Free Haunting Magic (Ink Book 6) by Holly Hood Page B

kitchen hugging him. We break apart and I wait until he starts working again to break the big news.
    “I’m venturing out today… with Karsen.”
    He nods. “That’s great, Kid. Stay safe.”
    “I will, dad.” I assure him I will be just fine and then go to my room before he can change his mind.
    When I get inside of my bedroom I grab the phone and call Karsen.
    “Where are you?”
    “I am at the library studying,” she tells me. “You seem to forgot about my education. I have a lot of making up to do.”
    I chew on my lip. “I want to go to the bar.”
    “You barely have been out of a coma and you want to get drunk?”
    I shake my head. “I want to see him. I don’t care about drinking.”
    Karsen goes silent, she is about to warn me against stalking him. “Hope, I don’t know if this is a good idea. He has a girlfriend.”
    “I’m not trying to do anything but see him.”
    “Fine. I’ll be back in an hour. So get ready.” She hangs up on me and I sit on my bed. I can’t believe she agreed to go with me.
    I don’t even know what I will wear. Or what I will say if he talks to me.
     
    ***
    After going through my clothes and trying on everything three times I settle on a pair of skinny jeans and a black off the shoulder shirt with the word hope on it. It was a gift from my parents years ago and I know it’s  outdated but I haven’t been able to shop for clothes in four years so it will have to do.
    I apply pink lip gloss and spritz on some perfume and head out the door to Karsen. She’s waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
    “Where exactly do you stay?” We haven’t even talked about that. She’s been here for 4 years. She left everything in her life behind to be by my side. That means so much but I am worried her life has paused because of me and I feel a little bad.
    “My parents have been paying my tuition so I could start school in California. At first I was staying in your bedroom but after I started school I moved into the dorm.”
    Well that’s better than thinking she was just sitting by my bedside waiting for me to come back to her. I still can’t get over the books. But I don’t tell her that.
    “Are you ready for this?” Karsen knows I’m not, but she also knows I am stubborn and if I have to I will suck up all the insecurities I have and do it.
    The place Slade performs in isn’t that spectacular. It’s not that big and I can’t see how anyone could ever get their big break here. But I don’t question it any further, I slip inside with Karsen and look past the drinking patrons and woman dancing in the middle of the dance floor. But the stage is empty. The sign on stage says he will be up in ten minutes. Ten minutes never felt so long.
    We find a table and sit. The place smells like old stale cigarettes.
    Karsen wipes at the crumbs on the tabletop and makes a face that tells me she is just as grossed out as me.
    “I could catch hepatitis in this place.” She smirks at me. “But if this is what I need to do for you to make a fool out of yourself then I will do it.”
    A group of girls around our age take the table next to us. Three of them to be exact. One blonde a brunette and a redhead. The brunette is the boss of the group. She orders the redhead to go get drinks and then she slams her purse on the table and  begins texting someone on her phone.
    “Brooke,” the redhead yells from the bar. “Do you want the usual?”
    Brooke waves her hand dismissively and sighs going back to her text. The blonde girl next to her giggles and looks down at whoever she is texting.
    “Are you really texting him tonight?”
    Brooke shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Why wouldn’t I be? Have you seen him?”
    Her friend seems a little worried. It’s written all over her face as she stares up at the stage where Slade will soon be coming.
    Karsen listens in on the conversation.
    “You are such a slut,” she tells Brooke. And Brooke nods enjoying being one. I have only known her