Unlucky Like Us (Like Us, #12)

by Krista Ritchie

Tears have flooded her reddened gaze. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, Luna.” She smiles tearfully over at me but quickly focuses on driving. “You know, it makes sense then.” She wipes at the corners of her eyes with her sleeve. “What does?” “Why he’s trying to protect his moon, his stars.”

“You should call your aunt. Rose was ranting on the phone for over an hour about the types of people trying to ridicule your writing. She called them pigs. Or swine. Maybe both.”

Xander’s dad wants more info about my family, and I figure this is the only way to really get it. What he’ll do with it—I’m not a hundred percent sure. To make my family a non-threat, it’d take loads of money, bribery, maybe even murder. And there’s still a part of me that thinks Papa Hale has a hitman on retainer.

I keep thinking about Luna. The Hales. The family and dinner I walked away from. The world I’m not allowed to be a part of.

Today’s Focus: show Luna I still love her, even if I can’t date her.

“Loren ruined Hale Family Dinner,” Farrow refutes roughly. “Man, that’s not on you.”

“You know, pussies and I have a longstanding history, and they usually love me.” My voice rises. He hisses.

She’s the only girl who wants, truly wants, what I can give, and how unjust is it that I have to wait to give her all of me? Fuck me, right? Always, fuck me.

“I won’t let anything hurt her.”

“Just don’t give up on each other,” Lily suddenly says, and I realize she’s gazing at the last sight of Luna too. “Even if it’s hard to wait it out. It’ll be worth it in the end.” Before I can reply, she gives me a warm smile. “Night, Donnelly.”

“I know you said we’re written in the stars,” Luna whispers, her eyes on mine again. “But what does that mean for right now? The more I try to understand, the more confused I get. Like we’re just us but less than us, than what we were yesterday?”

“We’re not less,” I say. “We’ll never be less.”

But I made a promise to your dad to wait for you, and I am very shit at keeping my promises to him. But this one, I want to keep. I need to keep.”

I don’t want her to fall in love with someone else. I don’t want her to leave me.

“Nah, it’s gonna be very difficult to keep my hands off you, space babe.” She nods, like she gets it. “Same.”

These pieces of my life aren’t touching you. I’m making sure of that.”

“I want to know more about you too,” I cement. “Whatever you want to give me, especially if it’s everything.” “Will you give me everything?” she asks. Yes, is the first gut reaction. I’ll give you my world.

“Donnelly?” I have a hand on the knob. God, I still don’t want to leave. “Yeah?” I ask. She has a hand on Orion’s furry belly, and she gives me the saddest smile I’ve ever seen. “I’m really glad we’re still friends.” I hate this so much. “Me too, sad alien.”

Important: make sure Luna knows she’s still loved. Try not to fuck your favorite friend. Don’t jump her bones (seriously).

The needle pierces the flesh of my ankle, and I draw lines off the letters, connecting them to form an abstract shape. Xander Beckett Tom Their names disappear into a swirled design. Been thinking, eventually, it’ll be a planet, but I don’t have much time right now.

For me, it’s too easy to tell the Moretti brothers apart, especially with how Akara unwinds more around Banks, and those two interact like they share a secret world. They do share a wife, and I suppose they share each other too. I think they’re lucky to have found love that’s worth pushing through all havoc. Love that endures together is the toughest love. The strongest. I want that. I want love that survives with me. ‘Cause I know I’m gonna survive in the end. No matter what.

Like demon magic, my best friend suddenly appears. He’s wearing his usual black V-neck tucked into belted black pants. His hair is cut short, and the color is ash brown, his natural hue. The dyed strands were fried, so he’s starting anew. Shouldn’t be fixated on his hair, but I’m not too happy right now. It’s the only thing cooling me down.

“I’m not leaving you, man.” His gaze drills into me with this familiarity. Years of being there. Of never truly leaving. And it’s a comfort that I shouldn’t need.

And just so you know, I would’ve fought to go if he said we couldn’t. You’re my man, Donnelly. I’m not letting you handle this alone.”

But most importantly, they’re in a different stage of their lives. I’m over here fighting for the opportunity to even have a girlfriend. They have more to lose if they’re twisted in this shit. And they. Weren’t. Supposed. To. Be. Pulled. In.

“You’re all about to be dads!” I shout and look to Farrow. “Fuck, you’re about to have a second baby. Your job should be protecting clients and your newborns. Not me. I’ve got this covered, so just take a backseat. Please.”

