Page 146 of Lovers Like Us
And a couple days ago all the bodyguards bought Quinn a six-pack of beer, toasted to him, and said theirgoodbyes.
Quinn sets the duffel down. “The team said Luna’s normal day is reading and writing fan-fics, but you’re close to her. I figured you’d knowmore.”
I stare off for a second. Thinking about my sister. I saw the flying saucer tattooed on her ribs. Donnelly also permanently inked the lyrics Farrow scrawled on her forearm. She called that tattoospontaneous.
I get that I’m a hardass, but I’m not a prude or herdad.
I’m her big brother. And I’mgladshe did something that made her happy. If she could stay on tour longer, I’d let her in a fuckingheartbeat.
I almost smile before I refocus my attention on Quinn. “Once she finishes homeschool, I think she’ll want to get outmore.”
“Where?” Quinnasks.
“Concerts, coffee shops, bars, amusement parks, I don’t know,” I say honestly. “She’s just ready to experience life like a regular person.”Which is impossible.My gaze hardens at another thought. “She trusts people ten times more than Jane does, than I do. Just watch out forher.”
Quinn rubs his knuckles. “She’s eighteen. I have to listen to her if she wants to hang out with peoplethat…”
“Shit on her,” Isay.
“Yeah,” Quinnmutters.
“Be her friend, Oliveira,” Farrow chimes in. “Then she’ll listen toyou.”
I give him a look. “Was that your plan withme?”
He rolls his eyes again. “Wolf scout, I didn’t need a plan with you. I wasn’t a greenbodyguard.”
Quinn laughs. “Thanks.” He edges back. “I’ll leave you two…to it.” He also leaves the duffel on his way back to theroom.
My mind reels. About fame and the bodyguards, the video leak. “Who do you think from my family or security shared the video?” I ask him since I’m all out of guesses. Any name that crops up seems like a colossalbetrayal.
Farrow straightens, moreserious.
I read his gaze pretty well. “Do you knowwho?”
“I have a good guess.” His jaw tics. “Myfather.”
I blink a few times, processing. Dr. Keene’s number was a part of the text thread. He’s grouped in the circle of trust. And he’s been acting desperate to get Farrow to quitsecurity.
“So he gets you famous,” I say, “and you get fired.” I’m rigid, my joints needing oiled. I stretch my arm over my chest. “I’ll tell security to look intoit.”
“I already did. My father is denying, and there’s no proof.” Farrow combs a hand through his hair. “And his leak didn’t work. Now I’m famous and still a bodyguard. I wonder what else he has up his sleeve.” His eyes hit mine, and the insinuation isobvious.
“Your father isn’t stalking me,” I almost growl. Christ, even saying that sounds soap-opera-level fucked-up.
“He could be. It makes the most sense.” His voice fades as chatter, laughter, and footsteps echo down the hall. Probably from hotel guests, but we drop the topic and start buying drinks for everyone. Shelving theories about the leaker and the stalker fornow.
35
FARROW KEENE
“Farrow,what’s your opinion on kale?!” The obnoxious, over-enthused paparazzi point Canons in my face, fighting for a money-shot and bobbing up and down like Chihuahuas needing topiss.
A cameraman to my right screams, “Farrow, what’s your workout routinelike?!”
“Back up!” I yell like a threat. Maximoff stands directly in front of me, and I shove bodies back, not allowing anyone to edge tooclose.
He walks closely behind Jane. She dips her head, cat-eye sunglasses block the flashes, and she reaches back and clasps Maximoff’shand.
