Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
She touches the new green kyber crystal at the end of the chain.
“In dark times, you found the light side, Luna Hale,” I say. “Think that means you need one of these.”
Tears crest her eyes, and she skims the crystal, pinched between her fingers. “I haven’t always thought I could be a Jedi, but you know…today, I’ve started to really believe I can.”
I wrap my arms around Luna, and she tucks herself against me. I’m proud of Luna, and I’m about to tell her, but she asks, “Where’s yours?”
I pull mine out from under my shirt. I haven’t taken it off. She touches the tips of the crystals together like it’s a power-up move.
I start grinning. “Is this where we self-combust together?”
“And merge into our final forms.”
“Bet my final form is me inside your pu…” I trail off at the sound of a car. Our heads turn as a red Audi SUV slows into the driveway.
Maximoff and Farrow. I recognize their new car, and soon enough, my best friend is unloading his brood. Arkham hops out first, but the brown Newfie waits dutifully for an almost two-year-old boy. Farrow lifts Ripley out of his car seat, and once the little boy is on the ground, he hangs onto Farrow’s pant leg, looking tentatively over at me and Luna.
“Sometimes I think he’s scared of me,” Luna says to me under her breath. She hasn’t been around Ripley too much recently. “Like he knows I’m not all the same.”
“Nah, he’s timid around everyone at times. Except for his dads.”
Maximoff hasn’t left the car for some reason. Not even as Farrow comes over with their daughter in a carrier, and Ripley walks off-kilter with tiny baby steps beside them, picking up speed when he sees Orion.
“Loonie’s Doggie!”
Orion bounds for the baby, and I grab air instead of the leash. The dog barrels into Ripley, a full-on suplex, and the boy goes down in the grass.
“Shit,” I curse.
“Orion, no!” Luna yells.
We all spring forward.
Farrow is at his son in seconds, carrier set down. He helps Ripley to his feet, speaking quietly with his son, who nods in reply. Farrow’s head swings to the car like he knows Maximoff would be freaked seeing their kid take that impact.
Sure enough, the car door is cracked open. Maximoff is halfway out, about to come rushing to the rescue—literally one sole on the driveway. But a phone is to his ear.
“He’s fine, wolf scout!” Farrow calls out.
“All good, Papa,” Ripley says, brushing imaginary dirt off his kneecaps (he fell on his back), then looks to Orion with these toughened blue eyes and hugs onto the puppy’s black fur in an embrace. Arkham greets his littermate with a wagging tail.
I’m smiling. Farrow would be smiling too if his concern wasn’t beelined to his husband. “We’re good!” Farrow calls out to Maximoff, who finally relents and returns fully to the car.
He must be on an important call, I realize. Through the windshield, I spot distress in his eyes.
Farrow’s gaze finds mine, and he just shakes his head like don’t bring it up.
I won’t.
“Looks like your kid wants to be a pro-wrestler,” I tell him instead.
Farrow’s smile stretches while chewing gum. “And just yesterday he cried over a goldfish cracker.”
Luna chimes in, “Goldfish crackers are kinda sad. They’re dried up like they’ve washed ashore and crusted in the sun.”
His smile grows fonder on her. “Hey, Luna.”
She waves in a rainbow pattern, then eyes the newborn. “Can I hold her?”
“You don’t even have to ask,” Farrow says. He bends down and picks up Cassidy out of the carrier, cradling her. She looks fast asleep, her little lips puffing out air every couple of seconds.
Luna scoops Cassidy into her arms, stroking her soft cheek and whispering hellos. She really loves babies, and my stomach tries to clench.
Farrow is keeping an eye on Ripley, but I ask him, “You home for the holidays?”
“Yeah. We’re staying here or going to the lake house. Whatever the families decide.” He chews his gum slower, looking me over. “What about you?”
I run a hand against the back of my neck. “I’ll go wherever Xander goes.”
“Okay, but if he doesn’t need a bodyguard here, where are you going?” Farrow asks.
I glance at her. “Wherever Luna goes, unless her dad—”
“He won’t,” Farrow says, “and if he does say you can’t spend the holidays with us, then my family will be spending them with you.”
It slams into me. He’s choosing me over the Hales. Farrow has always put action to his words, and if there’s any proof that I am his brother, his family, then this is it.
But I can’t accept that offer.
“Don’t do that,” I whisper to him, shifting on my feet and getting nearer so Luna can’t hear. “I’m not tearing apart any families. Not on Christmas.”
Farrow has a look like his mind is made up.