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She plants a sisterly gaze ontoYou’ll have a better sense of things in time I’m sure of it”

I smile “Thanks, Jane”

We hug again, and when she leaves, theo on without me

My phone pings

Heads up, Minnie The rest of the A-Squad are on their way to you! Sorry I couldn’t ht with the replacement drummer – Queen of Thebula

Luna

The A-Squad is mostly an inside joke between us She dubbed the five oldest of the families that nickname, which include Jane, Maximoff, Charlie, Beckett, and ht now, I’ more like a member of the B-Team Which doesn’t even really exist

I text back: Thanks for the heads up! Just saw theood luck xoxo

Huh Bad intel then Sorry!!! Thought Beckett was going too – Queen of Thebula

How she even gets any information is beyond me I don’t have many lines into the family network, and the ones that I do have…I know I’m not the first or second call Maybe not even the fifth I’roups

It didn’t used to bother ht—I should just talk to his a sharp pain to my chest

I don’t kno to confront that pain head-on without causing more turmoil

Akara

I close my eyes and drop the washcloth off my foot

How a to change everything

12

BANKS MORETTI

“I kissed her”

This confession should probably be ht now ot in a five-hundred-meter vicinity In short: I’m fucked

Thatcher grabs my forearm and pullsvacancy sign that’s changed to no vacancy Even further away froer beside two rental cars

At the corner of the motel, it’s justdumpster and the darkness In earshot of nobody

Even ahts, I can still see Thatcher’s expression clear as day Maybe because I’ve seen that intense look before

“Say again,” Thatcher whispers, his voice deep and low

“I kissed her,” I reply in the same tone “You know mouth-to-mouth—”

“I knohat kissing is,” Thatcher snaps “I’h with it”