Blood Ties by Victoria Rice Read Free Book Online Page B

low on fuel.” I thought about putting my head between my legs but didn’t want him to think it was bad enough to have medics run in.
    “Well, I still think you should go to the Student Health Center. It’s only a couple of buildings over.”
    “Okay , sure, I’ll do that.” I did my best to put on a convincing face. I hated lying and wasn’t good at it. When it didn’t work, I raised my eyebrows and smiled. I hoped it didn’t look as if I were trying to get rid of him. On the other hand, I didn’t much care what he thought. I just wanted him gone.
    He hovered over me for a few moments then shoved his hands in his wrinkled pockets and cleared his throat. “Well, when you see Michael, please let him know I stopped by.”
    There was that name again. The floor shifted under my chair. “Sure, I’ll just leave him a note,” I murmured as I searched for a sticky pad and pen in my drawer. He hesitated, then with another concerned look he left, closing the door behind him.
    My unrelenting dream rushed back to hit me full force. “Why, it must be my Michel, my only love …” Michael? Michel? There was no way he was the same person. Besides, my dreams were of another place and time. I shook my head. No, my mind had made him look like Michel, tall, long dark hair, brown eyes triggering a subconscious need. Michel’s hair was a little lighter and didn’t reflect a silver sheen. There was a slight bump on his nose from where it’d been broken in a fight. Dr. Marcheon’s was perfect, almost too perfect. I couldn’t see a mark on him. But still, what were the odds? In either case, Michael was a common enough name. I shook my head again. No, there had to be a logical explanation for all of this.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    There was a note on my door when I got home. It was from Jennifer, asking me to stop by. I dropped my backpack inside my door. It landed with a loud thud, full of the library books Dr. Marcheon had ask me to pick up. I rubbed my shoulder. Those suckers were heavy. Next time I’d pipe up about downloading them to my iPad. I stepped to her door and banged on it a couple of times with my fist. The sound of Smashing Pumpkins died down and the dead bolt slid back.
    “You don’t look good,” she said.
    “I’m fine.” I plopped down on her couch and threw my feet up on her coffee table. Invisible dust mites danced in the air and I sneezed. I pulled out a crumpled piece of tissue and wiped at my nose, then shoved it back in my pocket.
    A large mug of coffee, heavy on cream appeared in my hands.
    I sipped on it and stared into its dark depths for several moments then sighed. Coffee can only be so distracting. Jen sat on the edge of the chair across from me, watching, waiting for me to spill it.
    “Did you know his first name is Michael?”
    “No . So how did it go?”
    I gave a small shrug, keeping a careful hold on the cup in my hand. “Fine.”
    “Just fine?” She raised an eyebrow and quirked up an edge of her mouth.
    “Yeah, he was very polite. He asked me to do some reading for some research he’s doing.” I combed through my hair with my fingers, pulling out a few loose strands and dropped them to the floor to join the other mysteries embedded into the ratty carpet.
    “Everyone I’ve talked to is just green with envy. Addie’s planning to hit you up for an inside scoop.”
    I groaned. “I have nothing of any interest to pass along.” I rolled my head towards her. “But he is a little intimidating, and ...”
    “Fascinating?”
    “Yes, you caught me there. He is that.”
    She sat back in her chair with a big grin on her face. I pretended I didn’t see it.
    I slid further into the couch and hung my soaked tennis shoes off the edge of the beat-up coffee table, bumping them together rhythmically. Wet shoes were nasty, like wet dogs. I pushed them off with a toe. My wet bobby socks were next. The concentration it required was pleasantly entertaining.
    “So , what’s up?”
    “Just wanted