Free Living Dead Girl (Vampire Hunter Book 1) by S.C. Reynolds Page A

up here?” he asked, shooting me a funny look, but not meeting my eyes.
    Oh no. What if Henry thinks I dressed up for him? What an idiot I was! Talk about sending mixed signals.
    “Nothing,” I said nonchalantly, unwilling to look him in the eyes either. “I thought I heard a crash so I came to investigate.”
    “Okay.” Henry sighed. “So are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”
    I gulped. “I’m not sure what – “ I started, but Henry cut me off.
    “Please, Aurora. I was drunk but not that drunk. It was obviously a huge mistake.”
    “It was?” I tried to keep the hurt out of my voice.
    “It was just the alcohol making me act stupid. That’ll teach me to drink again.”
    I nodded, not sure how to respond. Part of me was relieved – I didn’t want to go down this road with Henry, not now at least, when I had no idea what I wanted. But part of me felt, I don’t know…disappointed?
    “What’s up with that outfit?” he asked, changing the subject.
    “I get bored here all day. I decided to try on all my new clothes.” That was kinda true .
    Henry still seemed suspicious. “But you don’t see anybody,” he pressed on.
    “You wouldn’t understand.” I pushed past Henry and headed downstairs, hoping he would drop the subject.
    “Women,” he muttered.
    “So did you find out anything useful from Lucas?” Henry asked, following me down the steps.
    I filled Henry in on everything that Lucas had told me. When I was finished, Henry sat staring at me, speechless, his mouth hanging open in shock. I tried not to focus on his lips. It was so easy to talk to Henry, I almost felt normal around him again. Almost.
    “Wow,” he finally said.
    “Can you believe we’ve lived our whole lives with no clue that these creatures exist?” I asked him.
    “Wow,” he repeated.
    “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
    “I’m just in shock,” he admitted. “I’m trying to process everything you just told me.”
    Henry raked his fingers through his thick dirty blond hair. “What happens when his lies catch up with him? If it’s as easy as saying some dumb words, who’s to say the person behind it all won’t give it a try?”
    “There are no guarantees,” I admitted. “I’m scared, too, but Lucas promised we – you, your parents, and me – were all protected. ”
    “Well that makes me feel so much better!” Henry rolled his eyes.
    “You haven’t seen him,” I said defensively. “He’s an intimidating guy.”
    “Hmm,” Henry mumbled noncommittally. We sat in silence for a few seconds, both deep in our own thoughts. Finally, Henry spoke again. “There’s something else we need to talk about, Aurora,” Henry said.
    Uh-oh. We’ve already covered the kiss, what now? “Yes?”
    “I think it’s time for you to reveal that you’re back. To the world.”
    “What? Why? Are you nuts? I thought we agreed to figure out what the hell is happening before I announce my return!”
    “How long do you really think that we can keep this up? It’s insane. We’ve been lucky so far, but that’s bound to run out sooner or later. All it takes is for one person to see you, or my parents to find out you’re here, and the jig is up.”
    “And I haven’t even told you the best part yet,” Henry continued. “My mom ran into your mom at the store. That old bat Mrs. Brewer saw you leaving your own house the other day! She said some hoodlum was nosing around. You were wearing that huge hoodie. No wonder she thought you were up to no good.”
    Yikes. “Crap. What did my mom say about it?”
    “She was j ust warning my mom that there are thugs in the neighborhood casing out houses! She found out that Kayla was cutting school, too, and is really pissed off at her. I think she’s basically grounded for life.”
    “Good. She needs some type of intervention. Have you seen her much since I’ve been gone? She’s dressing like a whore. I just hope she isn’t acting like one, too.”
    Henry sighed