Page 126 of Wild Like Us

Banks’ brows cinch like he has no clue what I’m talking about. I don’t have time to explain the Disney movieHerculesto him.

Akara is fuming as he approaches Banks. “I don’t fucking care if there are koala bears in there. I told you to get out here.”

“And now I’m out here,” Banks says, eyes softened on his friend. “Akara—”

“I’m making the calls when we take risks,” Akara snaps, his nose flaring. “You could have assessed the situation from outside the tent. No one was in there to save. If you came in contact with a single poisonous snake, Banks, you’d bedead.Think of Thatcher.”

“He has Jane,” Banks retorts. “He’ll be okay without me.”

Akara shakes his head like that’s so far from the truth. “No one can ever fill that void you’ll leave behind, and I know you know it. And if you won’t think of him, then think of Sulli before you pull that reckless shit.” He points to me.

My lungs collapse as my eyes meet the pain in Banks’. I see the words before he says them, “She has you, Akara.” He turns to his friend. “When I’m gone, you’ll hardly notice a difference.”

“That’s such bullshit,” I cut in, my voice almost quaking with emotion. My heart is slamming against my body. Like it’s trying to take flight and fling itself in his face. “Icareabout you, Banks.” I don’t forget that Akara is here.

I don’t forget that these words might hurt him.

But Akara was the one to pull me into the picture, so maybe he knew Banks needed this moment, my words, my truth, my feelings out loud—even if it’d hurt him in the process.

I come closer. “I don’t want to see you in pain. I don’t want to see you fucking die! You mean something more to me—if you didn’t, then why is the idea of never having you so fucking agonizing?”

His eyes redden. We both breathe harder, staring at one another, and then I brave a glance at Akara. He has a hand over his face. Distressed.

“Kits, I…” I pant like I’m running the longest marathon of mylife. “…you know that choosing wouldn’t be this hard if I didn’t have feelings for you, too.”

He drops his hand, nodding. His eyes are bloodshot like Banks’. His gaze is gentle on me. “I know, Sul.”

Glancing back to Banks, I exhale, “Can you please drop those fucking snakes, Hercules? I can’t take you seriously holding them.”

He walks off to the woods to toss the snakes on the ground. The air lightens a fraction by my words, but an emotional string is still tethered between the three of us.

“Upside,” Banks says as he returns. “I’m not actually six-feet under yet.”

“Congratulations,” Akara says. “You’ve beaten deathtwicesince we’ve been out here. Don’t test it a third time.”

He cracks a shadow of a smile. “Yes,sir.”

Akara glares. “I change my mind—Sulli, throw him in the snake pit.”

Banks and I laugh, and Akara ends up smiling. He shakes his head, then fixates on the flaps of the tent.

I ask Banks, “How do you know they’re all garter snakes?”

“You can thank Akara for that.” Banks nods to him.

“What do you mean?” I turn to Akara. But he doesn’t reply. He’s even more laser-focused on the tent, walking around the perimeter in search of something.

Banks watches Akara for a second, then answers, “Akara’s rulebook for Kitsuwon Securities. I thinkChapter Twenty-Ninecovered snakes and spiders.”

I’ve heard about the monstrously huge rulebook. A doorstopper. But I didn’t know he included sections on animal safety. Sounds like something Akara would do.

When it comes to his businesses, Akara goes above and beyond. I saw his drive and determination back when I was only sixteen—when he was first on my detail. He never let his phone die. Always had a charger, even found ways to access Wi-Fi in remote areas of Costa Rica—he wouldn’t let a good time thieve his passions and responsibilities.

And I know I was young, buthewas still young too. Young to own a business all by himself. Young to be a lead on the Tri-Force. Young to create a security firm. He’s never let age or time or shitty cell service stop him from chasing triumph and success.

I understand what it’s like running so hard after something that everything else falls to the wayside. So much of my early life, I sacrificed for swimming. And it’s only since I retired that I have time to give to all the experiences I neglected.

I admire Kits because he’s never been so focused that he loses sight of his other loves. His other desires. He juggles so much so well, he could join Aerial Ethereal’s circus shows in Vegas.