Page 167 of Wild Like Us

Jane’s phone buzzes the same time as Luna’s. While Jane smiles at her screen, Luna is frowning at hers.

“Shit,” Luna curses. “He’s asking mewhodid it?”

“You should tell Dad the truth,” Moffy says.

Luna inhales, then types out a message. I scoot closer to Jane as I catch the bride-to-be swooning at her phone.

She smiles over at me, then flashes me her screen. “Thatcher’s mom stopped by to check on Lady Macbeth and the others. Thatcher texted me the pics she sent him.”

Her cats.

Thatcher messaged Jane a photo of their fur babies rolling on the carpet like cat burritos, and they’re making silly faces. I laugh. “Are they strung out on catnip?”

“On love, apparently,” Jane says, unable to stop smiling. “They adore Gloria. Thatcher said his mom grew up feeding strays and bringing them inside.”

Gloria.That’s also Banks’ mom. Obviously, but I find myself hanging onto Jane’s words for different reasons now. I want to know more about Banks and the woman who raised him.

Is she cool? Does he have a good relationship with her or is it more strained like the one with his dad? Things…I don’t exactly know that deeply, but I really,reallyfucking want to.

There is a path where I never do.

Where I never get closer to Banks, and that sits inside me like a ball of misery and desolation. Like some post-apocalyptic scenario that I didn’t choose.

I’d never choose that.

But I may.

I try not to wince even thinking it, and I concentrate on Jane.

She shows me another cat photo. “Ophelia is licking her lips after a tuna treat.”

Adorable, but my eyes immediately jump to the text message sitting above the photo.

I’m going to push inside your wet pussy, honey.– Thatcher

Suddenly it’s a million degrees and my eyes have popped out of my fucking head. Do I alert Jane and make the situation awkward? Or do I ignore the fact that I just read a dirty text from her future husband, one that is super direct and assertive?

“Uh…” I stammer.

Jane frowns, then follows my gaze. “Merde.” She’s beet-red and clicks out of the text thread.

Maybe I should go to college and take up Acting 101 to save other people from myself.“I didn’t see anything,” I lie.

She smiles, but her face is as red as mine. I mean, we’re all pretty open and talk about sex, but it’s not like I’ve ever heard Thatcher tell Jane that he wants to stick it in.

“That is a big fat lie, Sullivan Meadows,” Jane notes sweetly. “But I appreciate you lying on my behalf.”

“What’d you see?” Moffy asks me.

I look to Jane, wondering if she wants this unleashed.

“A sext,” Jane answers.

“You sext?” Luna smiles but glances nervously at her own phone. Waiting for her dad’s reply. Uncle Lo might just be drawing out his reaction to put his daughter on edge.

“Sometimes.” Jane studies the way Luna stares at her phone. “Did your dad respond?”

“Just now, he did. He said,we’ll talk more when you’re home. Glad you’re okay, and remind me—what’s Akara’s number again?He’s going to call Akara.” Her head whips to Moffy. “This is bad, right? If he’s calling Akara, then he’s going to get Donnelly fired.”