Free Deadly Kisses by Kerri Cuevas Page B

and jumped. “This is going to be so much fun. I’m forgetting about everything that has happened the past two days and we are going to P-A-R-T-Y!”
    Jaleb slammed his door and walked around the truck. This place would be crawling with Reapers just waiting on the sidelines for a fight to break out.
    My anger flared when a guy older than Bee walked by and whistled. Jaleb barked at him, and the guy walked the other way.
    “This is what Reina would call a hole in the wall,” I said.
    “Who’s Reina?” Bee blurted out, concern in her voice and unexplained jealousy in her soul. I don’t know why, but Bee seemed to like me a little too much for her own good.
    “She’s another Grim Reaper. She seems to be around every corner stalking me.”
    “Well, you’re my Reaper for now, so she better back off. I don’t need two of you following me around.”
    “Would you stop talking to him like he’s visible? People are staring at you. And stop calling him yours when he wants to kill you.” Jaleb fisted his hands.
    “Sorry. I’m trying, but the more he’s around the more I feel him in me and the more I’m drawn to him. He was going to kiss me. I sat there and urged him on.”
    “He what? I’m going to kill his bony little . . .”
    “Now you’re the one who is making a scene. Chill, would you. Your shirt looks really good on me by the way. I think you should consider just giving it to me.”
    He laughed. “I got that at the Linkin Park concert . . . don’t do that look . . . oh fine. Have it!”
    The crowds increased as we got closer to the door. My muscles became rigor mortis stiff when someone touched me. The feel of them sent my pulse racing to marathon speed. I hated crowds. My mouth twitched at the sounds of the manic shouts coming from inside.
    I could just wait outside until the show was over. That is what I would have done before Bee. Now my judgment was clouded. It was the warm little soul nestled deep inside me that brought light to my dark immortality and a Sweet Tart and vanilla taste to my mouth.
    “I can’t believe we’re going to see the Mad Dogs. How in the world did you score tickets last minute?” Bee was standing on her tippy toes, trying to look inside.
    “I have a knack for obtaining the impossible.” Jaleb relaxed the closer we got to the door.
    “It’s a good thing, because I would haunt you for the rest of your life if we couldn’t do something fun.” She laughed and I laughed too, because I was sure she wasn’t joking—at all.
    “That’s a scary thought. You would probably call the animals in the woods. I would be surrounded by critters, but I guess Mom and Dad wouldn’t go hungry.” She smacked him in the arm and he yelped like a girl. So much for the tough guy in the ripped jeans and Pink Floyd t-shirt.
    I started to hyperventilate when we finally got into the dingy club. We had to push through bodies to move. My chest felt like it was in a vice because the next thing worse than ascending was hordes of people.
    “Have fun, sis. I’ll meet you by the edge of the bar when the show starts.” It still looked like the Mad Dogs let anybody do anything at their shows.
    The cover band was on stage playing. Bee watched, dancing in place. It wasn’t long before some punkie kid with an electric blue Mohawk joined her. I tried to stay close to her but the crowd made me crazy. Bee danced in every direction.
    I panicked when people blocked my view and I could no longer see her. “Bee. Bee!” She didn’t hear me. I could feel her letting loose with the music. She went fuzzy and my heart squeezed tight. “Bee!”
    A hand tapped my shoulder. I turned around with my scythe ready to defend.
    “Calm down. It’s me. You know, Reina, the one you blew off. What’s got you looking like a basket case, Mr. Tough Guy?”
    “Not now, Reina. I lost my assignment, and I’m trying to find her.” At the bar, a kid threw popcorn at a girl with curly brown hair. Further down, a guy had