment.

We are all so very flushed these days.

I place the empty milk jug on the mantel and take a seat on the rocking chair. Shifting a fuzzy purple pillow out of the way.

Moffy tries to grimace and hide his attraction. “I’m always more careful than you, man.”

Farrow lifts his brows at him. “Never said you weren’t, wolf scout.” He unravels my best friend in such small moments.

I can’t help but watch with an infectious smile.

Maximoff nods a few times. “Rewind.” He motions with his mug, and hot tea almost spills again.

My smile grows.

Farrow laughs hard.

“Shut up,” Maximoff groans, nearing a smile. He looks over at me likesave me from my bodyguard.

He most definitely does not want to be saved. I cross my ankles and lean forward on the rocking chair. “Tu es tellement amoureux.”You’re so in love.I grab my monstrously large mug off the coffee table.

Maximoff opens his mouth, but then takes a breath. Not protesting or denying, but his lips slowly downturn in deeper thought.

He’s staring at me with greater concern. Maybe, possibly, remembering that I’m closed off and out-of-business to the sort of love he’s found with Farrow.

Or perhaps he’s just remembering all the suitors outside.

Or he could be recalling how last night I quit my assistant position in Calloway Couture, and I hadn’t really even begun. I’m such bad publicity right now with the Cinderella ad, and I don’t want my drama to negatively impact my family’s companies.

So I can’t work for my mom’s fashion line or even Cobalt Inc.

It’s official: I’m back to being jobless, as well as passionless. But I’ll figure something out. One thing at a time.

Whatever is on Moffy’s mind, it’s troubling him. He looks like he wants to dive into deep waters and help me swim to shore.

“I’m fine,” I assure him. “We’ve all been through much worse.”

“I don’t care how damn big or small this doomsday is—I don’t like that you’re experiencing one at all.”

I’d feel the same if our positions were reversed right now. Maximoff and Farrow have both been really attentive to my well-being this past week and especially this morning.

“Jaaaaaaane!!”

Our heads turn to the front door. Thankfully the suitors can’t breach the house.

I rest my chin on my knuckles and peek at the staircase. “Should we check on Luna?” My nearly nineteen-year-old cousin is a beautifully brazen, quirky oddball, and I love that she’s been living with us.