Headstrong Like Us (Like Us, #6)

by Krista Ritchie

“I must confess, I think this unit is a bit big for just the two of you and your little one, but I do think you make such a lovely couple.” I choke on air, my brows high-jumping. “No, we’re not—” I start saying just as Thatcher tells her, “Thank you, ma’am.”

LOL

“I’m engaged and in love, and you’re getting married in two months. And the ones who would’ve believed least in that possibility, would’ve been us.”

Farrow didn’t even pause to think. He just did what felt right in the moment, and he constantly reminds me that life is better lived not obsessing.

Farrow shrugs, wiping at his own eyes. “It’s art. Art has the power to move people in different ways.” He lifts his brows. “You were moved, wolf scout.”

“I was sad about losing our things in the fire, and I know why it’d be harder for you. But our memories are preserved. They won’t burn.”

He’s shit on me. Laughed at me. And finds Maximoff to be the most precious human in the world. It’s perfect. The entire thing. And fuck, I really love him.

“So you’ve been fine with being just a groomsman all along? And you never said anything?” “Yeah, seeing you nervous about this was Christmas come early. And I bet Donnelly it’d take you until after the bachelor party to ask me, so fuck you for making me lose fifty bucks.”

aw they are besties for the resties <3

All of SFO is here, and we’ve always been the hottest fuckers in security.

YUH

“You’ve been pretty good at Jenga tonight,” Jack says to Oscar with a bright mega-watt smile. “Which would you suggest? Top or bottom?” He points between a top and bottom block. Okay, I’m not even sure if Highland knows what he’s saying.

NAHHH WHAT

“What?” I smile, just seeing Maximoff grin like that, and I really wish I were in his brain right now.

“Gotham? Come on, buddy.” I nudge him, but he’s not moving. He’s gone. I know he’s gone. I prepared for this. I knew he could die soon, and I thought that knowledge would lessen the grief—but God, something fists my lungs.

:((((

“All things must come to an end, and as much as I wished Gotham could be immortal, life isn’t infinite. But love is, and we loved him.” I take a beat. “And we’ll still love him.”

“It’s just you and me, old chap. Plus, our future husbands, two alpha chicks, and a hellion baby.” Her eyes water and mine sear. Recognition passing between us.

Now we’re heading somewhere else. Moving forward inevitably means leaving something behind. Whether it’s physical things or just other possibilities. I wonder if everyone goes through this at some point in their lives. This feeling. To be in mourning for a time gone by and hopeful for the time yet to come.

Happiness is easy with him. And I might appear okay with whatever comes in my life, but there is nothing more I’ve wanted than this. Than for a man to love me like Maximoff Hale does.

He taught me that fatherhood is more than daily chitchats and brief insignificant check-ins. It’s about what he never gave me. Love without reason. And through my actions, my child will know that he’s a top priority to me, for no reason but love.

“I’ve got eyes on the Crow,” Donnelly says. “I repeat, I’ve got eyes on the Crow.” “Akara to Donnelly, don’t call Grandmother Calloway a crow.”

LMAO DONNELLY

Kid you not, the baby immediately stops crying like heaven is cracking open and light is beaming through. As though Maximoff Hale is Zeus, godly enough to rain thunder. And I’m just waiting for our son to realize that I wield the lightning.

For a second, I remember the years I spent protecting Lily. Good days. Better years. But I can’t lie, here and now with her son is my favorite time I’ve ever lived, and I have a feeling she’d be perfectly happy with that.

“You’re my son too,” Lily suddenly professes, tears streaming down her round face. “You know that, right, Farrow? You’re a part of this family forever.”

🥹🥹

“I’d really love for you to walk me down the aisle.” Lily nods rapidly. “Yes.” She wipes at her face. “I’d be honored.”

Shit, he’s too good. Probably too good for me. But he’s all mine.

We’re fifteen,” Winona emphasizes like they’re so damn old. I remember being that young, thinking I was wise and ancient and could do anything in the world. There’s something about being a teenager that makes you feel invincible.

