I rest my ass partially on a table of folded Cavaliers shirts. “Why the phone call?” I ask Akara and Donnelly. We hang out at the gift shop’s entrance.

Our clients talk towards the back. Near a rack of keychains and souvenir mugs. And in my peripheral, I clearly see Beckett eating Wendy’s fries, Maximoff unwrapping his chicken biscuit, and Sulli speaking too quietly to hear.

Akara wears a backwards baseball cap and bounces a rubber ball. “She said she’s having a hard time picking out a souvenir for her little sister.”

My brows ratchet up. Because that’s not a reason she’d call Maximoff. I eat a spoonful of oatmeal, and Donnelly listens while he tries on winter beanies.

“What’s she actually doing?” I ask Akara.

“Looking for a birthday present for me and pretending like I don’t know what’s up.” He observes them out of the corner of his eye. “She opened the curtains in the room this morning and saw someone outside carrying a Sullivan the Sasquatch sign. Probably heading to the convention.”

I let out a long whistle. Dipshits thinking they’re clever are the least clever.

“She’s freaking,” Donnelly pipes in, tugging a Mohawk beanie over his chestnut hair.

“She’s not freaking.” Akara catches the ball. “She’s just feeling out the water, and she’s used to having Maximoff beside her in new situations. Which is why she called him.”

That sounds more accurate. He’s the moral support for 99% of his family. Minus Charlie.

I’d say that Sulli did fine at the Camp-Away event, but the FanCon isn’t that comparable. Only three-hundred fans attended the Camp-Away and she took breaks in her cabin for solitude.

The philanthropy sold a thousand tickets for the Cleveland FanCon, and that’s just one tour stop of many. Here, all the famous ones are obligated to shake hands, hug strangers, and take pictures for hours with little to no rest.

Not my thing, but that’s why no one’s paying for my selfies.

Donnelly subtly eyes them while facing us too. “Those mugs are bugging Beckett.” I can’t detect Beckett’s annoyance. But not a second later, he realigns the mugs in a neat row.

Maximoff gesticulates from his chest to Sulli, speaking extremely fucking empathetically to his cousin.

I skim him, a smile playing at my lips, and I take a swig of coffee. “He’s about to hug her.” On cue, Maximoff wraps his arms around his cousin, and she squeezes him back.

Akara bounces his ball. “She’ll buy a Sagittarius something for me. Wait for it…” We watch Sulli scan the shelves and then veer to a display of zodiac jewelry. She plucks a silver Sagittarius keychain off a hook.

Spending 24/7 with a person has this effect.

“Bodyguard powers on point,” Donnelly says and switches his beanie for a demon-horn headband.

Sulli checks over her shoulder to ensure Akara isn’t looking. She can’t tell that he notices everything she’s doing. She tries to slyly head to the register.

I almost laugh.

Akara points at me with the bouncy ball. “She’s not the only one who does that.”

True. I stand off the table and really laugh at a thought. “I love when our clients think we’re oblivious to what’s happening.”

Our job description: watch them.

Donnelly checks himself out in a full-length mirror. “They must think we’re plannin’ tea parties and brushing each other’s hair.” While I toss my empty bowl in a nearby trashcan, he adds to me, “Maximoff is looking over here for the third time.”

“Fifth,” I correct and fix my earring. “It’s like he likes me, he really likes me.” I turn and purposefully catch my boyfriend staring. I raise my brows at him.

He tries to hold a scowl.

I’m tempted to mime something dirty. Especially since the store is empty and the cashier isn’t in sight. But instead, I call out, “Need anything, wolf scout?”

Maximoff watches me lift my coffee to my mouth, and he tells me, “I already got what I wanted last night.” His forest-greens make a show of descending my build. “Thanks anyway.”

Damn. Heat clenches my muscles.

Donnelly grins. “He likes that Farrow di—”

I cover his mouth. Teasing Maximoff is my job. I study my boyfriend as his eyes dart between me and Donnelly, then the cashier appears, and he turns his back to us.

