Free Ties to the Blood Moon 2nd Edition by Robin P Waldrop Page A

tired.” I glanced at my house then back at him. “I better go.” I gave him a peck on the cheek before climbing out of the car. “See you later,” I said flatly, then closed the car door. I didn’t bother looking back, because I could feel his eyes on me as I strolled into the garage.
    By the time I got to the kitchen door my phone was ringing with a text message. I dug it out of my jacket pocket. It was William.
    Want to do something fun tomorrow?
    I wasn’t quite ready to forgive him yet. I’m not sure yet. I might be busy. I lied. I wanted to be close to him all the time, but for now, I needed to play a little hard to get.
    Alright. You can let me know later. I really am sorry. : (
    His last text message tugged at my heart strings. I would let him wonder for a little while, then I would let him know things were okay between us.
    It was only around five-thirty when I’d gotten home and Aunt Bev was in her office working at her laptop when I found her.
    “Whatcha doin?” I leaned against the open door casing, and smiled. She jumped at first, throwing her hand over her heart. She then quickly used her other hand to slide a book under some papers. It wasn’t just any book, it was the same book I had found inside the piano bench earlier. “Gen, you scared the hell out of me.” She forced a smile. “I didn’t expect you home so early.” She minimized the screen on her computer, then stood and moved toward me, away from her desk, as if to keep my focus away from what she’d been doing.
    “Sorry … I didn’t mean to scare you,” I said, my eyes flitted between her and the book.
    She crossed the room and sat on the side of her bed to slip on her boots. “Did something happen between you and William?”
    “Nah, not really. The date was just over, that’s all.”
    “I have to go out for a while. Can you fend for yourself with dinner?” Her eyes seemed frantic and nervous.
    “Sure, I guess… why?”
    “I’ve got a meeting with the town council tonight.” Even though she smiled her dark eyes betrayed her anxiety.
    ***
     
    After Aunt Bev left, I changed into my flannel pajama pants and matching tank top. I cooked a frozen pizza, then settled on the over-stuffed couch in the den to watch E.T. I loved that movie. When I was little, some boys in my class called me E.T. because I had great big eyes and a high forehead. I went home and cried thinking it was a bad thing. My mom, being the loving and affectionate person that she was, rushed right out and bought the movie. As we watched it together she explained that those boys were just jealous because E.T was this really great alien who could make things move with his mind, and they wanted to be like him but weren’t.
    The next day at school those same boys waited on the playground. When my class came outside they tried to taunt me again expecting me to cry, but instead of crying I smiled and skipped away. They never teased me after that day, and that was when I knew my mom was the greatest mom ever .
    Occasionally we would watch it if I was upset about something, and I always felt better afterward. Although I was sitting there watching E.T. alone, it made me feel like she was there with me again.
    Not even halfway into the movie my phone rang. It was a text message from Luna.
    Are you at home? Luna wrote.
    Yeah. Watching a movie. What’s up? I was into the movie so it took me several minutes to write back.
    I’m coming over. Be there in a few. DON’T LEAVE.
    I tossed the phone onto the couch beside me, and carried my leftover pizza into the kitchen. I put my plate into the dishwasher and heard a knock on the sliding glass doors. My heart jumped because I didn’t think Luna had enough time to get all the way to my house from hers.
    My adrenaline surged through my veins. I grabbed a large knife from the block on the island next to the cook top, and inched my way quietly to the door. I pressed my back against the wall and peeked out the side of the