Wild Like Us

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Wild Like Us Page 43

by Krista Ritchie


  He’s quiet.

  I exhale the weight off my chest.

  “Banks—”

  “I don’t want to talk about him,” I say with more heat, breath visible in the cold. He knows I’m not referring to Xander.

  I’m talking about our older brother who never lived past fifteen.

  Thatcher pauses before saying, “I can fly back home.”

  For me. “No,” I retort. “Don’t be a stunad, I’m fine.” I realize something fast though. “Unless you have to come home. You still have a job?”

  “Still a strict-walking, no back-talking bodyguard, hell yeah.” Thatcher explains the new rules in order for Omega to keep their jobs after the video leak. One of which: they have to delete social media. I do too, but I’m only active on Facebook like Akara.

  “Right on,” I say, and then we hang up.

  On my walk to Epsilon’s mansion, my mind wanders. I run the back of my hand against my running nose while I remember him.

  Skylar Moretti.

  I remember that night he died.

  The way my father yelled at Thatcher. We were just twelve. God, Thatcher rode a bike to catch up to Skylar at the quarry. He was too late.

  Why did I have to ride a fucking bike tonight? Why was it even sitting against the mailbox? I reached Xander in time. But why was it me? Shouldn’t it have been Thatcher?

  “Huh?” I look up at the sky, heat burning my lungs. “Why? This wasn’t my fucking redo.” I’m spiritual, maybe more so than my brother. And I’m superstitious.

  It doesn’t make sense to me.

  Why I had to be the one here tonight…

  Why not give that absolution to my twin? That sense of accomplishment, of succeeding when you couldn’t the first time.

  It stays with me the whole walk back. When I reach my residence, pain throbs my body again. Aches catching back up to me and amplified times ten, but I’m not ready to go inside.

  I slip on the glove that I dropped and grab my shovel. Finishing the work that I started.

  Thanks so much for reading this bonus scene! We can’t wait for you to read more about Banks, Sulli, and Akara in Fearless Like Us!

  If you want to read more bonus scenes like this one, be sure to check out our Patreon! Joining will give you access to all of these bonus scenes (click for a complete list). Plus new content and extras release every month! Our Patreon is a great place for readers who love behind-the-scenes posts and all the extra goodies :D

  MORE TO READ FROM KRISTA & BECCA

  WHATEVER IT TAKES

  New Adult Romance

  * * *

  She’s a shy wallflower who doesn’t like to be touched.

  He’s the guy with the bad reputation who craves to touch her.

  Be sure to subscribe to our NEWSLETTER so you don’t miss book announcements for the Like Us series and more books!

  Also by Krista & Becca

  ADDICTED SERIES

  Addicted to You

  Ricochet

  Addicted for Now

  Thrive

  Addicted After All

  The Addicted Series Box Set

  BAD REPUTATION DUET

  * * *

  Whatever It Takes

  Wherever You Are

  * * *

  CALLOWAY SISTERS SERIES

  Kiss the Sky

  Hothouse Flower

  Fuel the Fire

  Long Way Down

  Some Kind of Perfect

  * * *

  CIRCUS IS FAMILY SERIES

  The Failed Audition

  The Secret Ex-Boyfriend

  LIKE US SERIES

  Damaged Like Us

  Lovers Like Us

  Alphas Like Us

  Tangled Like Us

  Sinful Like Us

  Headstrong Like Us

  Charming Like Us

  Wild Like Us

  Fearless Like Us

  Infamous Like Us

  Misfits Like Us

  Unlucky Like Us

  About the Authors

  ABOUT KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE

  Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

  CONNECT WITH KRISTA & BECCA

  www.kbritchie.com

  www.facebook.com/KBRitchie

  www.instagram.com/kbmritchie

  www.pinterest.com/kbmritchie

  For Like Us series Extras, Bonus Content, and Podcasts every month:

  Join Krista & Becca’s Patreon

  FANS OF KRISTA & BECCA’S BOOKS

  Join the Fizzle Force Facebook Group to interact with other readers, chat about the books, and to enter exclusive Fizzle Force giveaways.

  Pronunciation Glossary

  The Italian used in this book is an Italian-American language developed by Italian immigrants. It is an incomplete language and uses Italian, English, or both. Different Italians speak different dialects in certain areas, and what is used in the Like Us series is prominent on the East Coast. Words may vary in pronunciation and spelling in different communities.

  * * *

  gabbadost’: pronounced gaa-baa-dahst (Origin: capa dura/capa tosta)

  * * *

  gavadeel’: pronounced: gaa-vaa-DEEL (Origin: cavatelli)

  * * *

  paesan’: pronounced pai-ZAAN (Origin: paesano)

  * * *

  rigott’: prounounced ree-GAUWT (Origin: ricotta)

  * * *

  scustamad’: pronounced skoo-stoo-MAAD (Origin: scostumato)

  * * *

  stunad: pronounced stoo-NAAD (Origin: stonato)

  Acknowledgments

  The Like Us series has reached beautiful, adventurous, wild Book 8. We’re incredibly thankful for all of you, the readers who’ve taken a chance on our work, for picking up these books when there are so many out in the world. For sticking with us and these families up to the eighth novel.

  It means so, so much to us. The Like Us series has had our hearts and souls for years now, and to see it still going strong because of you is a precious gift.

  Thank you so much Lanie, Jenn, and Shea—our Fizzle Force FB Admins—for all the time & love you’ve put into celebrating and supporting Wild Like Us and every book we’ve ever published. Thanks to our beautiful mom who has been our biggest cheerleader since we were little girls. We couldn’t do this without you. We love you all a waffle-lot.

  Thank you to the Fizzle Force and to our patrons. Every reader who’s been on Patreon—you’ve all changed our lives. And we wouldn’t have reached Book 8 without you. Your love for these characters continues to inspire us and invigorate us. We are so grateful for each of you. Whenever we feel burnt-out or sad or doubtful, you all unknowingly remind us why we love to write. The spirit of writing and creating stories and characters is never lost. To see how these books, bonus scenes, extras, podcasts resonate with all of you is still surreal to us. Not a day goes by where we don’t look at each other and go, wow. We feel so lucky.

  Writing this series has been a true joy and a source of love for us for so long. These characters often remind us that life is short, and there is no better life than to be surrounded by people who love you unconditionally. We hope these characters can be there for you if you ever need them like they’re here for us. And we can’t wait to keep writing more ;)

  * * *

  All the love in every wild universe,

  Krista & Becca

 

 

 
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