Free Obsessed by Jo Gibson Page B

was a picture of Kevin in her wallet, and Mary Beth took it out. She loved his dangerous eyes with thick, black lashes that never quite opened up all the way. Kevin was older. He’d been out of high school for five years now, and he knew plenty about women. She could see it in his eyes. Kevin knew how to drive her wild when he kissed her, and he wasn’t the type to stop with just kisses. She’d fantasized about spending the night at Kevin’s apartment, and she’d imagined what it would be like to stretch out on his waterbed and feel satin sheets against her bare skin. Of course things hadn’t gone that far . . . yet.
    Mary Beth gave a little shiver of excitement. She was glad she’d hedged her bets. Michael had career plans, and he was very serious about school and work. Kevin lived every day as it came, and being with him was always fun. She didn’t want Kevin for life. She just wanted to borrow him for the summer and learn how to live on the edge. Then she’d settle down and go back to school and be Michael’s nice girlfriend and her parents’ good daughter again.
    There was nothing but news on the television, and Mary Beth clicked it off. It was ten o’clock and Michael had promised to try to make it by midnight. That meant she had another two hours to wait, and Mary Beth hated waiting. She was just thinking about finishing the lemon meringue pie her mother had baked when she heard a loud crash in the front yard. Was it a burglar? Their neighbors had been burglarized a month ago, and that was why her father had installed the expensive security system.
    Even though she was almost afraid to look, Mary Beth walked to the window and peeked out through the drapes. At first she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but then she noticed that their garbage can was tipped over on its side. As she watched, she caught a glimpse of a big black dog running down the street. It was nothing to get worried about. Tomorrow was garbage day, and the neighborhood dogs had been in the trash again.
    The wind had picked up, and Mary Beth saw several sheets of newspaper fluttering down the sidewalk. Should she go out and pick up the trash before it was scattered all over the yard? Mary Beth thought about it for a moment, and then she shook her head. She didn’t want to go out alone at night. It would be stupid to leave the safety of the house when there was a killer on the loose.
    There was a loud rattle, and Mary Beth jumped. What was that? The sound seemed to be coming from the bath room, and she remembered that the vent on the roof always flapped when it was windy. Maybe she should put on the stereo. Their house always made creaking and groaning sounds when the winds were blowing. It had never really bothered her before, but she was all alone tonight, and the noises seemed almost ominous.
    It was only five minutes after ten. Had the clock stopped? Mary Beth walked over to look, but the second hand was sweeping around in endless circles. Time passed so slowly when she was bored, and Mary Beth was definitely bored. Maybe she should have taken Andy up on his offer to stay with her. Andy was a nice kid, and she could have told him to leave the minute Michael arrived. She would have felt a lot safer with Andy here, but spending the evening with him would be even more boring than being here alone.
    Mary Beth thought about all the invitations she’d received for tonight, and that made her feel much better. The girls were definitely worried. Judy had suggested watching a movie at her house, Linda had asked her if she wanted to come over to spend the night, Nita and Berto had offered to take her out for pizza, Vera and Ingrid had said they’d come by to keep her company, and even Carla had called to say she’d be glad to drive over to check on her. Of course, Mary Beth had turned down every one of their suggestions. She knew exactly why the girls had seemed so concerned about her. It was their strategy. They were trying to keep