Aphrodite's Kiss by Julie Kenner Read Free Book Online Page A

affirmative halfling action. They’d never approve her membership, not in a million years.
    She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest, letting her gaze drift over the other teachers, who very pointedly had not rushed to help her. She might as well face the truth: her dream of joining the council—of belonging—was just that, a dream.
    If she knew what was good for her, she’d forget all about it. She’d rush home, rip the affidavit to shreds, formally withdraw her application, and put herself up for mortalization.
    That was what she
should
do. Tessa would never be the wiser and, considering they’d erase her memory, neither would Zoë.
    Sighing, she stood up. In front of her, teachers rushed to clean up Joey and Kyle and calm the other students. Zoë just stood stock-still, watching the hullabaloo.
    Darn it, she wanted to belong. Wanted to be part of the council. Wanted to be like her dad and Hale.
    And she certainly didn’t want to forget her family—divided and offbeat though it was.
    No, the affidavit wasn’t going anywhere. Not without her signature, and certainly not in pieces.

Chapter Four

    South Hollywood Elementary was actually in the heart of Hollywood, right between a bail bondsman and the new Tripoli Tower. The folks who lived nearby had raised havoc when developers had proposed the tower— apparently looming buildings ruined the neighborhood’s atmosphere more than did loitering criminals—but Zoë loved it. She’d fallen into the habit of hanging out on the roof after school, enjoying the afternoon and listening to the buzz of conversation thirty stories below.... Not eavesdropping exactly, just letting the flow of words swim around in her head.
    That was how she’d met first met Deena. She’d been eating Oreos—the insides, anyway—when the volunteer art teacher suddenly appeared, a devious grin matching her out-of-control mass of blond curls.
    “I’m Deena,” she’d said, stripping off her shirt to reveal a bikini top. “I’ve seen you around.”
    And then she’d plunked herself down next to Zoë, hiked her gauzy skirt up so her legs would get some sun, and grabbed a handful of cookies. “That bat who teaches gym said you were an odd bird, so I figured we’d hit it off,” she added, then shoved an entire Oreo into her mouth.
    For about two seconds, Zoë had considered leaving and finding a new tall building. But she’d always wanted a friend—a real one—and this Deena person seemed pretty open-minded.
    So she had taken a risk; she’d stayed, and they’d fallen into a pattern. Zoë brought the cookies, Deena brought the beer, and every Friday they’d meet on the roof of the Tripoli Tower to compare their weeks. By the end of a year, two things had happened: Zoë finally had her first close friend, albeit one who didn’t know
all
her secrets. And—despite liberal application of super strong sun block—she’d developed her very first sunburn. All of which made her feel that much closer to normal.
    On this Friday before spring break, Zoë was already camped out on one of the patio lounge chairs they’d stowed when Deena arrived, schlepping a cooler, a tote bag, and binoculars.
    Binoculars
? Zoë sat up, tilting her head until her sunglasses slid down her sweat-slicked nose. She shoved them back into place and peered at her friend. “What’s up with those?”
    “My new project,” Deena said, tossing Zoë a light beer.
    “Ah,” said Zoë, dread brewing somewhere near her stomach.
    Deena sat on the edge of the lounge chair, her back to Zoë, and began rummaging around in her bag.
    “And exactly what is your new project?” Zoë asked Deena’s back.
    “You, of course.”
    Uh-oh
. “Could you be a little more specific?”
    “Sure,” Deena said, turning around to face her. “Zoë Smith—school librarian, recluse, probable virgin, and perpetual single gal—is my new project.”
    Zoë rolled her eyes. “Thanks so much for clearing that up. But I’m still a teensy