Unlucky Like Us (Like Us, #12)

by Krista Ritchie

“I’ll put it in my calendar. Doodle stars and planets next to it.” “With glitter pen.” “Only glitter pen.”

“You’re just a very irresistible human.” His lip rises. “Trust me, I feel the same about you, space babe.”

“Did Original Luna feel like she flew a billion lightyears in his presence too?” Orion perks up, as though I said, time for bed. “I’ll take that as a yes,” I smile.

Today’s Focus: festivities and all that birthday magic for Luna’s 21st. Gotta smother her with it (politely).

Tattoo Akara + Banks their forever wedding bands. (Still honored they asked me.) Check in on Xander’s detail. Happy to be back. Maintain texting relationship with Dad? Best birthday party!! Only happy things for my space babe.

Question of the Day: How often does Luna snoop through my planner? Is she reading this now?

“Aren’t Cobalts all like, we all kill and die together, hoorah?” Her hoorah is dry, and she pumps an unenthused fist in the air. Ben laughs, which takes Harriet aback even more.

Afterwards, he swipes frosting down my nose, then my cheek. I smile back. “The blood of my people.” He licks the frosting off my face, cupping my jaw. “Tastes unearthly.” He places a kiss back on my cheek, and my whole body is singing. I have been transported to a happier place, and I really don’t want to leave. I don’t want him to leave. I can’t lose him. The urge swells powerfully inside of me.

Didn’t even have time to buy a new costume for her party. So I pulled out the one I wore on Halloween, which is what I wore when I kissed Luna for the first time. Don’t think she recognized it.

“Whatever we were or are, it’s always been this fragile fucking thing. Anyone else got their hands on it, anyone else knew about it, it felt like it’d just shatter. I dunno. We’re mighty, you and me, but fuck we’re unlucky. And I think we always knew that.”

I can’t believe I’m rooting for them to kiss. I wrote their romance with a deep, cavernous longing, but it is so, so effervescent. Solana is lighter and freer with him. Her worries melt into mesmerizing moments, and I need more. I flip a page after they kiss. It’s blank.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “I know you loved me, Luna.” He spins back to me. “I just don’t know if you’ll ever love me again.”

His grin is intoxicating. I want to get drunk off his radiance and joy, and I think about telling him. Would he find me weird? He said he wouldn’t be ashamed of me. He hasn’t been embarrassed by anything I’ve done so far tonight. “I want to get drunk off you,” I say softly. “Your grins, your face, your being.” “You’re drinking wisely,” he teases. “Uh-huh, but not responsibly. I want your face in excess.” I cup his cheeks. “Girl, you’ve got more than just my face.” His grin is also powerful, illuminating inside me.

The marker tip is cold, but only heat encases me as she dips the Sharpie down my sternum to my abs. She draws swirls around my butterfly tattoo on my ribs. “On my planet,” she says, causing my pulse to skip, “these are markings of protection. You are impenetrable. No one, no one, can penetrate you.” I’m so fucking in love with her, it’s not even funny anymore.

My lips upturn, biting on the cap, and I write alongside her hipbone and above her pussy. Donnelly was here. I spit out the cap, just to cup her ass and lick and suck her clit. Her moan and quivering legs are engrained in my brain, top-tier spank bank material. ‘Cause unfortunately I’m not coming inside Luna tonight. Lifting her panties back up, I rise and cap the pen. “That’s so you never forget where I’ve been.” She mutters, “Holy shit.” I grin. Yeah, fuck O’Malley. Fuck anyone who tries to take her from me. She’s mine.

“You’re letting her watch this shit?” “This is Emmy Award-Winning high-brow shit,” Eliot rebuts. Tom looks up from his guitar and adds to Charlie, “Shit that your bodyguard’s husband produces.”

“You should start writing again. It might help.” Tom grins. “You hear that Luna, Charlie misses reading your smut.”

“Getting your dick sucked in the red-light district?” Charlie tilts his head at him. “Since when have I ever had to pay for sex?” Tom starts clapping. Eliot joins in. Charlie looks pointedly at me. “Your friends.” “Your brothers,” I say. “One is a choice.” “I’d choose me,” Eliot chimes in. “As would I,” Tom raises his hand.

Charlie narrows his eyes at them like they’re the furthest thing from

“What’s the point of this?” “What’s the point of living?” Eliot refutes. “To be entertained, brother.” Beckett turns to him. “Find someone else to entertain you.” “But you’re so bad at it,” Eliot says, picking popcorn kernels off the floor. “I have to relish in this one moment—”

Make sure no nerdy types hit on my space babe with their magic swords and whatnot. It’s Fanaticon Convention Day, bitch.

Pumped him up a bit. Xander’s dad & Lily are counting on me to keep their baby birds safe. Won’t let ‘em down.

