Free Yearnings: A Paranormal Romance Box Set by Amber Scott, Carolyn McCray Page B

quiet of the bottom floor, she stopped denying the facts. She had hallucinated a glowing-eyed, sharp-toothed beast chasing her through the streets.
    Sadie rubbed at her burning cheeks.
    She’d run like a scream queen in a B movie, defending herself with a bag of Ben & Jerry’s. Yeah. Real intimidating, Sadie. One minute she hovered at the brink of hysteria, sprinting for her life, and the next she was standing, panting, alone and safe and sound right in front of Heather and Remy’s home.
    Like she’d blinked herself there.
    Or, more likely, had just overreacted to the whole thing. Except for the ice cream weapon part. At least she’d fought back a little.
    She held onto that strangely comforting thought as she let go of the door behind her and sought out Jen.
    But Jen wasn’t home yet and her cousin’s replying text gave her an hour to kill. Going dancing actually sounded really good. She wondered what she’d wear and figured Jen would help. It was only eight so once in her room, Sadie plunked her iPod headphones in and selected a dance mix to get in the mood. She lay down for a minute to think of outfits, but dozed off after the first imaginary ensemble.
    Tart sunlight filled the corners of her brain and the edges of her room. Dust danced in the daylight streaming in. She sat up, wiping her face. She didn’t feel groggy , making her realize she’d skipped last night’s dose. Oh, well. The medications made life a blur, made her own sense of self go to sleep.
    Right now, she felt rather normal.
    Maybe she’d stop all meds as of today instead of next week , as planned. After all, she was down to half of one of each at bedtime. And what would a few days matter?
    She looked at the clock. “Shit!” It was noon? What had happened with Jen? Why hadn’t Jen woken her up last night?
    Sadie scrambled out of bed. Her shoulders sagged when she found a note in the kitchen: Sorry about last night. I tried to wake you up, but you were sleeping like the dead, girl. Tonight, be prepared! I’m making it up to you. K? K! Love, Jen.
    Had Jen come home at all? Had she ditched Sadie and gone out alone? Was she home now?
    Nope on the last account. No clue on the others.
    Telling herself she had no call to get jealous, Sadie got herself some coffee. Scandalous amounts of fun tended to keep a person out well past midnight , but morning, too? Images of Jen, glorious blond hair swaying in rhythm with her hips on some dazzling dance floor, snapped through her mind. She scrambled eggs. She ate. She glared at her empty plate. Letting the fork clang unceremoniously before shoving both away.
    No texts, no replies either. She propped her chin on her fist and debated calling Ben. Or, maybe she’d go snooping in Jen’s room. The idea took hold.
    “Screw it. She’ll never know.” With no real idea of what she hoped to find there, Sadie tiptoed halfway up the stairs. The metallic scrape of the front lock stopped her short. Half-tripping over her own feet, Sadie raced back down in time to act natural as Jen spilled in.
    "Oh , no!" Jen said, hand to heart. "Did I wake you?"
    Unfortunately, a high pitch giggle threatened to break free if Sadie opened her mouth to point out she stood in the kitchen, not her bedroom. Instead, she quickly shook her head.
    "No? Oh, good." Jen locked the door behind her and swaggered in. "Sadie, Sadie, Sadie." She swayed past and sat in the same chair Sadie had been sulking in, the stink of smoke and alcohol in her wake. "Not coming out with me last night was a crime! I cannot even begin to explain how cool this club was.”
    "Really?" Sadie swallowed and pulled out a chair. Her heart raced hungrily for more. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
    “ Honey, I tried. You were dead to the world.”
    Damn it.
    “ And I met, hands down, the most interesting, the most captivating, the most gorgeous man on the entire planet." Jen nodded solemnly, her shiny aquamarine eyes riveted to Sadie's. "He is perfect." She lowered her