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)
Been anticipating her dad burying me in a shallow ditch, but he hasn’t said a word to me. This whole day has been strange, and it’s not even noon yet.
I hang one arm over my girlfriend’s shoulders and then put the cigarette between my lips, lighting it.
“Price to Donnelly.” My new boss speaks over comms. “No smoking on-duty.”
We’re outside.
Who am I hurting other than my own lungs?
I try to grind away a blip of annoyance, and I comply, snuffing the cigarette beneath my foot. Luna frowns a little, but I don’t tell her about the order.
She slides her hand in mine and leads me deeper into the cemetery. To smoke, I think. Xander is quick to follow. His hands are crossed over his black suit, wind whipping his shaggy hair. If he decides to leave, I gotta leave with him, but after our talk at the funeral home, he’s more likely to stay attached to Luna’s whereabouts.
Good for me. Bad for him? I dunno. I’m just hoping this isn’t hurting his life in any way. That’s the antithesis of what I’m supposed to be doing as his bodyguard.
Speaking of security, Quinnie and Froggy are strolling several paces behind us, and they’re eerily quiet. Either they’ve pissed one another off into the silent treatment or they’re just respecting the dead. Can’t tell which until I glance back.
They’re pissy.
Luna stops next to an old oak tree. She stuffs her hands in her jacket, pulling out a vape, and Xander squats to a black marble headstone. He inspects the old date and vintage name. He’s a bit of a history buff, interested in lineages and ancestors and kingdoms. It’s the fantasy brain in him, most likely.
My girlfriend (never gets old) passes me her vape.
I take a drag, and she checks her phone. Her nose crinkles with her brows. The start of a panicked face. One I’m more accustomed to seeing with her amnesia.
“You alright?” I ask, blowing smoke up at the sky. I hand the vape back. She takes a short drag, still glancing at her phone. I wave my hand. “Luna?”
“Huh?” Her collar is strict like she’s caging some breath. Alarm fills her eyes, but she’s not looking at me. She’s super-glued to the phone.
Concern is injected in my bloodstream. “What’s wrong?” I ask and draw her several feet from Xander. More out of earshot.
Her entire body is tensing, but she’s still physically close to me.
“Is it the internet?” I throw out a guess.
She holds my gaze for a beat, her eyes big like she wants to tell me something. “I…” She looks scared, and really, it fucking terrifies me. I never want her to be afraid of anything ever again.
I bring her against me. She nestles her cheek into my chest and my warmth. Her body feels like a rigid board. I kiss her hair and slip my hand against her wrist. Her pulse is racing. I barely hear her murmured words, and I dip my head to her lips just to piece apart what she’s telling me.
“I don’t want this to hurt our relationship at all,” she whispers. “Not when we just became something. But I think I need your help, Donnelly.” One of her hands grips tighter to my beltloops.
“Whatever you need, I’m here. I’ll always help you,” I tell her.
Instead of fearing whatever has her freaked out, I hang on to the best part of her asking me for help. Luna sees me as reliable, the one she can depend on for anything. Why else would she be coming to me with her problems and not her older brother?
Makes me feel like her actual boyfriend.
Which I am, but damn, I’m really going to love the fuck out of this.
“Can this stay between us for right now?” Luna whispers.
“Yeah,” I promise, hooking her pinky with mine. “It’s safe with me.”
Luna takes a readying breath and places her phone in my palm, trusting me with what’s scaring her. An incoming text vibrates the cell.
I look at the new message and my stomach drops.
Unknown
Come on baby. You know you miss me too. I’ll give you the best time you’ve had all year. Promise 👌
What the fuck? Every muscle in my body is searing. Who the fuck?
Quickly, I type in her passcode. Unlocking the phone, I read through the most recent thread.
UNKNOWN
I’m around if you can meet. Can’t stop thinking about you.
LUNA
Who is this?
UNKNOWN
Cute. I know you saved my number. I was the one who put it in your phone.
LUNA
Maybe I forgot about you.
UNKNOWN
Tease. No way could you forget me. I made you come so hard, you said I was the greatest fuck you’ve ever had.
Come on baby. You know you miss me too. I’ll give you the best time you’ve had all year. Promise 👌
The fear in Luna’s eyes is worse than the sickness trying to burn my esophagus.