Free Wicked by Addison Moore Page A

get together at her house this Saturday night, and it would really mean the world to me if all of you guys would come.” She leers over at me when she says it.

    “No way Messenger is going,” Emily barks. “Not after she jumped you and tried to twist your neck off.”

    “Skyla!” Ms. Richards’ red hair dances up above her head like a fire. I’m still dying to find out more about her great, great grandmother a.k.a. Ezrina.

    “I thought she was someone else,” I say, half convincingly.

    “Oh no—I want Skyler there.” Chloe gives a quick wink. “We haven’t had the chance to sit down properly and get to know one other. I think that’s just what we need.”

    “It’s Skyla,” I smear the correction heavy with attitude.

    “Well, Skyla,” she hides her true intentions behind a thin veil of benevolence. “I have a feeling we’re going to be fast friends. In fact, I think you’ll fit in real well with my inner circle.”

    The bitch squad gapes openly as though Chloe were unaware of the social demotion she were impinging on them.

    I fall back on my hands and take it all in.

    Chloe wants Gage as her boyfriend and me as her bestie. I don’t believe that last part for a minute.

    I can’t stomp her out of existence because she’s got a protective hedge around her neck that rivals the missile shield, and she single-handedly ruined my family and my birthday party.

    I may not be able to kill Chloe, but for sure I’ll have fun trying.

    Chapter Fifteen

    The Surprise

    “OK!” After school, momma Count leads me by hand as I pretend to keep my lids shut.

    Tad and she have lured me out into the backyard—probably to a giant stone altar where they plan on tying me to a pile of brush and setting me on fire.

    We head off into the desolate tip of the property far away from the house. I can feel the air cool around me significantly. The scent of crushed fern and pine needles is so robust—the fragrance sets off a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

    It feels blank out here, too quiet. It’s doubtful any human foot has trekked into this distal portion before, perhaps a cartographer studying the lay of the land, then after him just the three of us. I open my lids a little more, only I don’t see a stone altar, I see something shiny and purple?

    “Open!” My mother shouts with glee.

    It’s a bike. A brand new shiny bike that looks vaguely familiar, and now I’m staring to appreciate the gift Logan tried to give me just a little bit more.

    “Wow,” I don’t bother hiding my sarcasm as I circle around it. “A basket and everything. Golly gee, can I take it to school tomorrow? Thundershowers are in the forecast for the rest of the week, but I can make a game of it. You know, dodge the lightning bolt.”

    “Very funny.” Tad pulls his lips into a line. “Told you she wouldn’t appreciate it.”

    “She doesn’t know what it is,” Mom steps up and takes me by the hand. “Hon, this bike belonged to your dad. I thought it’d be a nice touch to have it renovated for you.”

    “Dad?” His name comes out in a pale puff of air, evaporates just like he did.

    I touch the now all too familiar frame—the pedals, run a finger over the top of the back tire. I remember him peddling me to the store on the handlebars and how my mother would scream that we were going to crash. “It’s his bicycle.” I loved this thing, so did he. “Thank you.” I hop on and bounce into it.

    “Told you she’d love it,” Mom chides.

    “Yeah well, if she knew how much we paid to have that thing stripped and painted she’d probably want the cash for that ‘66 Mustang.

    “No, this is perfect,” I say. “I think when the weather clears I really will take it to school.”

    “Won’t Gage mind?” My mother twitches her nose at me.

    I shake my head as I envision Chloe dragging him around by the hair.

    “I don’t think so.”

    I don’t think he has a say.

    ***

    Gage shows up a little after eleven that