Page 93 of Lovers Like Us
Almost.
I can contain a hard-on.
Farrow climbs off the stool and stands in front of Thatcher. “Wherever you can find space to writefuck you, Farrow, goahead.”
Thatcher uncaps the pen. Without a word, he writesI promise to follow the rulesnear hiscollarbone.
Farrow just rolls his eyes, and then he tucks his shirt in his back pocket. Returning to the stool besideme.
Another roll, and Thatcher is fucked on the bet. He loses his second dice. “Truth,” he reads, “how hot do you find your client—no, this is inappropriate,Oscar.”
“I can explain,” Oscar says in a professional tone. “I meant for Akara to pickthat.”
Akara shakes his head repeatedly. “No.”
Donnelly lights another cigarette. “On a scale of one to ten, Thatch, how hot is JaneCobalt?”
“It’s Thatcher,” he correctsDonnelly.
This isn’t that bad. Janie would be beyond fucking curious just to hear the answer. And I’d tell her in aheartbeat.
“I’m not answering this,” Thatcher saysadamantly.
“To the surprise of no one,” Farrow declares and then motions for another round to start. When Akara loses next, hisdaresays to call the 5thcontact in his phone and propose tothem.
His fifth contact is Banks Moretti, and he has Thatcher’s twin brother on the line in less than a minute. “Banks?” Akara says, phone cupped to hismouth.
“Yeah?” His voice sounds identical toThatcher’s.
“Hey, you know I love you,man.”
“Uh,yeah?”
Thatcher starts smiling, maybe for the first time all night. I know that look. I’ve worn it before. That’s his family, his home, and itshows.
Akara sips his whiskey. “And you’re my number five, my ride-or-dieguy—”
“Alright, now you’re full ofshit.”
“Will you marry me, BanksMoretti—”
“Goodnight, SFO.” Banks figures out that Akara is on speakerphone. He hangs up, and Thatcher loses his third dice. Out of thegame.
He picks his last truth or dare. “Truth, when’s the last time you jacked off?” He finishes off his whiskey. “Three hoursago.”
“Hotel pit stops are saving us all,” Oscar says and refills his little brother’s whiskeyglass.
Farrow, Akara, Oscar, and I only have one dice apiece. Last one left with a dice wins and doesn’t have to do a third truth or dare, and honestly, I want towin.
I play conservatively, but Farrow loses. He sticks his hand in the hat. “Hoping for a dare.” He pulls one out. “Perfect.Dare.” His smile is out of this goddamn world as he reads, “Fake an orgasm at thetable.”
Wait.What.
21
MAXIMOFF HALE
Farrow tosses the napkin,not flinching or hesitating. Not for a fucking second. He stands and white-knuckles the edge of the table, and then inhales through his nose like he nears a peak.Holyshit.
