Free Body and Soul (Body and Soul Trilogy) by Jamie Loeak Page A

relationship seemed like it could be more than just petty arguments and defensive remarks. Kate would have to wait to see if conversation remained light during the meal; this was still their weakest area, considering they fought every time they spoke.
    Rico, somehow, seemed fine after the attack. Kate imagined that he would be limping around his house somewhere, a pack of ice taped to his shoulder. She thought that he might be begging Adriana to melt the steel rods so that they couldn’t be used as weapons anymore. Kate didn’t expect to see Rico cooking breakfast right now, especially her breakfast.
    Twenty minutes later a plate was set in front of Kate. It was overflowing with granola and banana nut pancakes. A second later, two smaller plates, along with forks and glasses of orange juice were placed on the table as well. Kate’s stomach rumbled, eager to taste Rico’s cooking. She took a bite of the steaming pancakes, fully aware that he was probably buttering her up, tricking her to tell him about her dream.
    “Why did you do this?” she asked after a few minutes of silence.
    “You said that you were hungry. Why wouldn’t I cook you breakfast?” Rico responded.
    “I don’t know. It might have something to do with the fact that we can’t have a normal conversation. I mean one without arguments.”
    “We were about to have one,” Rico commented. “However, we can still try if you want, Kate. I don’t care.”
    Kate rolled her eyes at him.
    “Hey, you were the one that brought it up. I was just disagreeing with you,” he said with a smile.
    “Wow. You’re really something,” Kate retorted.
    “Thank you, Kate.”
    Kate raised her eyebrow at Rico, and stared at him. He really was something. He enjoyed being serious at certain points but would make fun of Kate a minute later. She didn’t understand Rico or his intentions, especially because they seemed to be centered on her while spinning out of control at the same time.              
    “This is delicious,” Kate said in an attempt to change the subject.
    “Thank you. I truly appreciate it, Kate. It means a lot to me that you like my pancakes, considering I was told that you make the best ones.”
    “I don’t make the best pancakes.”
    “That’s not what Adriana and Donovan said,” Rico commented. “You should take their compliments; they aren’t handed out very often.”
    Kate looked at Rico. Here he was being nice again. A rush of exuberance flashed through Kate at this thought. Maybe they had moved beyond the petty arguments.
    When Rico left after breakfast, he took no new knowledge with him. He knew that he wouldn’t learn any more about Kate after the first few minutes of breakfast. She was quick to believe his words but took time to speak her own. His thoughts moved from Kate to her dream, sifting through her words and analyzing them. This was added to the information that was already known about the demons hunting her, which didn’t add much. Rico ruffled his hair in frustration as he continued walking toward his home, unsure of where to move next.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Kate found herself lounging around outside a couple of hours later, flipping through a trashy magazine, and finding enjoyment in the miserable lives of celebrities. She wondered how they handled their seemingly perfect lives. People just wanted to see them fail, or at the very least see them without makeup. They didn’t care about the positive aspects of their lives, like their charities or thoughts on the world.
    Kate was so engrossed by a disturbing picture, describing the newest teen heartthrob and his possible relationship with another teen star, that she didn’t hear the soft shuffle of the gardener at first. She turned to find him making his way around the side of the house. A younger man followed him, carrying the equipment.
    The gardener moved over to Kate; his empty hands swayed by his sides, almost as if he was using them to propel