“We can do everything alone, you and me. Because we have done everything alone, Donnelly. See, I always thought our independence was a strength.” He pauses. “But it’s not always one. We’ve just learned how to live without the things we really need.”

Akara, Thatcher, and Farrow are the only ones that I know are truly hoping I end up on two feet. This would’ve been so much worse if they didn’t push to be here. Thank God my friends have brains and that shiny five-star perseverance.

“Uh-uh, you’re not going anywhere,” Lo says to another person, and it takes me a second to find him in the crowd. He’s speaking to Farrow. “You. Stay.”

Everyone begins to filter out of the office, but Connor also calls out, “Thatcher.”

It’s clear they called back their sons-in-law. They’ve got special privileges, and Triple Shield is not gonna love that.

This is my first time in his personal office. I know, it surprises me too, considering I used to be an honorary Cobalt.

His second-born son came way too close to being assaulted. I’m at fault. He should hate me.

I’ve dreamed about Papa Cobalt looking me over like I’m a legend. Now I’m just associated with criminals. Now I’m just a rat.

“You have a smoke?” I whisper, digging in my pocket. Empty. They’re empty except for my lighter. He’s digging in his. “Breathe.” “I’m breathing.” “You’re sweating.” “I’m doing that too.” Concern tightens his eyes on me. “How’s your pulse?” he whispers. “Racing away from me,” I murmur. “You wanna catch it, Dr. Hale?”

“Who do you want out of the room?” Lo suddenly asks me.

“Shut the fuck up,” Farrow snaps.

Price nods tightly, but he seems perturbed, looking between Thatcher, Farrow, and Akara. Those three aren’t just bodyguards. Being married into the famous families means they have a lot more reasons to stay than Price does.

“You can’t smoke in here,” Connor says immediately. “I have a wife who’d already love to rip your head off your ugly shoulders and feed your testicles to piranha.” “Her exact words,” Lo informs me with a dry smile. Rose hates me. The fact is cold and uglier than my shoulders.

Lo adds, “Don’t cross the demon or you’ll get clawed.” Connor tips his head to Lo. “You know how that feels best of all, darling.” Lo touches his heart.

“For Christ’s sake, Connor, he’s going in my car. I’m dropping him off. I’m picking him up. If you have a problem with that, take it to your god, whoever that may be. And if it’s yourself, there’s ten billion mirrors in your mansion, have fun.”

I wonder if they can hear my heart hammering. The only thing keeping me cool and calm is Luna. I picture her licking out a pudding cup and laughing. I picture her dancing to The Who with me. I picture her twirling a lightsaber and pretending to save Orion from invisible aliens. I picture her lying in bed next to me. Gazing up at stars projected on her ceiling. Memories aren’t all bad. Some comfort me. These ones also guide me. She’s why I’m here.

I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to do this. I’d do anything to be with her.

“Some don’t even realize you’re the Ass-Kicker, the same Donnelly who’s become somethin’ of a celebrity, protecting the rich and famous.” He picks out the tomato. “So there’s Paul, my son, and then there’s Donnelly, the celebrity. Who’s here today?”

Being selfish is the only piece of myself that’s kept me alive, and it might be one of the few traits I share with my dad.

Did not want security to hear about me using meth. “Nah, I don’t know what that’s like,” I say casually enough, and I pick up the soda with my cigarette hand. My dad frowns. “I was a virgin when you gave me meth, you know. Couldn’t exactly compare the two.”

“And you shouldn’t have made that dumbass deal with my brother. I don’t know what you were thinking.” Cold pricks my spine. Lo knows nothing about me giving my paycheck to Scottie.

“Farrow?” He gives me an unamused look. “The guy who was loaded and then married into billions. If my shithead brother wanted money, you should’ve let him get it from your friend. Instead, you’re letting him take how much from you? All of it?” He shakes his head with an eye-roll. “Stupid.”

He was gonna get the money from someone or keep his rights to that kid. There was no in-between. I just didn’t think you’d be the first one to cave.” I grind my teeth, avoiding his gaze. Lo knows now.

“Scottie takes my whole paycheck, but I tattoo on the side,” I tell him. “It’s enough to eat.” It’s a lie, considering Akara gave me a raise and my uncle doesn’t know about it. “Are you?”