Free Book of Revenge by Abra Ebner Page B

would always hold us together. It was my happiness he borrowed, my life that pulsed through his blood as well as mine. When he was happy, I felt it as though it were my own happiness. I had noticed this more and more over the past few weeks. Growing up, I had also felt this, but didn’t know what it was, or what it meant, and it was never this strong. We were connected like soul-mates. For all I knew, it’s what we really were.
    I clicked open the passenger door and got in. I heard what the football player was saying now, things about practice and the game last Friday night. It was as though they were best friends.
    “Hey, Jane.” The football player broke from his discussion to address me.
    Shocked, I looked at him with an expression I was certain resembled a deer in the headlights. “ Uh… hi, Trent.” Trent had never said hi to me before, let alone glance at me, even if I were in his direct path.
    “Hey,” he repeated, grinning before turning his attention back to Max. “Gotta go, Max, but think about it. Next Friday night, it’ll be awesome.” Trent gave the car door a little pound before turning and walking away.
    “See you, Trent.” Max’s voice was cool, comfortable. He’d managed to blend in more than I had in my four years here, and it had only been a handful of weeks.
    I lifted one brow as Max’s eyes met mine. “Making friends?”
    Max shrugged. “You could say that.”
    “What’s happening next Friday night?” I knew that next week football had a break in their schedule, so it wasn’t a game.
    He shrugged again. “Halloween party.”
    I rolled my eyes. I should have known. “Of course,” I grumbled.
    “It could be fun,” Max urged in a sing-song voice. “You could be an angel, and I’ll be the devil.”
    I laughed. “How is that going to work?”
    Max’s smile never faltered. “Perfectly. Ready for a fun weekend?” He hooked his hand behind my head, pulling me in and giving me a kiss. His lips lingered against mine, laced with a wanting feeling, but a subdued one. He was forcing back emotions. I felt it.
    I leaned away. “What was that?”
    Max looked confused. “What?”
    I crossed my arms. “I can feel your emotion like it’s my own, Max.”

“It is your own,” he corrected.
    “I know that,” I said, annoyed. “But I feel you’re subduing your desires for me, something I didn’t feel the first time you kissed me, not even a little bit. Why? What’s changing?” I sounded like a crazy girlfriend.
    Max started the car, turning away from the curb and slowly rolling through the lot as one student after another waved at us—Max had been working the friend thing pretty hard, just not the going to class thing. “We’re waiting, remember? I’m just trying to remain in control, that’s all.”
    My eyes narrowed, finding his words didn’t seem one-hundred percent true. “Ri- ight ,” I said, expressing my doubts in the tone of my voice.
    Max was playing with the tiny chain around his neck, and it reminded me of the way we were quite literally chained together—so why wait?
    “Do you think we’re soul-mates, Max? I mean, like real soul-mates, if there even is such a thing.”
    He smiled. “There is such a thing. Didn’t you know that?”
    I shrugged. “Well, I guess the term had to come from somewhere, right?”
    He nodded matter-of-factly. “Right.” He released the chain and it dropped back below the collar of his shirt. “Would you like to hear the real story?”
    This new conversation felt better, and both our emotions reflected that—warm and fuzzy. “Sure.”
    “First I have to ask, are you hungry?”
    I concentrated on my stomach for a second—it growled. “Actually, yes.”
    “Perfect, Vicco’s it is.” He pressed his foot down on the gas, our destination now in sight.
     
     
     
    Emily:
     
    “So, where are we going?” I tried to make myself feel comfortable in Jake’s car, but the edgy design of the Audi made it impossible. I felt out of