Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
He has completely forgotten about Delilah.
A song I recognize is playing, “Dancing with Myself” by Generation X, and Donnelly smirks seeing my brother happy with his friend.
His smirk fades when Delilah stops in front of him with a flirty smile and the pop of her hip. “I love your shirt, Donnelly. Super cool.”
I try to straighten up and appear taller. “I actually bought it for him,” I lie.
Her eyes flicker to me. “Did…the jellyfish say something?” She laughs and tries to peer underneath the tentacles. I realize I am semi-hidden.
Donnelly raises the umbrella higher. Revealing more of me.
Delilah looks a little peeved. “Oh. It’s you.”
Me. “Luna Hale,” I nod confidently. “You’re my brother’s date, and if you liked him at all, you should be with him. Not flirt with his bodyguard.” So there. Take that. Ha, ha, ha! Um, and unfortunately, I actually say all of that out loud.
The last ha causes Delilah to snort into laughter. “Oh my God, you are so weird.” She grins up at Donnelly. “Can you believe her?”
“Thought she sounded pretty convincing to me.”
Delilah looks confused. “What?”
“You should see what she can do with a butter knife. You don’t mess with an angry jelly.”
I growl.
She is 100% freaked out. Delilah slowly backs away and then spins on her heels. Her friends gather around her, gossiping and casting side glances at us.
“That went well,” I smile, a little surprised that something went right.
Donnelly slips a hotter smile over at me, and the tentacles of my heart are squeezed around him even more. He nods to me. “You’re gonna have to hop in my pocket, Hale.”
“How come?”
“Gotta take you to school with me while I’m on-duty. Just to ward her away.”
It sucks he has to volley off those advances from high schoolers. I bet it’s uncomfortable. “We need to consult Hank Pym so he can shrink me.” Just as I reference Ant-Man, my brother is approaching without Easton. A water cup is in hand. Like he took a short hydration break.
His gaze pings from me to Donnelly, then back to me, and I don’t like the look in his eye. It resembles fear.
“Hey, sis,” Xander says to me, not even Donnelly.
“Howdy. It looks like you’re having fun.”
“Yeah.” He yanks at the silk tie. “So you two aren’t…? Because earlier when I was dancing with Delilah, you two looked…I’m just asking because…” He frowns deeper.
I suddenly realize that my younger brother might not want me romantically involved with Donnelly. And I don’t know why.
Pain flares up inside my ribcage. “You thought we looked what?”
“Close.”
“We’re friends,” Donnelly says smoothly.
I’m not hitting the panic button. I’m just processing with a frown that matches Xander’s frown.
“Yeah, okay, that’s fine.” He’s trying to convince himself.
“Why are you worried?” I ask more quietly.
He leans in to hear me. “What?”
“Why are you worried?” I repeat.
His eyes widen like I’m not seeing the imminent threat. “Because Dad would murder Donnelly if he got with you. He was about to rip off his entire head and dick earlier—for using our dryer.”
“Both heads are still there,” Donnelly banters. “I checked.”
Xander laughs, already at ease now that he knows nothing is happening. I can’t be sure if he’s just afraid to lose his bodyguard—or if he doesn’t like the idea of me and Donnelly together at all, because he might lose the friendship he’s been forming with him.
I had only thought of enraging my dad if I got with Donnelly. I hadn’t thought I’d upset my brother or take anything from him.
For some reason, that starts to hurt more.
FANATICON FORUM
WE ARE CALLOWAY
Posted by @lilysandroses4evers
Who has the best peach of the hot SFO bodyguards?? Vote!!
4232 fandom yays! – Quinn Oliveira (Young Stud)
3113 fandom yays! – Thatcher Moretti (Jockstrap)
3009 fandom yays! – Farrow Keene (Maverick)
2188 fandom yays! – Akara Kitsuwon (Boss)
2176 fandom yays! – Banks Moretti (Akara’s Bestie??)
1922 fandom yays! – Oscar Oliveira (Pro)
1001 fandom yays! – Paul Donnelly (Ass-Kicker)
@WistfulPumpkin: Thatcher def should be winning this. He has the BEST ass.
@gorgy_porgy33: Jockstrap should be renamed Thicc Daddy. His ass is *chefs kiss* Have you seen him in pics?!
@PoppyRedemptionArc: the rightful winner is winning. Quinn Oliveira is everything and leagues above the rest. I accept no other answer.
@connorcobaltseyebrows: it’s Farrow HALE and Oscar HIGHLAND-OLIVEIRA.
@moomoopants242: we should just remove Banks & Akara altogether. They don’t even deserve to be a part of this poll or SFO. Just sayin’ #factsarefacts
@StaleBread89: what’s with the Donnelly slander? My guy has a perfect peach.
@hehecallowayxx: We totes need to make another peach poll, but with non-bodyguards!
21
LUNA HALE
Stalking StaleBread89 on the WAC fandom forum has finally proved fruitful on October 3rd, a Wednesday worth remembering. It’s my sister’s sixteenth birthday, and I like to imagine Kinney’s birthday magic is casting luck spells every which way.
What’s even better, he said nothing nasty, and he seems like a Donnelly fan. We’re in agreement on lots of things, me and SB.