Page 113 of Lovers Like Us
Luna hooks her fingers in the straps of a neon green backpack. Looking between all of us, cheeks rosy from the cold, she says, “Hey. Hi. Heidi. Ho. Howdy.” And waves like this isnothing.
Dear World, how did she get here? Why is she here? How did Charlie know? Did she call him? Why didn’t she call me? Do our parents have any idea where she is? Sincerely, a concernedbrother.
Farrow beats everyone. “Where the fuck is J.P.?” Her 24/7bodyguard.
Akara already has a phone to hisear.
I kneel on the couch and careen my head to try and peer out the window. No one else is in the parkinglot.
“Oh…” Luna glances at Charlie. “You didn’t tell themyet?”
“I thought you should,” he says, hands in his blackslacks.
“What the hell is going on?” I almostgrowl.
“So yeah.” Luna rocks on the balls of her feet, but keeps eye contact with me. “I kind of ditchedJ.P.”
I see red. Tunnel-vision on Charlie. The one person who fuckingknew.I storm ahead and grab Charlie by the sleeve of his sweater. “Outside.Now.”
26
MAXIMOFF HALE
Iceon the asphalt crunches underneath our soles. We near the curb of the Dairy Queen entrance, and wind whips around us as furiously as Ifeel.
Farrow and Oscar hover close. The only other two people outside with us. Probably to ensure Charlie and I don’t kill eachother.
“She calledme!” Charlie yells. “You’re mad at the wrongperson!”
“I don’t think I am!” I scream, cold stinging my throat. “You’re the one who could’ve told me. Toldus. Told a fucking bodyguard—anyone on Omega should’ve known she’d be herewithouther own bodyguard.” I shake my head, rage throttling my bones. Screaming at me to drive closer. To shakehim.
To make himsee.
Seehow my sister could’ve been hurt. Could’ve been kidnapped, raped or murdered on her journey across the fucking country.Alone.
“You knew she was driving here, and you didn’t tell anyone!” I yell. “What the fuck is wrong withyou?!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” he shouts back, edging closer. Closer, only five feet apart. “I’m the one who kept tabs on her!” He points a finger at his chest. “I’m the one who gave her directions here! I’m the one who made sure she didn’t get lost or drive off the side of the fuckingroad!”
“Great,” I sneer. “Fucking fantastic, Charlie. If your brothers reached out to me, I would’veneverlet them travel without a bodyguard. So thanks for helping out my sister, thanks alot.”
Charlie looks like he wants to rip off myhead.
I want to poke out his eyes with a goddamn serrated knife. I am out for blood. I feel like heknowinglyhurt my sister. He’s smarter than anyone I’ve ever known, so why the hell would he risk her life like this? “You have beef with me, fine, but don’t drag my sister intothis—”
“I didn’t,” Charlie snaps, and I back off for a single second. Because he looks twenty, his actual age, and his eyes flit inhurt.
That accusation hurthim.
“She called me,” he repeats. “There isn’t an ulterior motive. I’mnotsorry that you can’t stand the fact that she didn’t call you. That for the first time in forever, you weren’t the chosen one. Get the fuck overit.”
“Fuck you,” I snap. “This isn’t a pissing contest. It’s about my sister’ssafety—”
“She told me not to tell you. How about that?” Charlieretorts.
I’m already shaking myhead.
“Of course you don’t believe me.” Wind tosses his golden-brown hair. “She didn’t want you to worry, Moffy. Because that’s what youdo.”