Also! Luna looked like she wanted me to fuck her on the plane. No cap. Then she suggested we join the mile high club. (Been there. Wish I could be there *with her*.) I’m putting on a masterclass in restraint, if I do say so. Bc no, we did not fuck.

Water: H2O is for hoes. And I’m the biggest hoe here.

Question of the Day: Is Luna’s sex drive higher? (not complaining tho) Why does the Cobalts’ private jet smell like potato chips?

I gotta say, I like this reality where Xander is now Team Donnelly and no longer hoping O’Malley is her OTP (one true pairing). Xander’s been a Nervous Nancy about crowd control at the Con, and he’s only here to ensure I get some quality time with his sister.

With a baggie sweatshirt and glitter under her eyes, she looks cute—beautiful, really—and disguised enough. Being in her vicinity, my heart double-thumps, if that’s a thing hearts can do.

“I’d take seeing her geek out over anything. Seeing her at all tops the charts.”

“You don’t have to worry so much, man. I’m a wooer. I woo. I’ve got this covered.”

Xander lingers behind. Just to ask me, “You sure you don’t need my help?” Do I need the help of a seventeen-year-old to get his sister to fall in love with me (again)? Yesterday, I would’ve said, absolutely not. Hell no. I’ve got this covered. Today, I’m saying, “TBD. You’re on standby.” He nods. “Just give me the signal.”

“Callie,” I say, feeling this deep in my bones. “Let’s leave and go see the actress who plays her.” “You sure?” Donnelly asks me. He’s a Callie stan, and I’m clinging onto the hope that one day I’ll remember how I was too. This hope feels more like sand slipping between my fingers. “Yeah, I’m sure,” I nod resolutely. Because if I stay here, it feels like admitting Original Luna is gone for good. And she’s not. She’s not. She can’t be.

PLEASE LET HER GET HER MEMORIES BACK I WONT BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS

“You’d say, ‘I’m your biggest fan and those that hate your character just don’t know how to love flawed things.’”

I’m blown back for a second. My lips part. He loves her. Like really loves Original Luna.

It’s a small reminder that he’s not upset I’m not her. He’s okay with who I am today.

The love of my family is the easiest thing to have belief in.

“Why’d they name her Cassidy? Do you know?” He nods. “Cassidy Walsh.” I frown. “Who’s that?” “Farrow’s mom,” Donnelly says, just as hushed. “She passed away when he was four. Breast cancer.”

“Everyone else might feel like they’re moving at warp speed, but I’m at your pace, space babe. We’re in the slo-mo zone together.”

I reach for the door handle. He inches back into Xander’s room. And our grief-ridden eyes catch as I slowly shut the door on him.

NOOOOOO

@StaleBread89: Never heard of a LunaQuinn. Luna and Donnelly are the better match. No contest. #Lunnelly

PLEASEEE 😭😭😭

“Nah, I like where I am.” Just wish I was in her room tonight. “Did San Francisco hijack my best friend? Last time you were on the West Coast, you said it smelled like snot and sad dreams.”

Get this, Gabe and MK.” I start to grin. “Our Gabe?” “Gabe Montgomery,” Oscar confirms. “Our big rookie buffoon. He was feeding her ice chips, Donnelly. While she was in labor and delivery. Redford saw it with his own two eyes.”

“It’s juicy. I love it.” “Stamp.”

“Knew I was your favorite,” I smirk. “You gonna let me tattoo you now? Been perfecting the cock and balls since elementary school.” “You ever try tattooing a dick on me, I’ll have my husband dig up the ugliest footage of you from background clips of WAC and spam-post them.” “He’ll be digging forever.” “You wish you were that pretty,” he slings back. “Luna thinks so,” I say more softly.

“Highly doubt you’re making it harder on her. She’s like your cling wrap, suctioned to you.”

He’s back in the city that has my heart, but I’m here with the girl who has my heart and soul. Easy which one wins out.

I clutch the sink counter, staring at myself in the mirror. The persistence in my eyes, the determined lines etched in my forehead, I’m twenty-nine beautiful years old and I know what it took to see each one. I’m not easily defeated, and they’re gonna have to really work to get to me.

“Just say you’re taking a three a.m. booty call. I might be six years younger than you, but I’ve been around the block.”

It’s unlocked, and as soon as I charge inside, the single thought in my head is please be alive. I won’t survive if she dies; in this second, I feel that truth radiate through me.

“Memories are all we have,” Luna whispers tearfully. “When I’m gone, when you’re gone, that’s all that’s left of us, and I want to remember you. I want you to remember me. I don’t want to leave an invisible footprint on the world.”

“You won’t,” I breathe. “We aren’t invisible—you and me. Everyone can see us now, and I see you.” I look into her while she’s looking into me. “I’ve seen you, and even if you don’t have all of the past to hold on to, you can still make new memories. You can live now, Luna. You can live the life that you get to choose. The universe is yours, space babe, and you’re going to do and experience amazing things on my planet—I just know it.”