Page 80 of Wild Like Us

Right damn-fucking there!

I knew something was up with Banks last night. I should’ve pressed him harder and earlier, but screw it—I’mhappyI didn’t. Because who knows if I would’ve kissed Sulli this morning if I knew about them, and I’m glad I was blissfully unaware so I had the chance.

I adjust the seat straighter. The Jeep is hot, even though it’s a relatively chilly morning. Silence is cooking the three of us, and I know I have to break it first.

“So you two are together?” I ask, then turn slightly to lock eyes with Sulli in the backseat. She’s snapping her buckle and lifting her legs to her chest. I ask her, “That’s why you pulled away from me?”

Banks glances fast at the rearview mirror. “You pulled away from him?” he asks Sulli.

“Yeah, I did,” she admits, a hand to her temple like she’s witnessing a slow-moving car crash. And to me, she says, “It didn’t feel right to keep kissing after I’d kissed Banks.”

Conflicting emotions crawl all over me.

It feels like hundreds of ants scurrying across my skin. Sulli is a good person. With the knowledge she had, I’m glad she shortened our kiss. Because I wouldn’t want to hurt Banks either.

The actual kiss they shared…I swallow a rock. Shit, I hate that they kissed. Jealousy piles high, bitterness slipping in the back of my throat.

I only have myself to blame.

If I wasn’t in such denial about my feelings, I could’ve had all last year with Sulli.

I run a hand through my hair and mess with the broken air vents in agitation. “When did you two kiss?”Last night.Sulli already said last night. But I guess I just want extra confirmation.

“Last night,” Banks says, driving out of the parking lot. “When you were on the phone.” The Jeep rocks as we roll onto pavement.

Confirmed: this was recent.

Recent enough that they haven’t been secretly dating.

Sulli grips her knees. “We meant to tell you right after. But everyone showed up, then I fell asleep. It turned into a big mess, and I’m really sorry, Kits.”

I wince with the shake of my head. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Sul.”

“Friends don’t keep friends in the dark,” Sulli proclaims. “We kept you in the fucking dark.”

For less than 24-hours.

Real pricks would let this shit fester into something irreparable, but they came clean faster than most would or could. These two are too good to me. Better than I am to them at times, and I’m starting to rethink whether I even deserve their wholesome friendship.

I really am a dick because I want it anyway. And I’dendanyone who crosses them.

They’remywholesome, good-hearted friends who curse like sailors.

I’ll always protect her and him.

Him.

Where is his head at? Because this isn’t anything we’ve been through. Not apart and definitely not together.

“Akara?” Sulli says, and I realize I haven’t responded to her statement.

I turn back to her. “I’ve kept you in the dark for way longer when your ex told me to stop flirting with you. So how about we just call each other even?”

She tries to smile, but some type of sadness washes over her face, downturns her lips and lowers her gaze.

I want to crawl back there and just hug Sulli. Kiss her again. But I glance at Banks. He’s eyeing me in his peripheral.

Lovely.