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 never played football, really.
He’s just supremely talented at everything.
Xander and I are smiling because that’s our brother. The rising star of the Hales. The one person who we can point to and say, We’re not all fuck ups. See. Except the world will try to claim he’s not one of us. He’s a Meadows. That must be why he’s so different. So much more athletic. So much more skilled.
Xander continues, “I figured he’s a Hale outlier, you know? That it’s not attainable for the rest of us, but I don’t know, lately I’ve been thinking—why not? If it’s in him, shouldn’t it be in us too? I mean, look at you.” He turns to me. “You’re by far the strongest person I’ve ever known. Maybe stronger than Moffy. It makes me feel like I can be too.”
I’m lost for words for a second. I didn’t know Xander saw me as someone in leagues with our larger-than-life older brother. I thought, if anything, I’d be more like the inferior superhero with little to no screentime. You see her funky hair color in the background shot—but you aren’t really even sure what powers she possesses.
“Is that why you want to compete for CEO?” I ask him.
“Yeah, I guess I want to prove that Hales aren’t people that can be easily walked all over, and we’re not that dumb. Plus, I get to spend more time with you. And a secondary perk, I’m pretty sure Charlie will take this home, so we don’t have to be afraid we’ll actually be imprisoned in that corporate hellhole for eternity, even if we go hard for it.”
I smile. “Our motivations are similarly aligned, earth dweller. Though, I really don’t want you to have it. I am your nemesis, watch out.” I narrow my eyes into devilish pinpoints.
“I’m so afraid, ahhh,” he says with the loose wave of his hands. “Kinney could help you with the intimidation factor. She told me I smelled like Cheetos this morning, which hurt me to my core.” I can tell it didn’t affect him at all. Xander is immune to most of Kinney’s insults since he’s grown up alongside her.
I should be spending more time with our little sister, but she’s been glued to Audrey, Winona, and Vada this whole time. And I can’t really say I’m any better. I’ve been attached to my best friends too.
I have an idea! “Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special,” I throw out there. “Let’s watch it now with Kinney.”
Xander groans. “I hate that movie. Mantis still gives me nightmares crawling through Kevin Bacon’s house like a demon.”
“I bet Donnelly has never seen it,” I say, instinctively thinking of including him. “Or maybe…maybe it should just be a sibling thing? Will Kinney ditch if I invite him?”
He shrugs. “I’d want him to come. Maybe his commentary will make it better.”
Like we summoned him, Donnelly strolls into the kitchen, but instead of his usual casual, nonchalant stride, his muscles seem constricted. Rigid. Something’s wrong? He up-nods to Xander. “Birthday boy. Can you give me a sec with your sister?”
“Yeah…” He draws out the word, confused. “Everything okay?”
“We’re good.” He motions from himself to me, and my heart rate eases. Okay, so this isn’t about our new relationship.
Once Xander leaves the kitchen, Donnelly rests a hip against the stove. Facing me, he says, “I just heard back from IT.”
My stomach drops. Certain impact is imminent. The asteroid is flying through space and too close to clipping our ship. “Already? It’s Christmas.”
“Yeah, but I told them to rush it, if they could.” Donnelly takes good care of me, and I can only hope I’m doing the same for him. He explains how the calls and messages I’ve received lately were traced back to three guys in New York. “They’re all friends.”
What…? “You’re sure?”
“Positive…” He rubs at his wrist, like he’s not enjoying spilling these painful beans. “I’ve seen you with them before—not seen seen in person, but in tabloids, you were caught kissing ‘em.”
Oh. My stomach plunges straight to the floor. “Like at the same time? I kissed all three?”
“There wasn’t a video, but I dunno, I guess.”
Wow, okay, okay. Original Luna—me, I kissed-around town. I was single. There’s nothing wrong with kissing whoever I want to, but the thought now makes me nauseous. Because I can’t remember it.
I listen as Donnelly says, “There’s been a rumor in security that your dad got them blacklisted from popular clubs in New York.”
“Sounds like my dad,” I mutter, staring beyond the floorboards.
“Which is why I wanted to ask you if I could go to him with this.”
My bugged eyes snap up to Donnelly. “What?”
“Luna, your dad has information about ‘em, and they all should be on security’s watch-list. This one—the guy who texted you at the funeral—he’s called you seven times in two weeks. And he’s asking for a hookup, knowing you were kidnapped. He’s a piece of shit.”