“Thank you Ethan,” I whispered, “so much.”
“For what?”
“For everything, absolutely everything.”
o0o
I knew I had to deal with my father. I had speeches in mind, explanations, but I still wasn’t prepared when Sunday morning rolled around.
I hadn’t slept very well last night to say the least.
My father was reading the newspaper and he lowered it the moment I entered the kitchen.
“Olivia,” he said.
The look on my face must have told him everything he needed to know. I knew she was gone. And she wasn’t coming back ever again.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his forehead furrowing, pain clearly showing in his eyes. “I didn’t mean for it to end this way.”
“Me neither.”
“I thought I was okay with everything, but I guess I wasn’t. She—she won’t be back, Liv. And it’s all my fault.”
“No.” I went over to him and hugged him hard. “It’s not your fault. I promise you, it’s not.”
“We’ll be okay, the two of us.”
“Of course we will.”
I’d been angry at my mother—so angry that I wasn’t sure if I ever would have been able to forgive her. Did I want it to end the way it had? Of course not. I never would have wanted her to die.
But it was over. She’d died weeks ago while trying to gain her freedom so she wouldn’t have to come back to live with us, which was so unbelievably sad for everyone involved. She wanted to sneak in here and not ever let us know she’d visited. I knew my father hadn’t changed the locks. She had a key. Maybe he did that in hopes that she’d return one day. But not just to grab some jewelry and vanish into the night.
It was over. Now all we could was move on.
I was prepared to do that. I hoped my father was, too.
Through the windows above the sink, I saw Ethan pull up into the driveway in the silver Toyota.
“I’ll be back later,” I said, giving Dad a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Where are you going?”
“The mall.”
“With who?”
Overprotective, that was my father. “With Ethan Cole.”
He raised an eyebrow. “The kid from down the street? The one who’s always had a crush on you?”
Everybody knew, everybody but me.
I nodded. “That’s the one.”
“Good kid. I like him. So what’s at the mall?”
I grabbed my purse and swung it over my shoulder. “I have to get a new cell phone. My old one’s busted. And also, don’t freak out, but I’m going to buy a bathing suit.”
He blinked. “You’re kidding.”
“Not kidding. Me in a bathing suit, alert the media.”
“I honestly thought this day would never come. What changed your mind?”
I shrugged and gave him a smile over my shoulder. “I guess I’m finally okay with my scars. It’s about time.”
He smiled. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I promised I’d be home later. Then I left the house and started down the driveway to Ethan’s car.
“How are you doing?” he asked as I got in next to him.
“I’m fine. Really. You?”
“Good. Although, I was a little disappointed.”
“About what?”
“You didn’t crawl through my window last night.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Tonight?”
“That’s a definite possibility.”
“I’ll leave it open.”
Then I kissed him and he pulled me closer and kissed me deeper, smiling against my lips.
I had a boyfriend that I was madly, passionately, desperately in love with.
I was friends with Bree again.
I’d defeated the monster who’d wanted to kill half the kids in my class.
And now I was going shopping for my very first bathing suit. Maybe I’d even sign up for some swimming lessons, too.
Anything was possible now.
-o0o-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Rowen is a national bestselling and award-winning author of many paranormal novels for both adults and young adults. She also writes as Morgan Rhodes, the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series.
Learn more about Michelle and her books at:
Website: www.MichelleRowen.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/michellerowen
Facebook: www.facebook.com/michellerowenbooks
BOOKS BY MICHELLE ROWEN
Young Adult
Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers #1) — Harlequin Teen, June 2012
Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers #2) — Harlequin Teen, March 2013
Countdown (YA version) – Harlequin Teen, October 2013
Reign or Shine (Demon Princess #1) — Walker Books, October 2009
Reign Check (Demon Princess #2) — Walker Books, June 2010
Reign Fall (Demon Princess #3) – January 2012
Reign Storm (Demon Princess #4) – Date TBA
Kiss Me Deadly (Short Story: “Familiar”) — Running Press, August 2010
Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide — Razorbill, December 2011
Paranormal Romance
Bitten & Smitten (Immortality Bites #1) — Grand Central Publishing, January 2006
Fanged & Fabulous (Immortality Bites #2) – Grand Central Publishing, July 2007
Lady & the Vamp (Immortality Bites #3) – Grand Central Publishing, April 2008
Stakes & Stilettos (Immortality Bites #4) – Grand Central Publishing, April 2009
Tall, Dark & Fangsome (Immortality Bites #5) – Grand Central Publishing, September 2009
The Demon in Me (Living in Eden #1) – Berkley Sensation, May 2010
Something Wicked (Living in Eden #2) – Berkley Sensation, October 2010
That Old Black Magic (Living in Eden #3) – Berkley Sensation, December 2011
Nightshade (Nightshade #1) – Berkley Sensation, February 2011
Primal (Novella: “Bleeding Heart” – Nightshade #1.5) – Berkley, February 2011
Bloodlust (Nightshade #2) – Berkley Sensation, July 2011
Hot Spell — Harlequin Blaze, November 2009
Touch and Go — Harlequin Blaze, November 2010
Inevitable — Harlequin Blaze, March 2011
Once Upon A Valentine (Novella: “Catch Me”) — Harlequin Blaze, February 2012
Angel with Attitude — Grand Central Publishing, July 2006
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance (Short Story: “At Second Bite”) — Running Press, March 2009
Paranormal Mystery
Blood Bath & Beyond (An Immortality Bites Mystery #1) — Signet Obsidian, August 2012
Bled & Breakfast (An Immortality Bites Mystery #2) — Signet Obsidian, June 2013
From Fear to Eternity (An Immortality Bites Mystery #3) — Signet Obsidian, July 2014
Miscellaneous
Bewitched, Bothered & BeVampyred (Short Story: “Pieces of Destiny”) — Triskelion, 2005
Writing as Morgan Rhodes
Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) – Razorbill, December 2012
Rebel Spring (Falling Kingdoms #2) – Razorbill, December 2013
Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3)– Razorbill, December 2014
Falling Kingdoms #4 – Razorbill, 2015
A Book of Spirits and Thieves (ABoSaT #1) – Razorbill, Summer 2015
ABoSaT #2 – Razorbill, Summer 2016
ABoSaT #3 – Razorbill, Summer 2017
Please visit www.morganrhodes.net or www.facebook.com/morganrhodesbooks for more information!
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