Free The Rift by Katharine Sadler

or your
people? Exactly. You are the muscle on this outing, right? You’re
going along to keep Angelica safe, so I think it makes perfect
sense for you to show off your guns. Besides, I’m getting tired of
Jed treating you like an addict. It’s time he knew the truth.”
    “So he can go running back to Mommy and tell
her all about it?”
    “So what if he does?” he asked. “What’s she
going to do? No one can prove anything. They’ve seen you at the gym
and jogging around campus. Your buffness doesn’t prove I’ve been
illegally training you.”
    The dress was simple enough to appear casual,
and it looked cute hanging from Henry’s hand. It was white cotton,
with spaghetti straps, a fitted waist, and red poppies that started
at the top of the dress and appeared to flutter down and pile-up at
the hemline. It had been a very long time since I’d had a reason to
wear anything pretty, and I couldn’t argue with Henry’s logic.
Showing off my muscles wasn’t giving all of my secrets away, and if
there was ever a good time to look fit and strong that was it.
    I took the dress and shimmied into it. It was
a whole lot shorter and tighter than I’d expected. It hit me at
mid-thigh and hugged every curve I had, not that I had many, but it
made me look curvy. I twisted and turned in front of the mirror,
admiring the dress and flexing my muscles. I’d been in decent shape
when I’d arrived at Varius, but Henry had worked me harder than I’d
ever been worked before and kept me on a heavy protein diet until
every bump and bulge I had was pure muscle. I’d never be as
intimidating as Jed or Henry, I just couldn’t achieve their bulk,
but I was pretty sure most people would think twice about messing
with me.
    Henry handed me a pair of heavy black
shit-stomping boots that had laces and flowers embroidered on them.
They looked almost pretty, and I shrugged and put them on with the
dress. The contrast was almost too much, but after a few more
twists and turns, I decided I liked them. They made me look kind of
bad-ass and, if I needed to run or kick someone in the face, they’d
work better than cute little sandals.
    Henry insisted I put on make-up and wear my
hair up, and I complied without argument. When I was done, I opened
the door to head out to the front of the house, but Henry leaned
over me and pushed the door closed. “No matter what happens,” he
said. “Act casual. Don’t get flustered or give the impression that
you care what anyone thinks. If he stares at you, don’t notice, and
if he asks what you’ve been doing to get so fit you just tell him
you haven’t been drinking, you’ve been working out.”
    I turned and faced Henry. “Which he are we talking about here?”
    “Jed.” A hint of a smile twisted one corner
of his mouth.
    I felt a blush start at the base of my neck
and warm my cheeks.
    “And whatever you do, don’t blush.”
    “But what about you and Tucker? The drinking
was a cover for you, as well.”
    He shrugged. “I don’t think anyone’s going to
be thinking about me when they see you, but even if they do…Kelsey,
if anyone’s been selfish here, it’s me and Tucker. You’ve been
unhappy for too long, and it’s time for you to get a life of your
own.”
    “I don’t understand…” I said, but he just
smirked. “I’m not giving up anything. I have you and Tucker, and I
love you guys.”
    He kissed me on the forehead. “We love you,
too, but you’ve been hiding behind us. It’s time for you to decide
what you want and go after it.”
    Henry opened the door and pushed me out
before I could say anything else.
     
    I stepped onto the porch, expecting to want
to run back in for a jacket, but the sun shone on the front of the
house and the air felt unseasonably warm. Jed and Angelica were
leaning against the car, chatting, but they both stopped and looked
at me when I stepped outside. Angelica smiled, and Jed froze
mid-sentence, his eyes widening. He got a hold of himself