Page 30 of Wild Like Us

“He’s not a cock!”She slugged Akara’s shoulder.

I laughed, then she slugged mine.

“His cock is probably ten times bigger than both of yours,” she said in defiance.

“No way in hell,” I told her.

She stared at our crotches. Unabashed, brazen as fuck.

This was almost a year ago. Akara reassured her she wasn’t the butt of a joke, but I get the feeling she’s thinking she’s one now. Left out. And we can’t help that sometimes. Akara and I are older, like he said. We have a friendship that’s different than when she joins us.

Not better or worse, justdifferent.

In REI, Akara tells me quietly, “She doesn’t need me or you to do it.”To take her virginity.

“Then tell her that,” I say. “Tell her something.”

He shakes his head. “She wants me to say yes.”

“Then sayyes.”

He goes quiet.

“Mary Mother of God,” I groan. “Then I’ll say yes.”

He shoots me a look likeno you will not. And we’ve returned to square one.

Back in the funhouse, I was so close to replying to Sulli,if that’s what you want, I’d be of service.But against better judgment, I turned to Akara. He gave me one of his classicshut the fuck up, Bankslooks. So I shut down.

It wasn’t until Sulli ran out of the funhouse that Akara told me hand-to-heart not to reply to her. Ever. To let her statement languish until it doesn’t exist.

I’m not a coward. Neither is he.

But this is fucking cowardly. He’s just so afraid of changing his dynamic with Sulli. He’s gripping onto the past and trying to piece back the remnants, but it’s already gone.

Probably for the better. She’s not the teenager he used to protect anymore.

Sulli stands up and pockets her cell.

We grow quiet as she approaches.

“My parents called,” she explains. “They’ll be here in ten minutes.” She nods a lot to herself, maybe nervously.

We’re not scared of her parents. Akara and I were bodyguards to minors before, so we’ve had to deal with their parents throughout the years. He just has more experience with the Meadows than me.

Sulli pulls her cart closer. “We should finish shopping.” She glances at my helmet, her lips inching in a smile. “I don’t think that one’s your color.”

I snap the buckles, then eye Akara. “She’s insulting your shopping skills.”

“Hers aren’t any better.” He places a bright pink helmet on Sulli’s head. “Gotta protect this one.” He knocks the helmet with a light fist.

“Careful,” I tell Akara, as we walk to the center of the store. “You break it, you bought it.”

Sulli pushes the cart, staying quiet. She even removes the pink helmet and places it on a rack of lanterns. Red patches roast her cheeks.

My pulse nosedives. I should’ve just flirted back with her instead of making a joke to Akara.God fucking dammit.She looks more aware like it’s the two of us versus her, and not just the three of us joking around.

Her neck is flushed, and she actually tries to outpace us. The wheels screech on the cart, and we let her go ahead.