“You’ll live,” Charlie says. “But we can still throw you a funeral to celebrate the death of your common sense.”

he’s so cobalt

“Christ, I can’t believe I’m smiling right now.” He stares deeply into me. “Thanks.” His voice is encased with sincerity and love. He acts like I lifted the weight off this night. But he’s the reason this weightlessness exists inside of me, the reason I smiled in the first place, and I’m not sure he realizes it.

They raised their bottles a hundred-and-one times. Toasting to every damn thing. “To the girl squad being safe.” “To the captain, my captain.” “To the zip ties in the car.” “To Farrow’s med bag.” “To busted earpieces.” “To Maximoff’s paracord bracelet that didn’t come in handy.” At the end, seriousness returned, and Oscar lifted his beer bottle and said, “Kitsuwon Securities 1 – Triple Shield 0.”

“You’re my dad,” I say, choked. “And I don’t want my kids to grow up with you as a memory like I have of my grandfather. I need you here—and I promise that I’ll tell you shit from now on, if you promise you won’t ever see me as someone you can push away. Because I might have other people, but no one in the whole universe—in every fucking universe—could ever replace you from my life.”

There are reasons why Maximoff says his parents are the strongest people he knows. Why he believes in them endlessly and faithfully. Every time they’re kicked down, they crawl to a stance and fight towards courage. And I’m lucky as hell that I can call them my family.

I never want to forget that smile. Not for as long as I live. Bury me in the ground with these memories. Send me to the underworld with his face engrained in my head. I’d be a happy man.

“They’re two of the most selfless men, and I can’t name two other people who are more perfect for each other. Their tenderness together can breathe life back into a body.” He takes a pause. “I’ve witnessed that firsthand.”

Love is born into every human being: it calls back the halves of our original nature together; it tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature.’—I never understood this quote until I met you. Until you filled the incomplete parts of me.”

“You’re the person that my soul has been searching for because my head was too stubborn to do it.”

“Well, I’ve been searching for you my entire life, and if someone told me that we’d been together before, in another time or place, I wouldn’t question them. I’ve longed for you before I even knew you, and now that I’ve found you, there’s not a single day I want to live without you.”

“Your love is the most precious, valuable thing to me on the face of this fucking world, and I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and decades longer. When we’re old men and smiling about yesterdays, I’ll still love you and your pure heart and your good soul.”

Dum spiro, spero. While I breathe, I hope. I slip the black band on his tattooed finger, and as soon as I finish, Oscar declares, “By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and husband.” I don’t hear anything else. Farrow’s hand is on the back of my neck. Mine on his, and we unite in a soul-bearing kiss. All around us is clapping and lightning and thunder. And I’d like to think Plato was right. That in the beginning of time, it was Farrow and me, and we were once whole together. Our souls united. But like all humans, we were split down the middle. Separate halves wandering around this universe. We found each other. And finally, together, we became whole again.

“I fucked up.” “You fucked up,” I repeat, dumbfounded. “How badly are we talking about?” “I asked Highland if I could kiss him.”

oh no

The most freeing feeling is being able to live my life authentically and proudly. With no fucking compromise.

If you’re reading this, it means we’re now married, and the sky didn’t fall in. We didn’t die before we could slip rings on each other. No doomsday or curse or hateful entity stopped us or separated us. It means you’re now Farrow Redford Keene Hale, and I can wake up knowing you’re mine forever. Thank you for giving the guy who has the world all the parts that he’s never seen or felt before. I love you. P.S. if this is too damn sappy, trash it. - Maximoff

I take it all in. Roses, candles, epic physical and emotional sex, eating leftover wedding cake in bed afterwards, showering together—watching a movie. Ordinary. Romantic. And timeless. It’s always been the little things.

Maximoff is still at the car, unloading our stuff. I whisper to Ripley, “Just between us, I’m okay with you taking his side for the rest of our lives. I would too if I were you. He’s just that good.”

“Yeah,” Donnelly nods. “The way the lawyers put it, he voluntarily terminated his parental rights over to the adults intending to adopt…which is you two.”

<33333

And this is it. This is our life. Absent of nothing and full of love, of that great, overwhelming something.

“You think Ripley will be more like you or me?” “Both.” He bites on a camelbak spout, lips quirked. “I have a feeling he’ll be headstrong like us.”

Dear World, thanks for the love. See you next time. Love your friendly neighborhood human, Maximoff Hale