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)
“Why?”
“Philly. You’re the only Cobalt boy here.”
Ben goes rigid. “I’d never go to college in New York.” ‘Cause he’s got good taste. Knows the Tastykakes are fresher in the boxes from the Acme. Knows the Wawa coffee comes piping hot from Center City. Knows how beautiful the orange sunset sky looks behind City Hall.
Knows how Philly will always be there for you, no matter what, no matter when.
Yeah.
I know it. Not really sure what this city means to Ben.
Harriet nods slowly. “Gotcha. Well…have fun here, Friend.” She slaps his shoulder like he’s one of her pals, and she’s heading briskly out of the lab.
“Wait!” Ben calls, sprinting after her in the deserted hall.
I’m a foot behind him.
She spins on her heels, and he jogs back to her side. “Take my number. In case you need security. It’s a package deal with me. So if you’re feeling uncomfortable on campus, I can come to you with my bodyguard…at least until May.”
“How would that work? They’re hired to protect you, not me.” She glances at me.
I chime in, “If some crusty professor is laying hands on you, we’ll step in.” I tell Ben, “I’ll let Novak know.” He’s his 24/7 bodyguard, and it’s the least I can do for what Harriet did for Luna.
Harriet takes out her phone. “You know what…fuck it, I’m not prideful enough to turn away backup.”
Ben smiles down at her, which starts to pull one out of Harriet. She smooths her lips like it’s a weird feeling.
They quickly exchange numbers. “See you around, Fisher.”
“See you, Birthday Boy.”
It takes him aback. Shit, it takes me by surprise after today’s lack of b-day wishes.
She walks backwards, moving slowly away from him. “I didn’t stalk you exactly. I was doing my homework on Tom a while back. For the drummer audition. Your page was pretty small.” She squeezes her fingers together. “Where’s all the accolades?”
He smiles. “Siblings took them all.”
She mimes tears with her fists, her smile rising. Think her own smile surprises her. She startles into a frown, then gives him a stiffer wave.
They depart like they’ve known each other for four years and not four minutes.
Don’t know if this is something Ben does with everyone. If he’s just that good at collecting friends or if he honestly wants to start over with just Harriet.
I do know he’s missed half of his Bio class.
I also know my dad just texted me.
DAD
Meeting up with Loren Hale not this Saturday but the next. We’ve been texting back and forth, him and me. But he wants to make sure you’re good with that date.
I pocket my phone in the empty hallway, standing outside Ben’s biology class. And I mutter to myself, “I’m gonna have to be.”
APRIL
“The enemy only knows darkness. I know what the enemy does not…I know the light.”
— Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith #3
68
PAUL DONNELLY
It’s D-Day. Day of the Dads. I’m antsy for 8 p.m. to hit, and it’s only noon. Blowing out a long breath, I do my fortieth visual scan of Superheroes & Scones. It’s a ghost town. Not much to see here.
Floors are swept. No one’s browsing the aisles of comics and graphic novels. The geeky merch dangling on wall hooks remains untouched. Vinyl red booths are vacant. No employees smile behind the squeaky-clean countertops or work the espresso machines.
The blinds are even drawn shut.
The beloved comic book coffee shop isn’t closed for good, but it’s definitely shut down. Been that way since it was used for WAC production crew’s nuptials. It won’t reopen for another couple days.
The meeting between my dad and Luna’s dad is not happening here. I’m on-duty, posted outside the employees only breakroom. Counting down to when Xander finishes (bad use of a word) so I can clock off and hold my breath for a solid hour.
Or maybe this meet-and-greet will last ten minutes.
Maybe Lo will murder my dad. Or vice versa. Jail might be on the docket for tonight. Who knows?
Being this deep in my head is never a good idea while on-duty, but if I listen at all, I hear the soft sounds of feminine moaning.
All in a day’s work, you know—just guarding the door while my girlfriend’s younger brother has sex. I wish I could wear earbuds and give them more privacy. I am wearing a radio earpiece.
Problem is, comms are dead quiet right now. I’ve started liking when Epsilon rags on Omega over the channels. Like when Quinnie received baskets of muffins from an admirer and SFE couldn’t shut up about it.
It gave me the chance to say, “Young Stud Muffin coming in hot.” And Epsilon laughed with Omega.
It’s boring when they’re not talking shit. Greer will drone on about fly fishing. Not knocking whoever loves wading in the water and flicking a rod. But I now know more about the little squirmy guys in the river than I ever thought I would.