Donnelly licks my palm, and I wipe my hand on the side of his face. “You motherfucker.”

He grasps the hat rack. “True. I’ve fucked moms before.” His blue eyes drift to Akara. “Boss didn’t like that.”

I notice Akara sending me a disapproving look.

Why he’s upset: we’re in public and made off-handed comments about Maximoff and me being together. “That was nothing,” I assure him. “Don’t be Thatcher and overreact here.”

“Farrow.” Akara adjusts the wire to his radio, abs showing in a red muscle shirt. “Not all of us chill in hurricanes.” He’s saying I never “overreact” when I should. “And keeping your relationship secret is serious.”

I rest against the table again, arms loosely crossed. “Then trust me that I’ll keep it secret. Because I’d rather all of Omega be more concerned about the Instagram threat than this shit.” I continue, “I was the one who had to suggest and coordinate metal detectors and extra security at the entrances. If that were Sulli in a pic being butchered on a Cleveland sign, it would’ve been a priority.”

Akara inhales a short breath and tries to temper his reaction. “Look…” He returns the bouncy ball to an aquarium bowl full of rubber balls. “I can’t imagine what it’s like seeing those pictures, but we don’t have enough intel yet.” He looks away, thinking.

“And if that were Sulli,” I tell him, “the whole tour would be shut down by now.”

Since it’s Maximoff Hale—the one in charge, the leader of three families, a guy who can convince the Tri-Force that he’s capable of anything—we’re letting him put himself in more harm’s way than we would anyone else.

Akara nods. “I’ll ramp up the extra security when he exits the venue.” He takes outs his phone.

“Thanks,” I say but we all eagle-eye an incoming hoard of preteen girls. Giggling and shrieking at the celebrity sighting.

Donnelly flings his headband off. “See ya.” He lowers his middle and ring finger into a hand-gesture that means love. And he beelines for Beckett at the cash register with Sulli and Maximoff.

Akara and I reach them before the girls are halfway into the gift shop. Sulli collects her receipt and bag, hesitant. “Are we leaving?” She glances at Akara.

See, Beckett and Sulli only greet fans in controlled, pre-secured environments. Not every day life.

“It’s up to you,” Akara says.

Beckett shoves a fry in his mouth. “I’m not staying, Sul.” He waits for his cousin to make a decision.

Maximoff is definitely staying. It’s what he always chooses, and it’s more dangerous with the Instagram threat. But that’s why I’m here.

He already waves to the twelve girls, and they scream in unison. Snapping selfies with Maximoff towering in the background. “DO YOU SEE HIM!?!?”

I smile.

I see him.

Maximoff gives me a look like would you scream like that for me?

I shake my head. No. At the very least, he’d have to work for it.

Sulli turns to Maximoff and whispers, “How pissed will they be if I leave?”

“It’s not a reason to stay,” he says quietly. “Some people will hate you no matter what. It’s just what happens when you’re more public.”

She nods. “Right. Fuck, okay. I’m going. Beckett?” He clasps her hand, and they move out of the store. Akara and Donnelly create a barrier between their clients and the fans. No one able to approach them.

I stand right next to Maximoff.

He gestures the girls forward. “Want a photo?”

More screaming. “THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!”

I increase my radio volume to drown them out, and I eye their pockets and purses and hands. Staying alert. Eh, I don’t typically do this for preteens.

The chance is low.

The risk is low.

But I realize I’m more vigilant than I’ve ever been. Most bodyguards would add precautions. And I don’t mean extra security. They’d tell Maximoff to change his lifestyle. Sacrifice these interactions. Be less public.

He’d feel choked, and I still want to provide him that safe middle-ground. Shit, I love giving him what other people can’t.

I’m not forcing him into a cushioned room with no windows unless it’s dire.

I just can’t do that to him.