Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Ben sees me release my grip. “Nervous flyer?”
“Something like that,” I mutter. Really, I was reaching out for him…to protect him. I’d volunteered to accompany Ben to Philly as his bodyguard, and if we both go down in this plane, at least I died trying to keep him safe. I’d say I think I can live with that, but I’d be dead, so…
“I’m sorry you drew the short stick,” Ben says genuinely. He’s still radiating heat, but it’s never been at me.
“I pulled the long stick, actually,” I tell him. “I wanted to be here. Sort of had to strong-arm Novak for it. You’re well-loved in Epsilon, you know. No one dislikes following you around.”
He slowly puts the AirPods in a case. “Would you consider yourself Epsilon or Omega?”
It’s the first time anyone has asked me this. It never felt like I lost SFO. I never could lose them. But I never thought I’d feel like I was a part of Epsilon. I didn’t. Not until I was off-duty at Duke’s on 10th and O’Malley was there when I needed someone to look out for me.
He could’ve let me suffer. Hell, he could’ve let Quinn or Frog intervene. Instead, it was him trying to give me the metaphorical Heimlich while I was choking.
I smile in thought. “Both,” I answer. “I’m both.”
Ben rubs at his wrists, restless. I don’t think tornados love sitting too still. He uncaps his water bottle. “You want to go back to Luna?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “I miss her. Being at that club tonight—it’s just not the same without her.” If this was a long distance relationship test, then I failed it. ‘Cause first opportunity to be with her, I didn’t just take it—I wrenched it out of another guy’s hands.
Novak might be happy in the end. I could’ve just saved him from dying in a plane crash.
“The club,” Ben exhales a hot breath, unblinking at the blank screen in front of him. After the Fight Night, most of us were at an 18+ club called Verona in the casino. Even the girl squad squeaked their way in.
I saw Ben.
Beneath strobe lights in a back corner, he’d been chatting rapidly with Winona. His concern visceral from halfway across the club. She looked distraught, and I didn’t understand it.
I wasn’t sure anyone else saw it, honestly. Everyone was paired off, and I’d been people-watching and checking my phone.
Then I read his lips. It looked like he shouted, “HE DID WHAT?!”
I saw him find Vada. I saw him leave her with Winona, and then he ran out of the club like his feet were on fire. I left Oscar and Jack, and I ran after him. He slipped out from under Novak’s sight, and so I texted Epsilon that Ben was on the move. He jumped in a cab before they could’ve even put a bodyguard on him. But I was there, and I climbed in beside Ben.
He didn’t say a word about it. He’s used to security. Novak wanted to trade spots at the airport, which would’ve been the polite thing to do. But again, I wanted to go home to Luna, and it took a thirty-minute phone call to get him to concede.
It was easy to go back on-duty. I’ve had my radio on me. Just in case. And I texted Oscar to collect my shit from the hotel room. To make sure it comes back to Philly. He called, asking about Ben. Everyone’s worried about him. I’m betting his phone has been blowing up.
So here we are. In first class. No luggage. Barely any personal items.
And I have no clue why he’s trying to get to Philly.
“The club,” I repeat the two words he said. “You know it’s not healthy letting things eat away at you.”
“It’s not eating.” Ben is still unblinking. “It’s devouring…slowly.” His face twitches in pain. “Winona thinks she was drugged.”
I stiffen. “When?”
“At school.” Ben stares at the seat pocket in front of him. “You weren’t there.” My stomach tries to unclench. In those halls—all those teenagers feel like my responsibility. He adds, “Xander had been at the MLB collab that day, so he wasn’t at school. No bodyguard was inside Dalton, she said.”
“She thinks she was drugged?”
He scratches at his neck. “She’s going to tell her mom and dad tonight. Security will probably know about it soon.”
The plane quakes again, and passengers reach out for the chair in front of them. When we settle, I whisper, “We might crash though. Might as well tell me now.”
Ben rests his head back. “It was Tate.”
“She’s sure?”
“Nona said he snickered when she drank out of her Hydroflask at lunch. Later, she ended up stumbling into the bathroom, feeling like she might pass out. She called Vada, who called Easton…and when they found her, Tate had been in the hall, waiting.”