Page 55 of Lovers Like Us
I smile and pop my gum in my mouth. I step back a little from the counter. Just so I can seeMaximoff.
His lips rise, and he mouths,should I tell them?He realizes it’s only a matter of time,too.
I shake my head and mouth,notyet.
“The FanCon is in this hotel?” Izzyasks.
“Not herehere,” Sana clarifies and speaks to me. “It’s in the Regala Hotel, much larger and more convention space. It’s one mile from here. I can give you directions if you needthem.”
I suck in a breath and decide to irritate Maximoff a little. “Never heard of an H.M.C.FanCon.”
He shoots me alook.
My smilestretches.
Sana gawks. “Have you not been online in the past twenty-fourhours?”
“I’ve been working,” I say easily. “Is it about comics orsomething?”
“No, it’s the biggest meet-and-greet tour of the past decade.” Sana rocks on the balls of her feet. “Maximoff Hale, Sullivan Meadows, Jane, Charlie and Beckett Cobalt will all be in the same roomtogether.We haven’t seen that…ever.”
“In years,” Izzy corrects. “They’ve probably been together at least once.” She slides over a brochure. “Here’s that sightseeing guide I mentionedbefore—”
“Izzy, this is all the sightseeing he needs,” Sana says and then turns to me. “You should look into the FanCon. Tickets will sell outsoon.”
Izzy nods. “I heard they’ll go within thehour.”
Maximoff smiles a more heartfelt one. He’s dedicated most of his time to raise money for charity, and knowing this tour helps other people means everything tohim.
I rub my thumb over my lip piercing. “What would you do if you saw one ofthem?”
“The five?” Sana asks, hand to her heart. “Ilivefor any photographs of them together. Can you imagine the camaraderie? The friendship? Theloyalty?”
I can do better than imagine. I’ve seen the friendship and loyalty with all of them but two. Charlie and Maximoff created a fissure within “the five” that’s palpable. They haven’t even spoken one word to each other since we starteddriving.
I chew my gum slower and lean into the counter. “Not a photo. If you met them in reallife.”
“Like at the FanCon?” Sanaasks.
I’m worried she may faint if Maximoff turns around. It wouldn’t be the first time. The most memorable was in Philly at Lucky’s Diner. A boy passed out on a plate of pancakes when Maximoff waved to him. Someone shouted for a doctor, and no one stood, so I assessed thekid.
He suffered only fromembarrassment.
“Who’s your favorite?” Izzy suddenly asksme.
I tilt my head. “Favorite…?”
“Favorite Hale, Meadows, or Cobalt.” She pushes up her glasses. “Mine is Lily Calloway. She’s…” Izzy justsmiles.
I know.Lily is endearing. I miss how she’d text me random shit about tortilla-shaped blankets and superhero memes. But she hasn’t messaged me since I broke hertrust.
“Mine is Ryke Meadows,” Sana chimes in. “He’s such aDILF.”
Maximoff barely flinches, used to people fawning over his parents and uncles andaunts.
I restrain a laugh. “That’sgreat—”
“And I loveallthe Cobalts,” Sana adds, “except for JaneCobalt.”
