Page 17 of Unlucky Like Us
“I’m not easy prey,” I warn him.
He slowly extends a white paw, creeping towards me.
“I’m not.”
I’m not.
He’s gonna pounce.
I let out a gnarled groan. “You know, pussies and I have a longstanding history, and they usuallyloveme.” My voice rises.
He hisses.
“What? You don’t like being called a pussy? It’s what you are, man. A pussy cat. Look in the mirror.”
Theclickof the front door lock startles Toodles. He jolts like he’s struck by lightning and dashes into the kitchen, his paws scraping against the hardwood.
She’s here.
I back up into the living room. What the fuck’s wrong with me? I rake a hand against the back of my hot neck, and I realize I’m nervous.
But I don’t leave. Farrow said she wasn’t doing all right, and there’s nothing more I want than to be there for Luna when she’s hurting.
Especially if it’s because of me.
I rest my ass on the back of the blue couch. Hearing footsteps and whispers, I try not to tense. Then Luna’s mom emerges first. Lily is a smidge shorter than her daughter, and she’s carrying two Tupperware containers.
“Oh, Donnelly.” Surprise jumps her eyebrows, not expecting me to be right here.
“Hey,” I greet with the tilt of my head. I have no clue what her mom thinks of me. Being on Lo’s shitlist, I can handle, but if I’m on Lily’s, I dunno…I think I’d still go fling myself off this planet and sob.
Tension contracts my muscles, and I find myself avoiding Lily. Not a second passes before Luna sidesteps around her mom. “Donnelly?”
My heart jumps higher when I see her, and I scan Luna rapidly.
A duffel bag is slung over her shoulder. It’d been an overnight bag in case she wanted to spend the night at her parents’ house. Her splotchy round face and swollen eyes drive pain through my chest. Sleeves of herThrashershoodie are rolled to her forearms, and I see the lyrics I tattooed on her skin from years ago.
It takes all my energy not to hug her. Instead, I reach out for the duffel.
She lets me carry the luggage for her. As I slide the strap on my shoulder, her amber eyes search me for answers. Don’t know if I have the ones she’s scavenging for, but we do need to talk. I’m dying to give her what she needs.
She’s the only girl who wants, truly wants, what I can give, and howunjustis it that I have to wait to give her all of me? Fuck me, right?
Always, fuck me.
“I heard you were coming back,” I say. “Just wanted to wait up for you.”
She nods slowly, her breath hitching. The strain between us isn’t natural.
“Meatloaf for you both,” Lily interjects, and I almost forgot her mom is still here. Lily extends the Tupperware to me.
I take it and look to Luna. “You didn’t eat?” I skim her again, my chest caving. I wouldn’t have left her—if I knew she was this broken up—I wouldn’t have left as fast as I did.
“I wasn’t that hungry.” Her voice is small, almost a whisper. She frowns at the floor, and I try to catch her gaze again, seeing something’s bothering her. What the hell happened? She gives her mom a quick glance. “I’m gonna check on Orion. Thanks for the ride, Mom.” She hugs her mom, then slips away, tugging her sleeves down.
Both Lily and I watch her disappear down another hall.
I crave to chase after Luna, but I can’t be rude to her mom. Might not be a gold-star student when it comes to pleasing parents, but I’ve got some manners.