Free Lonesome Beds and Bumpy Roads (Beds #3) by Cassie Mae, Becca Ann, Tessa Marie

holds the card up to him.
    “Wow,” the boy exclaims, taking the card and examining it. “That’s so cool.”
    Nate puts the card back in his pack and holds them up in front of the boy. “You could do magic too.”
    “I can?”
    “You absolutely can. Here. Take these cards and practice, and I bet one day you’ll be able to make one of these cards disappear.”
    A smile spreads wide across the boys little face and he scoops up the cards. “Dad, look what he gave me.”
    The father shakes Nate’s hand and Nate joins me.
    “You’re a good guy,” I say as he holds the door open for me.
    “Just a nerd trying to make more nerds.”
    I laugh and pat his back. “I knew there was an evil motive under the suspenders and fedora.”
    We walk into Skippy Lee’s and I ignore Sean Dixon, who has his tongue down Marcy Hasting’s throat. His newest play toy. I can’t believe I dated him. Well not really, but almost.
    That ski trip took so many unexpected turns, and I’m thankful for the most unexpected one of them all, because that’s when I fell in love with my best friend.
    “So where’s Ryan?” Nate asks as we approach the register.
    “Helping Brett with something. Kaylee said her mom’s in town.”
    Nate’s eyebrows turn down in confusion. “She is?”
    “That’s what she said.”
    “Huh. She told me she was helping her dad buy a new suit.”
    “She said her mom showing up was a surprise. She probably hasn’t had a chance to text you.”
    “Probably. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it tonight.”
    We place our orders and head to an empty table. Nate digs into his two orders of fries.
    “Two orders,” I say. “You must be hungry.”
    “I’m just happy Ryan’s not here so you two won’t be using them as weapons.”
    “Next time your fries are on me.”
    “That’s nice of you, but it’s okay. I’m used to it.”
    I take a huge bite of my bacon cheeseburger and cock an eyebrow when I see Brett making his way toward us.
    “Looks like we had the same idea,” Brett says, plopping down in the seat next to me.
    I’m just as confused as Nate looks.
    “Where’s Ryan?” I ask.
    “Beats the hell out of me,” Brett says.
    “But he told me he was helping you with something today.”
    “That’s news to me,” Brett says and tosses one of Nate’s fries into his mouth.
    Nate sighs and pushes his tray over to Brett.
    “So you had nothing you need help with?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “Then what the heck was your brother talking about?” I demand.
    Brett takes another fry from Nate’s tray. “You sure he said me?”
    “Positive.”
    “Maybe he meant Pop-pop.”
    I look to Nate and he shrugs. “I’m sure it was a mix-up. Ryan would never lie to you.”
    “Yeah maybe,” I say, but I have this weird feeling in my gut and it’s making me not so sure.

Chapter 10
    Ryan
     
    And… done. Last pre-test before finals, and I’ve still got twenty minutes to spare.
    I flip the papers upside-down on my desk and shove it to the corner. With a giant yawn, I crumple my hoodie and stuff my face into it. Feels like I’ve just fallen asleep when the bell rings. Of course.
    Mrs. Caldwell swipes the test from the desktop as I stretch out my limbs. Four more weeks and I’m done with tests and grades and bells. Hopefully then I can juggle all the crap going on. After last night’s training, I slumped down onto my empty bed, wishing Lexie was there because I wanted to ask her how she did it. How she took care of her mom, held three jobs, went to school, and had time for me. So after I heard Pop-pop’s grizzly bear snores, I snuck out and slept in her bed. She was mostly asleep, so I didn’t bother her with my time-managing drama.
    I shove my pencil into my backpack and head toward Lex’s locker. I’ve got training again in about an hour, so I’m going to make the most of my free time.
    Half of her body is hidden in the depths of her locker as she fishes around for what she needs for the night. Her