Misfits Like Us (Like Us #11)(80)

When Donnelly was transferred off Beckett, I remember how fans thought his boss moved him to further hide the romance.

It probably doesn’t help that neither Beckett nor Donnelly have ever publicly stated they’re straight.

“Colin took a picture of me in his kitchen,” Donnelly explains the blackmail tactic.

My stomach knots. “You could always just ask Beckett for something. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if he knew the truth. He might even want to help.”

“I can’t…” Donnelly’s face twists.

I bring up the fact that we do have a lot of money, but Donnelly is staunch in his position and I’m not really here to sway him. I just wanted to listen. “It’s okay, either way.”

“You aren’t going to tell anyone—”

“No,” I say as strongly as I can. I know he shared this in confidence, so I wouldn’t run to my parents or Farrow or Moffy. He’s trusting me, and I’d want the same trust in return if our places were swapped. “I’d make a promise—how we do on my planet—but we’re surrounded by earthlings.”

And this is when Donnelly dips the umbrella forward. Hiding us from every human in the gym for point-two seconds. Just so his tongue tangles with mine again.

Our lips never touch, but our smiles have risen outwardly. And inside me.

Umbrella swoops upward once more, and just as I say, “Good promise,” Delilah is inbound, headed for Donnelly.

“Where’s…?” I start to ask about Xander, but I already see my brother racing towards Easton who saunters through the gym in a matching blood-red suit.

My brother has never looked happier. “You made it?!”

Easton is grinning at Xander. “I snuck out!”

“No way, man.” They basically tackle each other in a hug, and they bounce onto the dance floor together.

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.”