Page 83 of Tangled Like Us
He cuts back in, “And byfuck with her, I mean hurting her even a fraction of an inch.”
I nod, just as serious. “Understood.”
Because I’m complete shit at showing emotion, I force myself to add more. Just in case it’s not clear.
I look him in the eyes. “I’ll never hurt Jane. I wouldn’t.”
Jane steeples her fingertips to her lips. Eyes darting back and forth to everyone. Even to Farrow who leans casually on the shower door and smiles while chewing gum. I can’t tell if he’s entertained by his fiancé or just by me getting threatened.
“Glad we have that covered,” Maximoff says strongly. “Especially since you kissed her already.”
The air deadens.
I’m motionless.
Can’t be surprised she told them.Not when I already told Banks.
“Yeah,” I say out loud. “I kissed Jane.” I’m assured that this is where I need to be, and I’m not someone who fucking cowers. But there are plenty of times I wish I would’ve taken a step back rather than barrel forward and rip myself up in barbed wire.
But this isn’t even close to a regret.
Maximoff thinks hard for a second, and more silence weighs the room down.
“For practice,” Jane reminds them.
Farrow pops a bubble in his mouth. “Is that what Cobalts call it?”
Jane knots her robe tighter. “We call everything what it should be. An orange is an orange. Your eyes are brown, and a practice kiss is simply a practice kiss.”
I sweep her with more concern.
She’s getting stressed, and they should be able to tell as much as I can. I’ve never seen Maximoff or Farrow actively be a roadblock in her life. Only support. And even now, they quickly back off.
“Fair enough,” Farrow says easily.
Worry infiltrates her big blue eyes, and she looks between Maximoff and Farrow. “You’re both supposed to help us with fake dating, not be a wedge—”
“I’m notwedging,” Maximoff interjects, hurt in his voice at the idea of putting any distance between her and him. “I’m just letting Thatcher know thatweknow thatheknows what’s happening here.”
I’m not sure what he’s talking about other than the fact that they know I kissed Jane…and that I can’t cross a boundary.
Farrow puts in his obsidian spear earring. “That could’ve used ten times more clarity, but D-minus for the effort.”
Maximoff grimaces. “It’s calledAfor effort.”
“You’re more like a D-minus, wolf scout.”
His face falls blank. “Thank you for that inaccurate grading scale.”
“Anytime.”
Maximoff groans in the back of his throat, and Jane turns more to me, stepping nearer. Only a few feet away now.
She skims my black button-down and the gold horns that are back around my neck. And then we lock eyes for a hot beat.
“Thatcher,” she says like we missed our routine greeting. “It’s good to see you. Um…you look well.” Confidence bleeds through her breezy voice, despite the pause.
Heat gathers in my fucking lungs.
