Free Blue Sacrifice (Blue Davison) by Angela Horn Page B

Lacey,” Alyssa said, still admiring her
reflection. “You’re lucky to have a friend who stayed in Lily Falls. All my friends have left. Every year, a new friend. While I like telling my life story
to a new person every year, it’s lonely not feeling close to anyone like you’re
close to Blue.”
    “Do you have a point?”
    “My point is you should embrace your time with
Blue while you have it.”
    Just wanting to shoe shop, Lacey glared at her
sister for mentioning the whole impending death situation. Alyssa ignored her
sister and stared at me. When I smiled at her, she didn’t return it.
    “You’re beautiful, just like your mother,” Alyssa
said.
    “Thank you,” I replied awkwardly.
    “Do you remember the time I was getting ready for
the school dance and couldn’t find my necklace?” When I nodded, Alyssa
continued while wearing a melancholy expression. “You looked for an hour and
found it. Even though dinner was getting cold and Gretchen never feeds you, you
kept looking for me. You have such a good heart.”
    Amira said something in Persian to Alyssa who
nodded and wiped her eyes. Focusing her gaze on me, Amira smiled.
    “You are family, Blue. Last names and heritage
mean nothing to us. I hope you will remember this.”
    Even nodding at her kind words, I felt strange.
Mostly I wanted to embrace the love of these three women and the idea of belonging
to their family. While I cared for Gretchen, I wasn’t even sure I loved her.
She was distant the last few years and I barely spoke to her.
    Amira though treated me like a child in need. While
it felt good to be loved, I couldn’t stop thinking of Assad who killed and died
because Penny failed. The thought of another Zandi dying because I chose to
live weighed heavily on me, no matter what Lacey and her family said. While
Alyssa calmed herself, Lacey had wandered away and now returned with a sigh.
    “I can’t buy the shoes today,” Lacey said.
“Something’s wrong with the strap and they don’t have anymore in your gigantor
size. They’re ordering new ones for me which will be ready for you to break in
during your date with Tyson.”
    “It’s not a date.”
    The three women glanced at each other and
collectively rolled their eyes. Just to feel included, I rolled my eyes too and
they laughed.
    “There is only one restaurant worth visiting at
the mall,” Amira said as she linked my arm with hers. “The Cheesecake Factory
is so pretty inside and I do love cheesecake. I know you do too, Blue.”
    “Would it be alright if I got a hamburger too?”
    “A big messy one would be fun to watch you eat.”
    Warmed by the sense of belonging I craved, I just
pushed all of the Davison destiny crap aside and let myself pretend as I once did
before the voices started hounding me. I had once dreamed of marrying Tyson and
being a part of this family who had loved me when they shouldn’t have. For the
next few hours as we ate and laughed, I wasn’t a Davison. I was a Zandi and the
world bowed to me.
    After lunch, we walked to a trendy store so Alyssa
could buy a new pink shirt. As we waited while she tried on a dozen different
ones, I suspected she would pick all twelve.
    Waiting for her sister, Lacey searched the racks
for something in power blue and grew more irritated when nothing caught her
fancy. Nearby Amira texted her husband then laughed at his reply.
    When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I nearly
ignored it. No one really called me except for Lacey who was too unhappy about
her limited clothing choices to prank me. Occasionally guys would text me with winking
emoticons to make clear just how serious they were about hooking up.
    Instead it was Flynn.
    “Hello?” I asked, confused about why he would
call.
    “You have the little screen on your phone that
tells you who’s calling, don’t you, Blue?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well then why do you sound confused about who is
calling?”
    “Guys don’t call me. What do you want?”
    When Flynn said nothing,