Headstrong Like Us (Like Us, #6)

by Krista Ritchie

“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 doct...

We both know I never tried to get rid of him. I never wanted to. I had no siblings too, and for whatever reason, he chose to hang around me. For over a decade. A...

“You come to assist Farrow with his daddy duties?” Donnelly banters. Shit, I’m smiling at Maximoff. He sometimes looks like a deer caught in the headlights when my friends rib him. “You need me?” Maximoff asks me seriously. It reels me in hard. “Later, I will.”

“Yeah, and I’m gonna be the best best man there ever could be.” Donnelly squeezes me around the shoulders in a side-hug.

I know he’s mentioned not wanting to get too close to Xander. The last time he became a buddy-guard, it didn’t end well.

He wiggles in the sling, fussy, and he’s eyeing Maximoff with wide doe-eyes. Yeah, yeah, I understand wanting to be in wolf scout’s arms, but come on.

At the breakfast table, Farrow cradles the chubby-cheeked baby and murmurs in his ear. Helping him relax. I hang onto the sight for an extra second or five. He’s a good dad—I knew he would be.

Farrow is patient. Chill, even with shrill piercing cries. Protective and so goddamn caring. He cared about Ripley before he was even in our arms.

“We could start dinner,” Farrow suggests. “I don’t think Lily would mind if she misses a few minutes.” “Yes, thank you.” Xander waves a hand at my fiancé. “Moffy, you should always listen to Farrow.” I narrow my eyes at my little brother. “Let’s not go that far.”

Walking to the door, he mumbles something about 3/4ths Loren Hale. Sometimes I am like my dad, and that notion usually warms me.

“You don’t want me, Rip,” I tell him and then gesture to Farrow. “He’s the one with all the nutrients you need to grow big and strong.” Ripley scrunches his nose like I spoke a bad word. He makes a face at Farrow like, explain this nonsense to me. He even babbles a confused noise. We all laugh.

Luna leans closer to the baby. “Don’t worry, Ripley. Take it from your Auntie Luna, most of the things people say online are just garbage. You only need to listen to this right here.” She puts a finger to his heart. Farrow and I share a look.

But she’s my sister. I’m her big brother, and if anyone comes for her with ill-intent, they have to get through me.

“People suck. They always suck.

In the kitchen, right now, hearing my sister give advice to Ripley about listening to his heart—that’s a good thing. Farrow and I are smiling too.

Our mom is freaking the fuck out TOM We might actually see her die and resurrect as a ghost Aunt Rose received her invitation in the mail, and she’s not happy about the dress code. All white.

“Kinney Hale!” I yell again. “Alright!” She emerges from her room. “Jeez. You don’t need to bust your vocal cords. No one likes the sound of your voice.” She stomps down the stairs and shoots me one of her epic glares.

“I like the sound of his voice,” Farrow says casually, gaze pinned to me. Heat washes over my face. He grins. “Some days.”

“Good, we thought you were turning into Dad for a second,” Xander says. Luna nods. “Butts in the seat before you eat.” Her impression of our dad is spot on. “No, Kinney, you can’t have wine at the table.” Kinney pours herself a glass of water. “If you want to drink the blood of your enemies, use grape juice.” We’re all smiling. “Lily would definitely be punching Lo’s arm,” Farrow adds, light behind his brown eyes. Fondness drifts around us. We love our parents, and them not being here tonight—when they promised—is like a giant void.

But God, I want him up there with me. He’s my brother. “Summers? I know it’s a lot—” “Yeah.” He winces. “I mean, yeah, definitely—I want to be a groomsman. I’m there.” He smiles, a rare one.

Some of you believe that—out of my siblings—I’m closest to Xander because we’re the guys in the family, and that Luna and Kinney are besties because they’re sisters. You’d be wrong.

