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)
I help and pass him one. “I’ve thought more about my memory guardian.” I’ve made a choice.
There’s also a great, planet-sized chance that Donnelly won’t love who I picked.
16
LUNA HALE
“I was just thinking about your memory guardian.” Donnelly crumples the trash bags in his hands. “We must be riding the same wavelength.”
“Uh-huh,” I agree. “Different species. Same language.”
“One of these days I’m going to morph into an alien and we’ll be the same—then what are you going to do, space babe?”
“Marvel at the discovery of inter-species transmutation.”
He’s smiling so wide, but it falters when he asks, “So who’d you choose?”
“Just so we’re speaking the same language still,” I reiterate, “this is solely a guardian of my memories. Not the knower-of-all or someone who means more to me than you do.”
Donnelly tightens his eyes at the sun. “Do I like this guardian of your memories? Are they a good person?”
I squint. “Uh…depends on who you ask. I would classify them as more of an anti-hero. A Loki.”
“Eliot?”
“Good guess, but…no.” My face burns because I can see the gears shifting at rapid speed in Donnelly’s very intelligent brain. I had considered the possibility that he might not like who I selected, but I’m hopeful he’ll warm up to the idea with context.
“It can’t be Maximoff,” he says like it’s now a fact.
My oldest brother is not an anti-hero or mischief-maker. It is known.
“Maybe Loki isn’t the exact right thing,” I say. “He’s like an archangel.”
“Lucifer was an archangel,” Donnelly reminds me, less humor in his tone. “Satan himself your memory guardian?” At this point, I’m positive he knows who I chose.
I squint even harder. “You’re not far off, maybe.”
He drops the trash bags, just to scrape his hands through his hair. Then he says, “I’ll do it.”
“What?”
“I’ll read your diary. Front to back. I accept the position.” He puts a hand to his heart, and my natural reaction is to shake my head. Pain crosses his face. “Why not pick me?”
“Because you were right when you said I shouldn’t. It’d hurt you.”
“Luna—”
“No,” I say strongly, a fierceness surging forth that I don’t quite understand—other than, I would do anything to protect him. Anything at all, and in a moment of vulnerability, he expressed his limit, and if this is my chance to barricade Donnelly from pain, then I’m going to take hold of it with all my might. “It can’t be you.”
His eyes redden, fighting emotion, and his gaze lands on me. “But Charlie?”
“He’s already read all of my fics,” I say quickly. “And he’s a member of Mensa. If I need someone to judge when I should be told certain things, a literal genius kinda qualifies.”
“I think you’d have a better shot asking an 8 Ball,” Donnelly tells me, running both hands through his hair again and keeping them on the top of his head. “Got one in my bag if you change your mind.”
“Why do you think it’s a bad idea?”
“Not a bad idea.” He drops his hands to his sides. “A risky one. Charlie…he’s a loose cannon. I wanna trust him with you, I do, but I don’t know what’s going on in his head half the time, Luna. No one does. One day, he could protect your memories. Next minute, he might use them against you or someone else.”
“I don’t believe he would,” I whisper.
“He has it in him though.”
“I know,” I say into a strong nod. “Which is why I’m choosing him while knowing the risks. I want to give him the chance. But I also know…I know he’d protect me over you, and it’s one downside.”
“Not a downside for me,” Donnelly says.
“I don’t want him to hurt you, ever.” My breathing shortens. “Maybe he is the wrong choice.” By choosing Charlie, am I putting Donnelly in the line of fire? Not long ago, Charlie did confess that he called Donnelly contaminated, disease-ridden, horrible things right in front of me, Moffy, and Farrow. He said it was his attempt at keeping me away from Donnelly until his family was dealt with. So to help me, he hurt him.
“This isn’t about me,” Donnelly says, rubbing the crease between his brows. “It’s about you. You can’t consider me in this—”
“You sound like Dr. Raven—”
“She’s right in this instance. ‘Cause I can’t be a reason you backslide, Luna. If this is gonna help you move forward—if Charlie will help you—then pick Charlie.”
My gut says Charlie, but it is like choosing a nuclear bomb. “There’s another big thing I’m worried about.” I drop my voice, careful so no one meandering around the house can overhear. “My brother.”
Donnelly frowns. “Xander?”
“Moffy,” I correct. “I’m a tad bit concerned he’ll be hurt if I choose Charlie and not him. Given their past beef…” I shrug. “I don’t want to choose Team Charlie over Team Moffy, but I’m not dumb. I know picking Charlie means I’ve chosen him in some small way, and maybe that won’t be so small in my brother’s head.”