And his arms instantly wrap around my shoulders. I cocoon myself in his cargo jacket and bury my face in his collar. When I felt hurt, why was my first instinct to run straight to him?
I keep these questions to myself. Because I know their answers.
I’m falling hard for Banks.
He sways with me like we’re slow dancing.
I smile at him. “I bet you were a total Casanova in high school. Three, four girlfriends that just fucking adored you.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Ten girlfriends?”
He laughs. “Wrong direction, mermaid.”
“A high school sweetheart, then?”
Banks shakes his head. “Just a whole lot of casual sex and no relationships.” He wears a crooked smile at a thought. “I’m about as good at dating as I am in a three-legged sack race.” He stares down at me. “Which is to say I fall flat on my fucking face. Akara is the one with relationship experience, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“No…I really hadn’t considered that as a factor in…” Choosing. I can’t even say the fucking word. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that it wouldn’t bother me either way. It’s not like I have any experience either.”
Banks lets out a soft laugh. “Thanks, mermaid, but I’m twenty-nine. You have eight more years to run past where I am, and you’d think I’d learn to have a stable relationship before now. Something better than my parents had.”
My brows bunch. “Are you worried of getting in a relationship like theirs?” I move closer to his chest as the wind picks up.
He wraps his arms and jacket more around me. “I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t. But I know I’m not like my dad, so I’m safe there.”
I still don’t know too much about his dad. “How do you know you’re not like him?”
“Because I’m a lot of things, but I’m not selfish. And I’d never say to a twelve-year-old, what he said to me.”
I’m about to ask him more, but my phone buzzes. “Sorry.”
“Take it,” he encourages. “It’s probably your sister.”
At mention of Winona, I touch the otter pendant at my neck. Once upon a time, I found four pendants in a zoo gift shop, and each one is supposed to represent my family. Over the years, we’ve passed them around, and I swapped with my sister recently.
The otter is hers.
I take out my phone and check the new text.
Banks is right. Winona sent me a message.
Sulli-Bear! Guess what I got Dad to do? He’s now officially going vegan :) Want to join with us? – Nona-Frog
“What’s wrong?” Banks must see my fallen face.
I pull back from him to show off the text. “My dad—the fucking meat lover—is going vegan for Winona. And I just killed a cougar barely a day ago.” I pause, nearly groaning. “I feel like shit.”
Banks almost smiles. “You shouldn’t. Hasn’t your dad tried to go vegan plenty of times for Winona and failed?”
That’s true.
It’s not public fact, but Banks is a bodyguard. Bodyguards talk, even the ones who protect the Hales and Cobalts. So I’m not too surprised he knows about my dad’s short-stints in veganism.
I could just call Winona to answer her question, but now that I’m faced with the chance, I waver. I’ve never had so many big things happen in my life that I can’t share with my little sister.
From Banks and Akara to the cougar attack.
Everyone in Yellowstone agreed that the cougar attack needs to be kept private among those on the trip, SFO, and trustworthy Luna. At least until we return home. Moffy and Jane said if we tell our parents, they’ll book the first flight to Montana, which will bring a fuck ton of paparazzi with them.
Our parents are the true famous ones.
And I can’t climb with the media hovering around. As much as I’d love for my parents to be out here with me, I’m not sure I should fly back into the nest this soon. It hasn’t been that long since we left Philly. I’ve barely been out here without them.
“Don’t know what to say to her?” Banks wonders since I’m stalling.
“I’m just nervous she’ll bring up things I can’t answer.” I don’t mention how I’m a shitty liar. That is already known.
His eyes are on the woods behind me, scanning the area as he talks. “Want some advice?”
“Yeah, I’d love anything.”
His gaze lands on me. Older. Protective. I want to walk into his embrace again. Feel the warmth of his arms around me, but the phone in my hand feels like a barrier.
“When you talk to your sister,” he tells me, “don’t think of the cougar attack as a secret you’re keeping from her. The things you aren’t ready to tell people, they’re not really secrets. They’re just vulnerable parts of you that need time to be shared.”
That hits me because I know he’s talking from experience.
Skylar.
His older brother that he doesn’t talk to anyone about. He must be one of the most vulnerable parts of Banks.
I inhale a stronger breath, smiling. “That’s some good advice.”
Banks smiles into a soft laugh. “I’m full of advice. Not sure if it’s all good, but I don’t mind giving it.”
My lips haven’t dropped, a giddiness suddenly surging through me. I hesitate to call my sister again, only this time it’s because I don’t want this moment with Banks to end yet.
I check our surroundings. No campers are hiking to the corkboard, so I look back at him and say, “I liked last night in the tent.” We all haven’t talked too much about what we did together. And I know it existed inside this dream world. In the shelter of the woods. Something that’ll be left behind in the wilderness. Because once we’re home, I’ll have to choose.
“I’m glad.” He smiles. “I enjoyed it too, mermaid.”
My eyes glass in a bigger smile. That feels good, knowing he doesn’t regret anything.
And then a faraway gunshot splinters the air.
I flinch.
“Probably hunters,” Banks says, eyes on me.
“Yeah,” I nod, trying to shake off the sudden jolt. “I’ll call my sis.” I dial Nona’s number and squat down, fully hidden behind the information board and a couple shrubs.
When I look up, I catch Banks’ shadow of a grin.
“What’s so funny?” I ask him.
“The squat and talk.” He gestures to my position. “Not funny but cute.”
He said I’m cute. If my heart were a cheerleader, it’d be performing a winning routine right now. “Want to squat with me?” I ask.
Banks has trouble looking away. “You know I would, but I’m supposed to be protecting you. I won’t see who’s coming.”
I can’t reply, my sister cuts over the line. “Sulli?”
“Squirt,” I greet, phone to my ear.
Banks turns his back to me. To give me privacy and protect me, I think.
I’m dying to gush to my sister about him. Focus. Concentrate. “You’re not at school yet, are you?” I didn’t calculate the time difference, but it’s super early here.