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“Who’s Scottie?” Gabe asks.
Jane answers, “Ripley’s biological father and Donnelly’s uncle.”
“Is Scottie a threat?” Akara asks.
“Nah,” Donnelly says.
I cut in, “What if you stop paying him?”
Farrow is glaring at Donnelly, and Donnelly shrugs, “Alright, maybe he becomes a problem, but that’s my problem.”
Akara outstretches his arms. “Why do you even need to give Scottie your paycheck.”
“‘Cause I made a deal with him a while back. He’d terminate his parental rights and Farrow and Maximoff could adopt Ripley, only if I give him my paycheck—he knows how much I make.”
Farrow tries again, “Let me and Maximoff pay him—”
Donnelly backs away. “No.”
The room tenses—someone muted the television. Oscar is frozen on-screen and playfully tipping Jack’s baseball cap down over his eyes. In the flesh, he’s a whole lot more serious right now.
“You can’t live off nothing,” Farrow says more calmly.
“I’ll up your pay,” Akara says like it’s that easy.
I slip him a look. With what fuckin’ money? He’s not making a profit through security right now, and he’s maxing out credit cards. One saving grace, he’s let Sulli pay for security again. Mostly because he feels like she’s paying for extra temp guards, not for him.
Donnelly looks uncomfortable. “Nah.” He touches his ear piercing. “Just leave me alone.” Those last words come out exhausted.
Farrow takes a breath, face broken.
Donnelly sees. “I don’t want to drag you or Maximoff into it—that’s not how this was gonna go. And if I’m the problem, I can leave.” He starts for the door, catapulting over the couch like he’s hopping a fence.
“Wait!” Oscar shouts.
“Donnelly!” Farrow yells, worry almost choking his words.
It’s the first shouting of the whole fight. They follow their friend, but the closest person to the hallway that leads to the front door is Luna.
She pops up from her beanbag and spreads her arms up and legs out like she’s making a giant X with her body. Barley barricading the wide hall.
Donnelly tries to side-step and she bounces in front of him. Still in X formation.
He goes to the left. She bounces to the left.
Donnelly comes to a halt in front of Luna.
They’re both staring at one another for a long beat.
“Hale,” he says.
“Donnelly,” she replies.
“I’ll up everyone’s pay,” Akara suddenly says. “All of SFO is getting a raise. It’s not debatable.”
I hang my head, trying to conceal how big of a bad idea I think this might be for Akara. But the reaction from Donnelly—that’s worth everything. And I know he’s made the right call.
Donnelly breathes in like it’s his first breath in months. “Akara—”
“Pay Scottie the same amount. Save the difference.”
“We’re all taking the money, bro,” Oscar tells his friend.
Donnelly says to Akara, “You don’t have to.”
“I do,” Akara says strongly. “You’re SFO. You’re my family.”
I’m smiling. Hell, after a second, all of SFO is smiling. And Sulli, Jane, Luna, Maximoff, and Jack are quick to share the good feeling with us.
Donnelly nods a few times. “Alright.” He breathes in again. “Thanks, boss.”
Farrow nods to Akara in gratitude.
The air is calmer, until Akara says, “Maybe don’t thank me yet.” He swings his arms, snaps his finger to his palm, then motions to Luna and Donnelly. “Are you two dating?”
50
BANKS MORETTI
I’ll be fucking damned—Akara is going there.
I thought I’d be the first to accidentally ask, and he’s saved me from that foot-in-mouth syndrome.
All heads turn to Luna and Donnelly. They still stand close.
Luna eyes Donnelly, and Donnelly is shaking his head to Akara. “Nah, man. It’s not like that.”
“You’re sleeping together?” Akara questions.
“Not really,” Donnelly says casually, but he’s avoiding Akara and me. Fuck, we really are the two in the dark here.
“Not really?” Akara repeats like that makes no sense. He looks to me.
I shrug.
Like fuck if I know. Maybe she just gave him a blowie.
Luna is searching for a scapegoat. “Moffy?” Her brother stands up.
Donnelly coughs into his fist and walks away, going towards Farrow and Oscar.
“Alright, party is over,” Oscar suddenly says, holding hands with Jack as they step over tubs of popcorn. “As sad as I am to miss this, I have an early morning with a Cobalt.”
Oscar passes Akara. “Loved the question. Popped it just right.” He pats his shoulder.
As he leaves the penthouse, Akara tells me, “That doesn’t feel great coming from a Yale boy.”
“I’m shocked I didn’t nuke it first.”
Sulli catches our arms, “Hey, I can probably fill in the fucking blanks.” And for once, she’s leading us away.
* * *
Retiring to the library, the door locked, Sulli places a bucket of popcorn on the desk and explains the missing pieces.
I stand, arms crossed, and Akara sinks into the nearest chair. Head in hands as Sulli recounts what happened.
Donnelly went down on Luna two years ago. One time. That’s it.
It obviously didn’t end badly if they’re still friends.
“Akara,” Sulli breathes. “She doesn’t want this to be a big deal.”
