Free Mythe: A Fairy Tale by P J Gordon Page B

did! I saw you shiver,” Katie persisted mischievously. David, as was often the case, laughed at Manda’s discomfort.
    “Thank you,” Richard told Manda solemnly. “That’s quite a compliment.”
    Stacey, who was still keeping close to Richard, leaned toward him attentively. David rolled his eyes at her and gave Richard an apologetic shrug behind his girlfriend’s back. Richard suppressed a grin and edged a little further away from her.
    “Would you guys like us to show you around?” Josh asked.
    Katie jumped at the invitation. “That would be cool!”
    “Sure,” David agreed. “Stace?”
    “Definitely!” Stacey said eagerly.
    “Manda?” Richard asked, looking down at her with questioning blue eyes.
    “Someone should wait here for Jonathan. If you guys want to go, I’ll wait.”
    “I wouldn’t hear of it. Why don’t we let the others go explore and I’ll wait here with you. We can catch up with them after we get Katie’s jacket back,” Richard suggested and pleasure filled Manda at the thought of having him to herself for a little while.
    “Oh, well I can wait here with you guys,” Stacey quickly offered. Annoyance flashed across Manda’s face for an instant before she could suppress it.
    David sighed and put a hand on his girlfriend’s arm, drawing her away from Richard. “No, you can’t. You’re coming with me.” He led her toward the door before leaning close and whispering into her ear. Manda couldn’t hear what he said, but Richard chuckled and when Stacey looked back at the two of them she was blushing.
    Stacey laughed self-consciously and twined her arm through David’s. “Well, I wouldn’t want to get you fired. Let’s go.”
    Richard laughed louder and Manda shot David’s back a dirty look, mentally promising serious reprisals on Monday.
    Josh, suppressing a grin of his own, bowed playfully to Katie, wrapped his arm through hers, and escorted her to the door. “Catch up to us when you can,” he called, and then turned his attention back to Katie. “So what grade are you...” His words were cut off as the door swung shut behind them, leaving Manda alone with Richard.
    “Shall we sit while we wait?” Richard asked, gesturing to a small table and chairs in one corner of the room. “Can I get you something to eat?”
    Manda groaned as she followed Richard to the table. “No more food, thanks. The dinner you sent was too good and I ate way too much! If you want to eat, don’t let me stop you though.”
    “I’m glad you liked it,” Richard said, pulling out a chair for Manda. “I will grab myself something. I’m always starving after a concert. I don’t like to eat beforehand. Nerves.” He made sure Manda was settled and then helped himself to a plate of food and a bottle of water and took the seat across from her.
    “So, there’s no doubt that Katie’s your niece. She looks just like you,” Richard commented as he sat down.
    “That’s what my sister says. Apparently, she acts a lot like me, too,” Manda laughed. “I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a good thing or not.”
    Richard swallowed the bite of food he’d just taken and grinned. “I’m sure it’s a very good thing,” he assured her. He took a drink of water and then asked, “Does your sister live around here then?”
    “Yes, they live less than a mile from me.”
    “That’s nice. Family is important. Do you have any other brothers or sisters?”
    “No, just Emily. David’s the closest thing I ever had to a brother,” Manda answered, and then, in a menacing undertone, added, “though I may disown him after tonight.”
    Richard cast a puzzled look in her direction, but didn’t ask what she meant. “What about your parents?” he asked instead. “Do they live nearby, too?”
    “No,” Manda answered quietly, “my parents died when I was seventeen.”
    Richard was immediately sympathetic. “I’m sorry, Manda. We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
    “No,