Page 26 of Wild Like Us

When I was sixteen, I dreamt of Akara saying those words to me once I was older.You’re an adult now.

When I was seventeen, I kept that dream.

When I turned eighteen, I threw that dream in the fucking garbage.

He never fell on his knees and proclaimed his love for me. Never made the grand gesture and chose me over being my bodyguard. Never told me we could be together because I was older andan adult. Hell, he never even checks me out or makes an indication that he thinks I’m attractive. I’ve heard him call womenbabes.

She’s a total babe.

What a babe.

But never to me. Never about me.

In his eyes, I’m probably as sexy as a hairy little caterpillar.

Since then, I thought I’ve accepted what we are. He’s just Kits to me. But recently, lately, I guess I wanted to test the waters. I’m not sixteen-years-old holding onto a fantasy, but I did have some hope that two friends could find a morsel of romance.

Even if it was just for a single night.

Akara must read my silence as indecision because he adds, “Your dad can’t force you back home, Sul. He knows that. He’s just scared.”

My dad’s not scared of anything, I almost say. I stop myself because I know if anythingcouldfreak him out, it’d be losing me or Winona or Mom.

I open up my contacts on my phone. Am I still flying too close to the nest? Should Ireallycall my parents just to snitch on my own whereabouts? But I can’t stomach lying about this. Not for a thousand more miles, not even fortenmore.

I dial my dad’s number.

I’d rather confront his anger than carry the weight of this lie.

5

BANKS MORETTI

Getting laid iseasy for me. I’m six-seven, built like a god, and my deep voice could melt the fuckin’ sun. But easy is boring. I’ve had more fun trying to explore the ways to make a woman come than by having a pair of lips around my dick. The longer the roadmap to her orgasm, the better. But I can count the number of times I’ve truly been challenged in bed.

Zero.

Big ball of nothing.

And I’m not so arrogant to think that maybe the problem doesn’t lie with me. If sex bores me, then that’s got to at least be a fifty percentmeproblem. I’d blame my issues on not having enough time to cultivate real relationships beyond the first lay, but Akara has the same time-sucking job. And he does just fine going out on dates. I’m the one that shuts anything down after one night.

But I’m not that shocked Akara called it quits with Jenny. He’s the kind of guy that hates to end things the morning after, butSullisaw Jenny.

And Akara Kitsuwon is in love with Sullivan Meadows. He just hasn’t fully accepted what’s right in front of his face yet.

The past few months, I’ve thought to myself:Banks Roscoe Moretti, you old fool, why don’t you play cupid and put these two dummies together?I’ve played Mother Goose to my first-ever client, young Xander Hale—my little chickadee.

Playing cupid can’t be that hard.

Except Akara hasn’t just dug in his heels. He’s cemented his ankles in the fucking core of the Earth. The more I try to chisel him out, the more I look over at this strong-willed goddess of a woman. In leagues with Athena and Aphrodite. Joyful, funny, tough-as-nails Sullivan Meadows. And I wonder what the hell I’m doing.

No one ever warned cupid of accidentally shooting himself with an arrow. Never been good with a bow, anyway. Should’ve seen this clusterfuck coming.

Because I love Akara.

I love him too much to ever fuck him over.

And Sulli—she deserves to be swept off her feet. Probably by Akara. He’s driven like her. He has money. A business.