Headstrong Like Us (Like Us, #6)

by Krista Ritchie

“You want anything to eat?” “The souls of my enemies,” she deadpans. I smile. “I’ll work on that.” I miss being home.

Kinney is the best

He assesses me in a quick sweep, and his smile stretches. He knows I’m coming towards him. I mean, I’m not hiding the fact, but Christ, that widening smile—the one that reaches cheek-to-cheek and is too teasing, too confident—it bugs the hell out of me. I scowl into a glare, only five feet away, and I bypass his spot, sensing his gaze attached to me as I round his body. I decide to stand in the line right beside him where people wait for hand-dipped candy apples. The sweet scent permeates around me, and the movie is more muffled over here.

They seriously are my favorite

“I’m getting food for my family.” Farrow raises his brows. “I didn’t ask.” He’s an asshole, and I must be weird because I like that he’s not fawning all over me. He smiles more, and the back of my neck heats. It’s rare that I feel my age, but I feel nineteen around him. Maybe that’s a good thing… “Great,” I say dryly. “I didn’t tell you shit then.” Farrow glances at my mom. He’s doing his job—and it’s strange. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he’s a bodyguard. He tilts his head back to me. “You definitely said something, wolf scout.” “Not a lot.” My voice is tough with that endnote. He rolls his eyes into a short laugh.

I MEAN COME ON

“I dreamed of a winter wedding. The snow, the cold. That was one of the things I dreamed up at thirteen—when I didn’t know who I’d marry.” His eyes redden. “But I’m marrying you, and the way you exist in the sun is the purest shit in the world.” My chest rises. “I want to marry you in the summer, wolf scout.” I draw closer, our eyes all over each other. “Marry me in the summer then.”

My god… Farrow is perfect and I love him so much

Nothing can go wrong.

Lolol sure, Jan

Landing on a familiar face. Donnelly posted a mirror selfie, showing off the Wawa logo tattoo on his shoulder blade. I click into his profile, the bio just a string of emojis. But that blue-eyed shameless motherfucker has 4.6 million followers. My lip rises.

I really want to be his friend

Underneath Quinn Oliveira’s towel gym selfie, I type out a one-word comment. Dead We give Oscar’s younger brother shit in the comment section. Donnelly: I love a thot Oscar: needs more towel

They’re so funny

Mid-chew, Donnelly says, “You’re already my gay icon.” He throws up a hand gesture that means love you.

“There’s something wrong with me.” His words suction oxygen out of the loft. “What do you fucking mean?” Ryke asks, wiping sweat off his forehead. “He’s in love with him,” Lo retorts. “Farrow is in love with my son.” It sucker-punches my gut. That he could tell at that point in time. Hell, that he’d even acknowledge this out loud. Lounging next to me on a beanbag, Maximoff slides his hand in mine. “You know Moffy is really fucking in love with him too?” “I had no clue,” he says dryly. Ryke outstretches his arms. “Then what’s the fucking problem, Lo? There’s nothing wrong with you—” “There is. I’m telling you there is,” Lo sneers with a frustrated groan. “You know what I thought when I realized my son and his boyfriend love each other? I thought, thank God. Because when I fuck up again, Moffy will have Farrow. It took me a full five goddamn minutes to even think, wow, I’m happy that my son found love. You know what that makes me?” Human. Maximoff stands up, our hands breaking apart. He’s brick-walled. I rise to my feet, and I follow him down the spiraled staircase to the first floor. No one in the loft is speaking, so I hear the TV clearly behind us. “You’re not a selfish bastard, Lo.”

This poor, broken man

“I’m sorry. What’d you say? I think my heart attack busted out my eardrum.”

💀

He looks confused at the Philly Aquatic Center logo. “Flip it.” Thatcher turns it over and reads the scribbled words: be my groomsman? He’s unblinking and hard to read, but finally, he meets my gaze. Questions in his. “Why?”

This way of asking is so freaking funny to me

“We’re not little, you turd.”

💀 once again, I love her

“You don’t even hesitate for Donnelly. It’s just something you need to do for him, and I get that. Because if it were Janie, I’d need to do it too. And you wouldn’t stop me.”

This friendship is so beautiful

“My mom and dad raised me to fight the demons that they weren’t raised to fight. I’m strong because of my parents, and maybe that’s the point. They broke the cycle, and now I’m here to fight for him.”

