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I’m not as ripped apart at the virginity leak as I thought I’d be. Either because the world already speculates the status of my V-card and this’ll just be more of the same…or because I like that they subtly mentioned both guys were there.
I frown more. “Hey, we haven’t talked about the virginity thing in forever, Banks. Like from before we even realized our penthouse was bugged. We’ve been so careful not to say anything about that night out loud.”
“They’re definitely hoarding information.” He nods. “Which means it doesn’t even matter if you leave the penthouse. They still have dirt on all of you.”
Yeah.
We figured that.
“You think the mole dropped this leak in response to our Instagram post today? Maybe it’s their way of trying to tell the world the triad still exists.”
Banks lifts his shoulders. “That’s a good possibility. I don’t know if this’ll confuse the public or not.”
As I kneel here, I realize a big part of me is hoping they believe in the three of us. Even if that means meeting more paparazzi, even if the cameras never fucking back off. It’s easy to feel that strength when I’m alone with Banks in a secure bathroom. Put me in the same hysteria on New Year’s Eve…and I don’t know…I don’t know…
My phone vibrates, and my lungs expand. Akara must finally be calling, maybe to see how I’m doing after the leak. Quickly, I check Caller ID and my hopes burst like a popped balloon.
Banks swigs more water, shutting one eye. “Who is it?” He’s breathing through his nose. He’s in pain still.
“Luna.” Before I answer her, I tell him, “I’m not leaving you. I’m never leaving you, and wherever you’re going in this world or after, I’ll find you.”
His love for me cascades through his eyes and breathes life into my body. He touches two fingers to his lips and presses them to my cheek. “Because I’ve been upchucking—or else Lord knows I’d kiss you on the mouth right now.”
I almost laugh, but I fucking hurry before my phone rings out. “Luna?”
“Sulli?” She sounds dejected. “You have a minute?”
My eyes grow to the size of Everest. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Is Banks with you?”
“Yeah.”
She’s quiet for a second. “Can you put it on speaker?”
My lips part, not expecting her to want Banks to be a part of the conversation. I press the button. What’s going on? “You’re on speaker, Luna. Banks is here.”
Banks forces both eyes open, curiosity pinging as he glances at the phone. “Luna?”
“Hi. Howdy,” she says a shortened, sadder version of her usual upbeat greeting. “Have you all talked to Donnelly recently?”
“No…?” I pry my gaze off the phone. “Banks, have you?”
He hangs his head, thinking. “I haven’t talked to him much off comms since…” He winces. “Since the break-up.”
Makes sense, I guess. Banks has mostly stayed in the penthouse and only gone back to his apartment to grab his things.
I ask Luna, “Is something going on with Donnelly?”
“Sulli, can we talk in private for a sec?”
Shit.
“Uh, yeah.” I’m not leaving Banks. I’m not being a bad friend to Luna. I just take the phone off speaker while Banks tries his best not to listen. And I press the phone to my ear. “What’s up?”
“I asked Donnelly if he wanted to go to Wawa with me, and he kinda blew me off.”
He blew her off? That fucking dick. I try to drop my voice to a whisper. “What’d he say?”
“It was over text. He left me on read, and then today, he messaged: Sorry. Couldn’t go.” She pauses. “It was kinda the first time I asked him anywhere outside of tattooing me. I just thought we were friends…”
“I’m sorry, Luna,” I whisper. “That was an asshole move.”
Banks makes a weird face at me, and I realize he’s been able to hear everything Luna is saying. He’s mouthing something to me.
I lower the phone and cup my hand over the speaker. “What?”
“He must’ve thought she was askin’ him out on a date,” Banks whispers.
“To Wawa?” Now I make a face.
Banks nods, pretty assured.
I put the phone back to my ear. “Luna, you think Donnelly thought you were asking him out like…on a date?”
“I wouldn’t do that to him—my dad would kill him if we ever got together. That’s not…” She intakes a sharp breath. “Rats. Maybe he did think it was a date…I gotta go fix this. Thanks, Sulli.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“You did a lot, a lot.” After a see ya later, we hang up.
I immediately ask Banks, “How’d you know Donnelly thought it was a date?”
“’Cause I’ve heard him talk about taking girls to Wawa being his ideal date, and if he said no to Luna, then he probably doesn’t want to be with her.”
I recoil. “He doesn’t want to be with her?” My voice is a little hostile. They hooked up, alright. I kind of just want to smush them together like marshmallow and graham cracker.
