Infamous Like Us (Like Us 10)

My ribs tighten. Hey, at least reporters and press aren’t allowed in the Olympic Village. That’s a small victory.

“What about the gym? I have to train later.”

“We’ll ensure the entrance to the gym is clear.”

I exhale, then rest my chin on my knee. As Luna comes back over, I say, “You can go have lunch in the caf, if you want. I don’t want to trap you here with me.”

“You aren’t trapping me.” She sinks down on the bed. I must need the extra assurance because she elbows my side until I end up smiling and elbowing her back.

We both laugh a little.

Thatcher remains.

Putting an awkwardness in the air, and maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m not making him feel more welcome. I want to rewrite our relationship, but all I can think is, I wish Akara and Banks were here.

“Where’s Banks?” I ask, already knowing Kits can’t miss an SFO meeting that he’s running. But Banks can.

“Busy,” Thatcher says curtly. “Akara sent me to help.” He glances between Luna and me. “Lunch orders?”

“Surprise me,” Luna sing-songs.

“Oh no, no surprise for me,” I say quickly. “A chocolate protein smoothie is good.”

He nods, and I swear he wavers for half a second. Then he turns to leave. My pulse races as Luna’s words creep in.

No thinking, just go.

“Hey, Thatcher. Can I tell you something?”

He pauses at the door.

Luna bites the end of her gel pen, eyes wide.

If I really, really consider what the fuck I’m doing, maybe I’d realize that no thinking, just go is in the same vein as feel the moment. And feeling the moment hasn’t always worked out in my total favor.

But then again, I think I wouldn’t change anything.

For as hard as this year has been, for as many tears I’ve spilled and for as strongly as I’ve clung to my boyfriends, my heart hasn’t been empty. It’s been so awfully fucking full on this great and daring adventure. All with the men I love.

“Yeah?” Thatcher asks.

No thinking. Just go.

Feel the moment.

Come what may.

Forward.

Onward.

“I’m pregnant,” I say.

His hand falls off the knob. His jaw tightens. “Say again?”

I think he heard me, so I don’t bother. Instead, I offer some fucking details, since his show no emotion stance has accelerated my pulse. “I found out at the Opening Ceremony. Banks and Akara don’t know.”

“Who’s the father?” Thatcher asks and immediately cringes when he says it.

For some reason, I don’t even flinch. I always expected the question. And it’s only a shock that Luna never asked.

“I don’t know. And I don’t know when I should tell them.”

His brows rise. “You have to tell them now.”

“Now?” I blanch.

“She hasn’t finished her letter.” Luna glares.

“Letter?” Thatcher frowns and shakes his head. “I don’t care. You need to tell them today. If you’re pregnant, your security is at even more risk.”

It’s like a bat to my gut. “Security,” I whisper out the word like it’s a curse. “Is that all you can fucking think about? Is that all I am to you? Your brother’s client?”

Thatcher crosses his arms. “Sulli—”

“I’m his girlfriend.”

His jaw clenches even harder.

“Your wife is pregnant,” I point out, hearing my voice rising, and I spring off the bed but stay at a fuming stance, throwing my arms out. “Shouldn’t you be with her? Shouldn’t you be worrying about her security in L.A.?!” Not mine.

Get out of my fucking life, Thatcher!

I’m boiling. But I’m not so petulant that I’d unleash all of this unbridled anger at him. Thatcher still means something to me. He’s Banks’ twin. He’s Jane’s husband.

I’m not trying to shred our awkward relationship apart, but I hate that he’s trying to boss me around. Trying to dictate when I tell Banks and Akara the biggest news of my life. And I swear if he condemns my letter, I’m going to throw a gel pen at him.

Hurt flares through his stoic features.

I realize the softest pieces of Thatcher are where Jane resides.

“You can’t even know how much I worry about Jane.” His voice carries an aching strain of love. “She’s five-months pregnant, and there’s not a day that I haven’t been…” He swallows hard, and shifts his harsh glare to the wall. He even pinches his eyes before he looks back to me. “What I’m feeling, my brother and Akara will feel a million times over for you. Your threat level right now is beyond anything—”

“I know,” I cut in, frustrated. “I fucking know that!”

“Then tell them.”

“I will!”

“Now.”

I want to scream and strangle him.

Luna looks between us. Silence tenses the room in uncomfortable strains. No one budging from their stance.

“Sulli is competing in the Olympics tomorrow,” Luna pipes in. “Shouldn’t she have a choice when she tells her boyfriends about this?”

“Fucking thank you,” I say the same time that Thatcher answers, “No.”

I gape. “What?”

Has he lost his mind?

“It’s a security issue,” Thatcher says, but he shakes his head like he’s conflicted too. His face screws up in some emotion. “I know it’s also a personal issue. I don’t want to take this choice away from you.”