😭

I said I did at the start of this conversation. And I reach into my back pocket, and I pass him a Philly Aquatic Center business card. Flipping it, Donnelly reads the question scribbled on the back. He stares at the words for a long quiet beat. Not much silences Paul Donnelly. “Shocked?” I smile. Donnelly glances up. “Just thinking how nuts you are. You took in a white trash baby and now you want white trash as your best man.” He never says white trash like he’s ashamed. He’s unashamed about almost everything. He just says it like it’s a fact. A statement. So I don’t need to assuage his feelings that aren’t hurt. But make no mistake: I’ve cold-cocked fuckers for calling him white trash as a dig. The corner of my mouth hikes. “Is that a yes?” “Fuck yes.” Donnelly smirks more. “You asking Oscar too or what?” “To be a groomsman.” I nod. “But I only have one best man.” That rocks him back. “What?” His eyes redden, more overwhelmed. “Really?” It had to be Donnelly. Only Donnelly. As much as Oscar means to me, he has a brother and a sister. Donnelly has no one, and he’s willing to take scraps and share. And fuck, I just didn’t want him to have to share this. “Yeah.” I smile and stick a piece of gum in my mouth. “You’re an infection I can’t rid.” He laughs and rubs his eye. “You should call a doctor. Get that taken care of.” I chew slowly, still smiling. “I am a doctor.” “You must not be very good then, man.”

God, I am so ready for his books

their interactions with me. “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. Donnelly mouths to me, straight. I suck on my cigarette, casual and not too worried. I’m not going to interfere with whatever the hell that is. But if Oscar catches feelings for a straight boy, we’ll both be here to pick up the pieces. Always are. Oscar leans back and narrows his eyes at Jack. “Are you asking for sex advice, Long Beach?” Jack laughs. “I wasn’t. But if I were, I would go to you—I’m sure you do well in that department.”

I’m also super excited for their book

ROSE He’s a demon. Certifiable. Congratulations. But you’re lucky that I’ve raised seven gremlins of my own. Lily has raised four. Daisy two. You have nothing to worry about. Have fun tonight, and don’t do anything that my nephew wouldn’t do or I’ll have your head.

The more I learn about Rose, the more I love her😂

Banks raises a shot glass. “I’m Team Kitsulli.” Akara punctures him with a glare. There it is. A crooked smile edges Banks’ mouth, and he pounds back the shot. “Is Sulli still dating Will?” Jack wonders. Akara glances back at Banks, but not with another glare. With a look that I honestly can’t read, and it’s not my business. I smoke and check my phone for new messages. None. “Yeah,” Akara tells Jack. “Will is still around.”

👀👀

“Slut!” a guy yells at my sister. My eyes narrow. Farrow holds my hand, as though to say, easy, wolf scout. “You wanna slut, come get me!” Donnelly shouts back. Luna grins.

He’s just the best

He stares off. “I think we’d let our son stay, but only under the condition that we have to hang around him the whole time. And you’d be the kind of dad who’d totally embarrass Rip for being a fourteen-year-old in a bar.”

😭😭😭

“Farrow to Thatcher, are you with Jane?” One second later, his strict voice is in my ear. “Yeah.” He’s a beat too slow to unclick the mic, and I hear a short moan over comms. Every bodyguard in my sight flinches like they just heard their little sister come.

Hell yeah, Janie

Akara comes closer. “You are my friend. But you’re my client first.” Sulli shoves his chest with the unharmed hand. “Heyheyhey.” Banks steps between them. Sulli is all hurt anger, and I can’t tell how much is alcohol-fueled—but she pushes at Banks’ chest. He’s a fucking rock wall, unmoving. Banks leans down and his lips brush her ear, hand on the crook of her neck. He whispers to Sulli. Her chest rises and falls heavily, but she seems to calm at whatever he says. Her eyes are latched on Akara, then drift up at Banks, then back to Akara.

One more book until I get this nonsense 😂 I am excited because I love Akara and Banks

“He wasn’t just in your line of sight; he was with me.” Embers eat paper, cigarette burning between my fingers. “He was asleep against my shoulder, and that bothered you.” A laugh dies in his chest. He shakes his head, then pins his eyes to the mirror. To himself. “You’re jealous of his relationship.” My voice is matter-of-fact. I’ve guessed this about Charlie more than once. Charlie cringes. “Moffy, of all people, is the one who grew up never wanting a relationship. So is it aggravating seeing him in love? Yes.” He pulls at his sandy-brown hair. “If you want my permission to intervene, you can save him all you want.” “I don’t need your permission to save my husband.”

Charlie is my little sour patch kid

“My moan though.” Jane touches her cheeks, red suddenly staining them. “This is—it’s interesting. I suppose it was worth the slip—the sex was top shelf, one of the best.” Didn’t need to know that, Cobalt. She speaks too fast for anyone to cut in. “There are seven of you who heard? Right? Just SFO?”

I seriously love her 😂

“My head throbs.” He grips my thigh, turning more to face me, and our bent knees knock together. His tongue wets his dried lips. “Everything’s kind of fuzzy. But not like the time I had the pot cookie. I hated that feeling. It was like having the stereo in my head turned up too loud.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “This feels like it’s cranked down. Everything’s soft.” He blinks slowly, his eyes bloodshot. “It’s okay,” I remind him. “Farrow…I don’t want to like it.” Fear cracks his voice.

THIS KILLED ME 😭

“Gotham?” I place a hand on my Basset Hound’s belly. Feeling for breath, but his body isn’t rising or falling. “Gotham?” My voice tightens. I just took him for a walk this morning. At 6 a.m.—and he was slow, really slow, but he ate his kibble. He was okay. “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. I swallow hard, and I think, thank God it was me.

