Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Luna practically leaps into my arms, and I hug her lanky frame and twirl her in a circle and sing the short Spider-Man theme song. She presses her forehead to mine, and then I whisper in her ear, “Come to rescue me, Spider-Man?”
She nods. “I’m at your girl-friendly service.”
“Best there is.” And then I quickly set her down, seeing the bodyguard she brought with her, as he storms down the candy aisle.
Farrow. He’s hawk-eyed on O’Malley like a target, like he drove me outside Philly and stripped me naked and left me in the freezing cold. Which…he partially did, but I stripped myself and he’s also suffering with me.
“You motherfucker,” Farrow says between gritted teeth, and O’Malley walks backward into a fridge of beer. He’s always been scared of Farrow, but I’ve never seen him shrink back like this.
I sprint around these waist-high convivence store shelves and ignore my shrieking hamstring. “Farrow!” I call out, catching up to him. I step in front of O’Malley and put a hand on Farrow’s chest. “It’s fine. I’m fine. They didn’t touch me, alright. It wasn’t like that.”
His narrowed gaze is drilling into the guy behind me, but he sees that O’Malley is also only wearing underwear and socks too.
Farrow cools off a bit and steps back.
I glance behind me at Chris. He’s breathing funny. “You alright, man?”
He glares at me.
So I’m gonna say that’s a yes.
He was jumped on Halloween though. It wasn’t that long ago, and I’m not shocked he’s a little shaken. Farrow has put larger guys on the ground.
My best friend follows me back towards the checkout where Luna waits. With Thatcher? “What’s he doing here?” I ask Farrow.
“Man, I didn’t come alone.”
It’s good Luna has two bodyguards. Extra security on the street at this hour is smart, even if Thatcher is still suspended. He must be on “unofficial” duty. He’s busy speaking with Kera and passes her an electronic tablet. He’s having her sign an NDA.
“You have a smoke?” I ask Farrow while Luna unzips her backpack.
He’s digging in his pocket, his eyes flashing hot towards O’Malley. Then back to me, he asks, “Initiation? Into what?”
“It’s a team building exercise,” I say lightly. “We’re working together.” I think O’Malley must hear me because he comes a little closer.
“Some team.”
“Well, you wouldn’t understand since you’re allergic to cliques.”
Farrow cracks a shadow of a smile. He hands me a pack of cigarettes and the lighter. “Don’t let them treat you like shit.”
“I’m not,” I assure, slipping a cigarette behind my ear.
He nods, believing in me.
I throw my arm over his shoulder, bringing Farrow closer to whisper, “She’s okay?” She’s rummaging in her backpack still, but he knows I’m not referring to this one moment but rather this whole thing. The drive here. He’s been with her.
He’d know.
Farrow nods, smiling like he’s enjoying me being in a relationship. “Yeah. She’s just worried about you.”
Luna speaks through her mask. “I didn’t have time to go through your closet, so I grabbed something from mine that I thought would fit you.” She hands me Princess Leia’s long draped skirt and a Carraways black band tee, which looks like it’d be big on Luna but tight on me. Her head swerves to O’Malley. “Sorry, I didn’t bring anything for Reverse-Paul.”
“Reverse-Paul?” He looks at me like I made the nickname. I know my superheroes pretty well now, but that is too much of a Hale thing to do. Last time I checked, I’m still a Donnelly.
“You’re the uglier version of me,” I tell him.
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah? In what universe?”
“Mine.” Luna raises her hand.
I grin. “My favorite one.” I look to O’Malley. “You want the shirt?”
“No, I’m good.” His voice is quieter. It’s clear he wishes someone he liked, and who liked him, picked up the phone. He’s uncomfortable, and it makes me feel like shit. Maybe it shouldn’t, but he’s outnumbered now. Four to one, and I’d rather not shun him.
I toss the shirt to Chris.
“I said—”
“Your abs are scaring the potato chips.” I step into the skirt and focus on Luna. “Where’s the keys?”
“Oh, Spider-Man always drives.” Luna nods like this is a rule I should know.
“Not tonight when Princess Leia is around,” I tell her.
Luna relinquishes the keys in my palm without a fight, but Farrow steals them from me. “I can drive back. I drove here.”
“Spider-Man always drives, huh?” I tease her.
“I did drive,” she says.
I frown, confused, and I look over at Farrow. “You take two cars?”
“Yeah,” he answers.
Why?
Thatcher joins us, and I realize the guys threw shirts over pajama bottoms. They ran out of the penthouse.
It’s not making sense. Not until I tell Kera thanks again, then walk out into the cold with my arm slung around my girlfriend. I stop short beside the ice chest. Luna’s Volvo, a security SUV, and Mazda are parked near the two pumps. Leaned up against the cars are Akara and Banks…then Quinn, Gabe, and Frog.