I smile over at Fawna, who is looking as wild and pretty as ever, holding a large picnic basket. She has a little apartment now, and is working with therapists. She promises to tell what happened to her…someday. But she’s adjusting, aside from the strange hostility between her and Simon. Apparently the reckless gambler and the prognosticator are natural enemies in the wild.
Dad’s in a Hawaiian shirt—he’s not even wearing a surgical mask.
Seymour, the mutt Packard and I adopted a few months ago, races around, weaving in and out of the crowd.
Off to the side, telekinetic jugglers decorate the air with colorful balls, flowers, and silver stars.
I beam at Packard as I near him. It’s all I can do not to run to him and jump into his arms.
This morning, Packard tied a pristine white bandana around Seymour’s shaggy black neck in honor of our beachside wedding, even though there’s nothing virginal about our union. We have spent a gloriously unvirginal spring, followed by a totally unvirginal summer, together in our fabulous apartment we picked out.
I reach Packard and take both his hands.
Midcity’s new mayor, Henry Felix, starts the ceremony; he insisted on performing it himself. He’s quite grateful to us, being that he was one of the cannibals under Stuart’s control.
Henry Felix calls for rings. Shelby gives me mine; Simon brings the other to Packard.
Our vows are simple: we’ll love each other always.
“I’m so happy and excited,” I say.
Packard touches my cheek and kisses me. Henry Felix objects—we’re going off script. “You mean we have to kiss again?” I ask. Packard gives me a sultry look. I can’t wait to be husband and wife.
Finally, the mayor does the you-may-kiss-the-bride line and we enjoy a long, dipping mash of a kiss while everybody applauds.
Later, the picnic blankets are unfurled, and feasting begins. Mayor Felix’s assistant hands out the champagne and people do toasts in our honor, which is nice, though a bit embarrassing. Afterwards, Shelby and Simon wander over and plop down on our blanket.
“Too many rainbows,” Shelby says. “Always so many rainbows.”
Simon snorts and takes a swig out of his champagne bottle.
Shelby says. “I hear your little family is expanding.”
I narrow my eyes.
Packard gives me a sly look that makes me want to kiss him, and I do.
As if on cue, because she’s always on cue, Fawna walks up with her picnic basket. She sets it down and takes out a scruffy little gray dog. “She was searching for you.”
“Aww!” I scratch the little dog’s head.
“Thank you, Fawna,” Packard says.
“Was she searching for them in the pound?” Simon asks.
“Yes,” Fawna says. “She has always belonged with them, and sought them in the pound.”
Simon rolls his eyes.
Shelby pets the little dog’s floppy ears; there’s a softness in her face I haven’t seen in a long time. I catch Packard’s eyes; he sees it too. Suddenly I know she’ll be okay. I know we’ll all be okay.
I lie back with my head on Packard’s stomach, staring up at the blue sky, careful not to look directly into the sun, which shines and shines like crazy, outshining the darkness.
About the Author
Carolyn Crane lives in Minneapolis with her handsome husband and two daring cats.
When she’s not writing novels or working at her day job as a marketing writer, she can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, eating Mexican food, or staring out the window, trying to figure out what all the drama is between the neighborhood crows. Find her at www.authorcarolyncrane.com; twitter @CarolynCrane; also, Goodreads, Facebook, YouTube & Google+.
Look for these titles by Carolyn Crane
Now Available:
The Disillusionists Trilogy
Mind Games
Double Cross
Wild & Steamy anthology
Coming Soon:
Simon (Spring 2012)
Head Rush
Carolyn Crane
Justine Jones faces her ultimate enemy: herself.
The Disillusionists Trilogy, Book 3
In an attempt to put her unhappy past behind her, Justine Jones throws herself into nursing school and planning her wedding to Otto Sanchez, the man of her dreams. But something is off. Random details aren’t adding up…and is it her imagination, or are her friends and fiancé keeping secrets from her? And what’s with the strange sense of unease, and her odd new headaches?
Justine tries to stay upbeat as Midcity cowers under martial law, sleepwalking cannibals, and a mysterious rash of paranormal copycat violence, but her search for answers leads her into the most dangerous mind game yet.
With the help of unlikely allies, including her paranoid dad and best frenemy Simon, Justine fights her ultimate foe…and unravels the most startling mystery of all.
Warning: This book contains high-speed rollerblade chases, a mysterious green dashboard ornament, a father of the bride in full hazmat gear and a delicious kebab.
eBooks are not transferable.
They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Head Rush
Copyright © 2011 by Carolyn Crane
ISBN: 978-1-60928-625-5
Edited by Heather Osborn
Cover by Kanaxa
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: December 2011
www.samhainpublishing.com
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
About the Author
Look for these titles by Carolyn Crane
Copyright Page
Head Rush Page 29