AND THEN THIS!!!! Tini and Alaina are on my shit list for not warning me about this

“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.” We’re sharing the same radio frequency as Alpha and Epsilon during the trip. Akara wants to be professional. Can’t blame him. At times it’s like we’re in competition to be the better security company. Donnelly speaks. “Sorry, boss.”

No no…she is a crow

“You drop this, kiddo?” Ripley makes a confused cry and has trouble looking up at six-foot-seven Thatcher Moretti. I swallow another bite of banana. “He can’t see your face.” Thatcher crouches down some, and Ripley shrieks. I laugh my ass off.

This actually made me cackle

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.

🥺

“So I never had a chance to really know my mom.” She nods firmly, listening carefully. “And I like to think she would’ve loved me like you do. No stipulations, no requirements. Just because I exist.” My eyes burn. Lily wipes at tears in her watery gaze and nods me on. “I admire you, and I think you’ve raised strong as hell children, just like you are. They’re extremely lucky to have you as a mom.” I get choked up and clear my throat. “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.” Fuck. I rub the heel of my palm over my cheek, tears slipping out. I swallow an emotional knot, and I just tell her, “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.”

AND THIS HAD ME SOBBING ONCE AGAIN.

Banks looks down at Sulli. “Want a higher view, mermaid?” Her eyes grow. “On your shoulders?” He nods. “Fuck, yeah…definitely.” She pauses. “Are you sure?” Biting a toothpick, a crooked smile hikes up his lip. “Yeah.” He crouches down. “Ready when you are.” Sulli swings her long, muscular legs over his broad shoulders. When he stands up at six-foot-seven, she has a better vantage than all of us. Akara passes her a bigger handheld searchlight. “See anything?” She flushes a little bit, glancing between Akara and the guy she’s sitting on. And then she flashes the light at the water. “It’s pitch-black.”

This is cute.

“Some turds stole them, okay?!” Kinney yells.

🤣

I give my sister a look. She’s gay. Farrow raises his brows at Kinney. “Some random hot boys seduced you too?” “No,” she snaps, then sighs. “I’m afraid of nothing—I couldn’t turn down a dare.”

God, I love her 😂

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

💀💀

“Moffy.” My dad’s voice pulls me, and he wraps an arm around my shoulder. I hug him tight, and before I can tell him I love him, he whispers, “You’ve made me so goddamn proud to call you my son.”

😭😭

“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.” I’m crying. He’s crying. “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.”

They’re so fucking precious 😭

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.

🖤🖤

He stabs his cake a few times. “I fucked up.” “You fucked up,” I repeat, dumbfounded. “How badly are we talking about?” “I asked Highland if I could kiss him.” My brows spike. Shit. “Oscar,” I say with a slight laugh. “He’s been flirting with me,” Oscar says heatedly. “And I’m not the only one who sees it.” “I’m guessing it went poorly.” “Not just poorly, bro. I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life.” He sets his plate on the arm of the lounge chair and wipes his fingers with a paper napkin. “Mostly because I should’ve just asked if I could give him a blowie like a fucking adult.”

“Being shot down for a kiss is like face-planting when you’re trying to accept a participation award. And it was legitimately awkward. You know what, he stared at me for a full-second like I spoke fucking Thebulan from Luna’s tentacle smut.” Donnelly hops up on the balcony railing. “That’s my favorite smut.” “Exactly.” Oscar gestures to him. “Where’d you come from?” “Bathroom.” Donnelly slips a cigarette behind his ear and gives me a rising smile. “Dr. Hale.” Feels good to hear my last name. “What are we talking ‘bout?” His South Philly accent is thick. I motion to Oscar. He sighs. “I asked Highland if I could kiss him, and I was rejected.” Donnelly nods. “At least you asked for consent.” Oscar blinks, deer-in-the-headlights. Reliving the embarrassment. Now I do feel badly. “Did Jack say anything to you?” “Yeah.” Oscar expels a heavier breath. “He said, thanks, but I’m straight.” I cringe. “Don’t even say it,” Oscar tells me. I’m going to say it. “I told you not to fall for a straight boy.” He lets out a rough sigh. “I had to give it a shot. He’s hot and he’s stolen three pieces of my wardrobe already.” “Yeah?” I frown. “Yeah, he’s got my bandana, my sweatshirt, and he borrowed my extra belt this morning.” He shakes his head. “You bet your ass when I can stare the guy in the eyes again, I’m collecting all that shit.” He touches his chest. “I could land just about anyone. I’m a ten, and I can’t keep doing this.” He’s frustrated. “It’ll be okay,” I tell him. Donnelly hops of...

😂😂

“I’m going to be proudly, uncompromisingly me no matter what the hell I do or where the fuck I go, so I might as well do it in the spotlight. All-in.”

🖤

“I have a feeling he’ll be headstrong like us.”

HELLO. THIS MADE ME CRY