Page 79 of Headstrong Like Us

Luna glances between us. “So you’re going to tell the public about him?”

The media hasn’t asked questions about Ripley because no one knows he exists. But that’s going to change. Soon.

“We’re not going to hide him,” I tell my sister.

I can’t imagine a universe where we keep this baby a secret. Yeah, the media will hound him. But if Farrow and I are going to be raising Ripley for a while, this unconventional life is all he’ll know. And he’ll have to get used to it. Like I did.

Like Luna did.

Like all my siblings and cousins did.

We made it through alright, and so can he.

“The world gets the truth,” Farrow says. “Or part of it.”

For privacy reasons, we plan onnotmentioning the birth parents or Donnelly’s involvement. Basics—they get basics, and that has to be enough.

Luna leans closer to the baby. “Don’t worry, Ripley. Take it from your Auntie Luna, most of the things people say online are just garbage. You only need to listen to this right here.” She puts a finger to his heart.

Farrow and I share a look.

Not that long ago, I had a serious talk with Luna, and I told Farrow about it.

Luna and I—we were in her teenage bedroom, which is one of thecoolestplaces in the house. Hands down. It’s like being transported into space. Rotating light boxes cast stars and planets on the glitter-green walls, and shimmery fabrics hang from the ceiling.

We sat on a fuzzy rug against the wood bedframe, her laptop half-opened with an in-progress fanfic. She yanked at the strings of her Thrashers hoodie. “It’s not like I hadn’t heard it before.”

She meant people calling her asex addict.

My jaw hardened. And I nodded, neck stiff. I remembered all the hecklers who tried to incite me by calling my sister a sex addict.“Bet she puts out twice as much as your mom. Is she a little sex addict too?”

Memories still burned in my eyes and skull.

They would provoke, and I’d launch a fist in their face.

I’m not proud of that.

But she’smy sister.I’m her big brother, and if anyone comes for her with ill-intent, they have to get through me.

“This doesn’t feel different to you?” I asked since the rumors are in tabloids and posted online. On a much larger scale than usual.

Luna stared faraway. “People suck. They always suck. I just…I kind of hate that I can’t kiss whoever I want at a club without starting rumors.” She looked up at me. “Paparazzi have always pressured us to talk about sex. You get it worse now that you’re with Farrow. Just yesterday, a camera guy asked me whether I thought you were a top or bottom.”

I glared at the wall, face hot. “Jesus Christ.”

“Uh-huh, nothing’s off-limits.” She picked at her cuticles. “When we were younger, they liked how cute we were, then they liked our teenage fuck-ups, and now they eat up our sex lives. And it used to be easier ignoring them and rumors, because I wasn’t having sex. But now…” Her amber eyes met my green. “Do you ever think, what if they’re right? What if I could become addicted to sex, and they just see it before I do?”

I didn’t blink.

I wanted to be confident for Luna. If she asked me that same thing a year ago, I would’ve been assured and definite about my answer.

I’m in total control of my sex life. I’m not afraid of being a sex addict.

Things changed, and I’m in a relationship and I’vecompletelytrusted another person with my body. To the point where…the doubt is real and so is the fear. And I hate being that unsure about something so cataclysmic.

“I’ve thought about it,” I admitted to my sister. “But I think the important thing is to not let the media influence what goes on in your head.”Easier said than done.I knew that. But I reminded Luna, “You know who you are better than anyone. The media’s version of us isn’t totally accurate. It’s warped.”

Luna searched my face for strength. “I shouldn’t worry?”