Free The Guardians by Katie Ashley Page A

Gabriel walked over and threw the door open.
    Abby stood on the front step. “Is Elijah home?”
    “Yes, he is.” For a moment, Gabriel’s shock caused him to forget his manners. “Oh, um, would you like to come in?”
    Abby nodded and stepped past Gabriel. Her gaze searched the foyer for someone. When she found me, the sweet smile I was growing to love spread across her face. “We just got back from the vet’s. Atticus is going to be okay. He’s got some bruising, but the doctor says he’ll be fine in a couple of days”
    “I’m glad to hear that,” I said.
    Abby nibbled on her lip and glanced right and left before throwing her arms around my neck. “I’ll never forget this, Elijah.” The touch of her skin against mine sent sparks shooting from my arm all through my body.
    “Really, it was nothing.”
    Sophie appeared in the doorway. “Hi, I don’t believe we were formally introduced on Sunday. I’m Sophie Christenson.”
    Abby’s arms fell from my neck, and then she quickly shook Sophie’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Daddy would have had you over to introduce himself, but …”
    Sophie nodded. “That’s fine. Why don’t you all join us for dinner next week?”
    “That sounds good. I’ll have my dad call you.” Abby glanced at the grandfather clock in the hallway. “I guess I better go.”
    Sophie nudged me, and I stammered, “W-Why don’t I walk you h-home?”
    Abby smiled. “That’s okay. I can make it fine.”
    “But you’ve had a pretty rough night. Besides, I don’t mind.”
    “All right then.”
    The sound of our shoes echoed on the pavement, filling the quiet and deserted street. I wracked my brain for something to talk about. “So you’re a senior?” Inwardly, I groaned. Could I have sounded more ridiculous?
    Abby nodded.
    Since my mind was still devoid of decent questions, I asked another one I knew the answer to. “Are you and Chaz twins?”
    “No, I’m only sixteen. I skipped fifth grade.”
    “You must be pretty smart.”
    Abby giggled. “Yeah, I guess I kill the whole ‘dumb blonde cheerleader’ stereotype.”
    I didn’t understand what she meant, but I nodded anyway. Abby continued talking. “I’ve got an academic and cheerleading scholarship to UGA next year.”
    It was only through Rafe’s obsession with football that I knew anything about the University of Georgia. “That’s great.”
    “Yeah, I’m excited about it. I’m not sure how well my Dad is going to adjust with both Chaz and I leaving home. I worry about Hannah, too,” Abby said.
    “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
    “I hope so.”
    When we arrived at her house, Abby turned to me and smiled. “Wanna sit for awhile?” she asked, motioning toward the rockers on the wide front porch.
    I stared at them for a minute, unsure what to say or do. The thought of having to wrack my brain for more conversation made me nervous. But at the same time, I didn’t want to leave her.
    “Okay,” I finally replied, easing down in a cane rocker.
    “So tell me a little about yourself?” Abby asked.
    I flushed and stared down at my hands. “There’s nothing really to tell, I guess.”
    “Oh come on. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?”
    “Well, I’ve got two sisters and two brothers.”
    “ And ,” Abby prodded playfully.
    I tried to think of how to piece together the lie—the lie that was our backgrounds. I couldn’t tell her the truth that I was a guardian angel doing my century bound service term. I looked human like her, but I was very different—that actually only our emotions made us anything close to equals.
    “Um, well, our parents were missionaries. We’ve lived all over the world.”
    Abby leaned forward. “Really? That’s awesome. I’d really love to travel someday.”
    “Yeah, it’s pretty neat.”
    Her brows furrowed for a moment. “But where are your parents?”
    “Uh, um, they died in a car accident several years back.”
    Abby gasped. “Oh, I’m so sorry!