Blood Candy by Matthew Tomasetti Read Free Book Online

and then he
frowned. “Well, okay we’re nerds. But what difference does it make?
You didn’t like what Felicia said about you so why do the same
thing?”
    Candy settled her eyes on him. She couldn’t
deny her mixed feelings. She couldn’t refuse that he was handsome
in a dorky way. He was so scrawny, though. He probably couldn’t
stand up to a single guy she had ever dated, going all the way back
to middle school. But he was a werewolf and labels didn’t apply
anymore. They never should have anyway.
    “You’re right,” she said. “I deserved it. I’ve
been through so much. I don’t know what to think and nothing makes
sense. And I am dressed like a cheap tramp.”
    “I think you look nice.”
    Candy smiled for the first time since arriving
at the Kennel.
    “You’re so beautiful,” Jimmy said.
    Candy leaned back against the house,
remembering the kisses they had shared not so long ago. She grabbed
the bottom of his shirt and pulled him towards her.
    “I’ve never dated a werewolf before,” she
said. They both smiled and laughed. Then her smile faded and she
lowered her eyes. “You’re not like the guys I normally date.” She
brushed the bangs away from his eyes. “You’re cute,
but—”
    “But?”
    “I don’t know,” she said, feeling terrible for
some reason. “Nothing has been right since last night. Since that
asshole bit me.”
    “I understand,” Jimmy said, his eyes lowered,
betraying his embarrassment. “I’m not the normal type.”
    “It’s not that,” Candy protested. “You’re a
werewolf and . . . never mind.”
    “That’s not enough? Then you should know I won
my fourth grade spelling bee. I made honor roll almost every year
in elementary school. I can do long division in my head. I have
good hygiene. I’m funny and I have a sense of humor. I’m kind and
courteous to others. I respect my elders. I’m honest. . .
.”
    He seemed to get stuck on the honest
part.
    “You are funny,” Candy laughed, drawing a
blush to his cheeks. Something about what he had said caught her
attention, all of those things about school. Once again she found
herself thinking how familiar he looked. She wrapped her arms
around his neck and drew him into a kissing embrace. At least the
start of a kiss; when someone cleared their throat she pushed him
away. Melvin stood at the corner of the house.
    “Nice timing,” Jimmy sighed. “You’re worse
than Tinch.”
    “You should come inside,” Melvin said.
“Felicia says she’s sorry. We all do. Please come back inside with
us.”
    Melvin went back around the side of the house.
Candy moved to follow him but Jimmy took hold of her
arm.
    “Wait,” he said “There’s something I need to
tell you, something you need to know.”
    Candy smiled. “There’s plenty of time for
that. Come on, I promise this time I won’t be such a
bitch.”

Chapter Five

    Candy had walked out of her mother’s house the
night before looking for some fun. She ended up with way more than
she bargained for. It could have been worse, she
thought.
    She went back into the house Jimmy shared with
his friends thinking she needed to make the best of a situation
that really wasn’t so bad. She took Jimmy at face value when he
spouted off his list of qualities, and these people were his
friends. Considering he saved her life and gave her a safe place to
stay, getting along with his friends was the least she could
do.
    Playing nerdy games couldn’t be as bad as the
boredom of her home town. At least she hoped.
    Candy took the seat between Felicia and Jimmy
again. Felicia was much more pleasant this time around, though
Candy figured the expression was forced. Considering how she had
acted, Candy couldn’t blame Felicia for what she said earlier. She
could only hope things would go better the second time
around.
    Jimmy’s friends had ordered breakfast already,
two large pepperoni pizzas. Candy helped herself to a slice while
Melvin introduced the rest of what he called