Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
So I’m only a foot from him, the wooden lane beneath my feet.
“How was it being back there?” O’Malley asks, alluding to South Philly, the row house where I found Luna. I see her cuffed to the bed, and rage scrapes against my eardrums like aluminum foil. “Feel right at home? Maybe you should’ve stayed.”
“You wanna see my family?” I sneer under my breath. “I can give you their number. You can get your ass handed to you again.”
His chest bumps against mine. I don’t back down. He’s in my face as he says, “You must’ve told her some story to get her to fall for a piece of shit like you. But you know what I think? I think you raped her—”
I slam a fist in his jaw, wrath exploding with that one accusation. The punch should’ve knocked him over, but he’s ready with one in my gut. Next breath, we’re brawling down the bowling lane in front of the famous ones. In front of our bosses. The only thing I care about in this hot-blooded, acidic second is inflicting sheer pain upon O’Malley.
I bring his body to the wood and nail him in the face. As we wrestle against one another, I hear the way our bodies squeak against the lane more than I do the shouting in the background. My blood blisters, and I barely feel his knuckles slam into my mouth.
Hands suddenly pry me off him, and I’m in a haze of hatred. Can’t get out.
“Donnelly. Donnelly.” Oscar is clutching my face.
I’m not even on the alley anymore. I’m standing on the 80s carpet by the nacho table.
“Bro?” Concern is all over him.
I taste blood in my mouth. “Where is she?” I ask, trying to see over Banks, Quinn, and Gabe.
“Let her go,” Oscar advises, and hearing that nearly buckles me.
I swallow hard, about to choke out, I can’t. I blink a ton, and crouching down, I run my fingers through my hair, just now noticing I split open my knuckles again. The chain is heavier around my neck, and I untuck the crystal from my shirt.
Oscar keeps a comforting hand on my shoulder. “For right now.”
Right now. Yeah.
I don’t want Luna seeing me like this anyway. She’s already seen enough.
40
LUNA HALE
Has Donnelly been deceiving me? My head pounds with the heaviest confusions and fears. Is O’Malley someone I should trust? What if everything he said is true? Seeing them throw punches is what made me run.
I got scared, feeling like I can trust no one but myself—and Original Luna is buried too deep. I want her back.
Come back. Please.
Tears burn my eyes, and as family calls my name, I race past them on the carpeted area of the bowling alley. My gaze is on the squiggle and lightning bolt patterns beneath my feet.
“Luna!”
That one voice halts me in place. “Mom?” My voice squeaks, and I can hardly believe what I’m seeing. Is she real?
Fairy wings and a starry headband make her appear like a celestial fae. Beneath her armpits are crutches, decorated with silver tinsel.
Emotion overtakes me, and I bound towards her. “Mom!”
I catch myself before going into a hug. What if I hurt her?
“Surprise,” she says, trying to smile but worry invades. “What happened? What’s wrong? Luna?”
I shake my head, too choked to speak. People are watching.
“Let’s go in here for a sec.” She leads me to the nearest private party room. This one is mostly empty. Just bare tables and empty chairs.
I had my seventh birthday at this bowling alley, and I remember this room. Presents were stacked on the glittery black tablecloths. My mom bought boxes of pizza and balloons shaped like stars. Partly, I wonder if they chose bowling to help me hang on to a childhood memory that I do have.
For some reason, it’s just a reminder that I’m not a kid anymore. I’m so much older. The party room is nostalgic in a way that aches my heart, but I don’t yearn for that past.
I shut the door. “You really came.” I didn’t think she could, since she was just released from the hospital today.
She rests her crutches against the table. “I wanted it to be a birthday surprise.” She tosses her hands up. “Surprise!”
It overwhelms me again. “It’s the best surprise.” Finally seeing her means the world to me. Glitter coats her cheeks, but I still spot yellow blemishes beneath the makeup. It’s almost been a week, and she’s still bruised.
What happened?
I was there during this attack. I saw it? My stomach flips with nausea. Do I even want those memories to return?
Her deep frown hurts me. “Oh Luna. What’s going on?” She reaches out towards me.
“Can I hug you?” My voice breaks again.
She’s already wrapping her bony arms around my frame. “I want to hug you. I’ve been waiting for this moment.” Her hugs are magical, and I hold tighter around my mom, burying my face against her hair. Tears leak out of my eyes, but I hear her sniffling too. I don’t want to let her go, and I feel that she’s not ready to let me go either.