Luna and I have always been the closest, and Xander and Kinney have their own thing. I have memories with Luna that supersede a lot. She was my first sibling, and as a kid, I loved taking care of her. Helping her out of the car seat, giving her my blanket when she was cold. I was so damn protective of her.

“Luna.” Farrow draws her attention to him. “Hold out your hand.” Luna scoots forward and extends a hand across the table. “Palm up,” Farrow adds.

Be my groomswoman? Luna wipes her tearful gaze. “Me?” Farrow smiles softly. “You’re the one holding the card.”

“We fought over you,” I tell my sister. “It took hours.” “I won.” Farrow lifts and lowers his brows in a wave.

Him and me—we weren’t even friends way back when. Yet, Luna befriended him. Sought him out and wanted him at her birthday parties. He was 100% not invited to mine. They have a cool bond, and it only made sense that she’s his groomswoman.

We’re all back in our seats. Eating meatloaf and mashed potatoes. None of my siblings touch the salad, but we’re in a passionate discussion about the most recent Marvel movie. Everyone shares their opinion. Xander feeds Gotham table scraps, and Kinney asks if she can give Ripley his bottle tomorrow morning.

You’d think as the youngest, Kinney would be the most averse to the baby. But I think she secretly loves anything that belongs to Farrow.

“Why does it look like Hedwig just died a second time?” The Harry Potter reference brings smiles to my siblings’ faces.

She’s small. She’s always been small, but her black sweater appears about a million-sizes too big for her tonight.

Head dipped a little. She won’t look at me, but her eyes are swollen. Like she’s been crying.

“I’llberightback.” She slurs the words together. About to dart out, but my dad blocks the doorway.

“Lo,” she whisper-hisses. “Lily.”

“Can I talk to you both?” I ask them. “Alone?” “Yeah, bud.” My dad takes my mom’s hand. They actually look relieved to step out for a minute. Away from their youngest kids.

And my dad—he stands beside a purple filing cabinet, only inches from my mom. He doesn’t touch her. It’s so damn weird.

Usually they’re all over each other.

“What the hell is going on with you two?” I ask. “Nothing’s going on,” my dad says. It’s a line.

Ready to bear everything and anything for them. I’ll do it a million times over.

“Look at me.” His voice is the sharpest blade, but the only thing that’s ever really frightened me about him is the demon he locks away.

Alcoholism, addiction—it could kill my dad. Like it killed my grandfather. I drop my gaze. Looking right at him.

“There are going to be some things in life that you’re not going to be able to change. Or fix. And I don’t care if you don’t like it, but you’ll have to live with it.”

My mom springs off the chair and zips to the door. “Lily.” My dad is wide-eyed in concern. “I’m just locking it.” She turns the lock, then shuffles back to him.

My dad catches her sleeve and tugs her into his chest. Their arms tangle up together. That one move eases me a bit. They’re good. They’re good.

“What is she doing to you?” I ask, eyes flaming. Protective. Wishing I could just slam a door closed and lock her away from my mom forever.

My dad is glaring murderously at the door. He mutters under his breath, “Can she fucking die already.” “Jesus Christ,” I breathe. He flashes me a smile. “Kidding.” “No you weren’t,” I tell him.

“I forgot a Hufflepuff was in the room. Cover your ears next time.”

“Our kids make us stronger,” my mom says, confidence emboldening every word. “Even when we doubt ourselves during hard times, raising you all brings us the sort of happiness we never thought we deserved.”

My mom and dad bolster my accomplishments as my own. Never make me feel indebted to them. In any way. And I’ll never understand just how difficult it must be for my mom to untwist the vines that’ve snaked around her for decades. From birth.

“Have you forgotten everything I ever told you?” I don’t know—that fucking hurts. “What?” “I’m always going to be an addict,” he says. “I’m going to relapse one day—” “I know that!” The room is a swirl of colors.

“Listen to me,” he says. “You are not responsible for me, Moffy. If something happens to me, it’s going to be because of me. Do you get that?”