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)
He’s quiet.
I’m quiet.
We don’t talk until we reach a tiny gas station. Two pumps. One car outside, a silver Volkswagen. Craving warmth, we jog up to the entrance—fuck, I really tweaked my hamstring—and the bell dings as we slip inside.
Only in our underwear, I doubt this is the weirdest thing going down on Super Bowl Sunday. Technically, it’s Monday now. Four a.m.? I search for a clock, wandering down the candy aisle. Mostly to get away from O’Malley.
I need space.
He’s taking charge and approaching the cashier. A fortysomething blonde scrolls on her phone and drinks a canned Fizz. She startles seeing his half-naked self. “Sir, you can’t be in here without clothes.” She sounds scared.
O’Malley raises a calming hand. “I’m really sorry. Can I borrow your phone? I need to call a ride.”
“Y-you should go.” She’s the only one working here. She sees my form dipping in the back but hasn’t caught sight of my face. I worry about crowding and making her feel threatened or intimidated. But I can’t say skulking in the back is doing any better.
O’Malley tries a few other tactics, and she a hundred percent thinks he’s gonna steal her phone if she passes it over.
So I go to his side. “Ma’am, I’m—”
She gasps, her eyes lighting up in recognition. “OhmyGod.” She puts her hands to her mouth and shoots up from her seat. “You’re Paul Donnelly.”
At first, I’m afraid she’s about to back up like the Boogeyman of Dalton Academy has sprung out. But when she drops her hands, she’s smiling.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” she says in disbelief. “Oh my God. Liv is never going to believe this.”
I grin. Mostly ‘cause O’Malley looks highly annoyed. This has quickly turned in my favor. “I can leave Liv a voice memo,” I say, and I explain our situation. A dare for security. She introduces herself as Kera. After a voice memo and quick pic of me and Kera, O’Malley is shooting me a look to hurry up. She’s doing us a favor. Least we can do is be nice about it.
“You’re on Epsilon, right?” She’s blushing. “I…um, follow We Are Calloway on Reddit and Fanaticon.”
“Fanaticon’s dope,” I say and nod. “And yeah, I’m on SFE now.” I don’t point out O’Malley since he prefers to be incognito. I’m not blowing up his spot, and she’s not taking pictures of him to post on the internet. “You mind if we use your phone? Gotta call someone for a ride.”
“Yes, please. Here.” Kera passes over her cell phone. “Are you calling someone on SFO or maybe Luna?” Her eyes brighten at this. “I think you’re so sweet together.”
I smile. “Me too.” Whoever we call, they’re gonna meet Kera. Lucky for me, those near the top of my call list won’t mind that.
Instead of hogging the phone, I let O’Malley use it first. I figure we’ll ride separately.
He dials a number from memory. No one answers. Then another number. That rings out too. His frustration mounts, and he shakes his head. “It’s after four a.m. No one’s awake.”
I take the phone, and the first number that pops in my brain is Luna Hale’s. I shouldn’t call her. I would’ve never even considered it way back when. I probably would’ve just tried to hitchhike home or wait for the bus in the cold. Even if I have friends that’d come pick me up too. Farrow. Oscar. All of SFO.
But she once told me to call her if I needed a ride.
So I’m gonna call my girlfriend.
She answers on the first ring. “Who is this?”
“Donnelly. Your planet partner.”
I thought it’d cheer her up hearing that, but her stress-level piques. “Are you okay?”
“I’m alright,” I whisper. “You haven’t gone to bed?” I’m slightly turned away from Kera and the checkout counter. On instinct, O’Malley blocks Kera’s view of me. He pretends to be interested in a Celebrity Crush magazine, so she can’t secretly snap photos of me. Like I’m the famous one in need of protection.
“I tried, but I felt like something was wrong. Whose phone are you calling me on? Why is this a random number?”
I hate that she stayed up worried about me, but I try to push that feeling away. She loves me, and this is a side effect of love I need to get used to. Still, I’m wondering if I could’ve reassured her more. Left better texts. Or maybe it’s okay that she’s concerned. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing.
I walk a few feet into the chip aisle. “Don’t freak out.”
“Okay.” Her voice pitches.
“I got dropped off in Okehocking Preserve—”
“Dropped off? Eliot and Tom’s bodyguards left you there? In the middle of the night? Did they take your phone?”
“It’s an initiation sorta thing.”
“Uh-huh.” I hear her feet hit the floor. “I’m coming to get you.”
“Luna, Luna,” I whisper fast. “I’m not there anymore. I’m at the nearest gas station. Don’t go anywhere alone. Wake up Quinn or Frog. If they’re drunk, call another bodyguard.”