Broken by Marianne Curley Read Free Book Online Page B

Jordan be a form of human love?
    I glance out the window. All this paranormal stuff is challenging my scientific way of thinking. Maybe I’m an average human girl who happens to be in touch with her supernatural side, triggered from having contact with real angels.
    What am I thinking? There are signs I can’t ignore. It’s just that my entire life has been one lie after another. Sure, I want to be like Nathaneal so one day I can live in Avena with him, but I have to be certain before I take that mammoth step. Nathaneal is not lying, however, and he says my heart knows. But what exactly is my heart telling me?
    Jordan slides his eyes from the road to me for a moment. ‘Do you think your experience with angels could have unleashed some unknown psychic talent?’
    This bond must work both ways! ‘What are you saying?’
    He switches his glance from the road to me again. ‘Don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.’
    I shrug. ‘I suppose – fleetingly.’
    ‘It’s a theory that could explain a lot about you . . . should Mr Zee prove to be your biological uncle.’
    I feel my forehead pucker into taut frown lines. ‘I was hoping you wouldn’t think so.’
    ‘You know,’ he says, keeping his eyes straight ahead as he manoeuvres through Cedar Oakes Valley’s main roundabout, ‘not long ago you would have been relieved to meet your biological uncle. But then Nathaneal came into your life. And now you want to be immortal.’
    ‘You make me sound superficial. This isn’t about being immortal. I haven’t even thought about that part. It’s just that practically all my life I’ve felt as if I don’t fit in.’
    ‘Then someone tells you you’re an angel.’
    ‘Yes, quite convincingly.’
    ‘But you don’t fit their criteria, do you?’
    I glance down into my lap and watch my fingers knot together. ‘I don’t fit the human criteria either.’
    He scoffs. ‘News flash, Ebony, every teenager feels they don’t fit in.’
    ‘If I am an angel I have a sister. Actually, an entire family, and I’d like that.’
    ‘We’d all like one of those, but we don’t always get what we want. You’re not so unique, Ebony Hawkins.’
    Nathaneal thinks I am. ‘Are you saying you no longer believe I’m an angel?’
    He groans. ‘We’re talking about family, Ebony. You already have one.’
    ‘I know that! And I love my parents! I wouldn’t swap them for anything, but they knew things and kept them secret from me. They adopted me under the condition that when I turn eighteen someone would take me away from the valley to marry a man I’d never met, and I’m supposed to comply whether I like it or not. What parents agree to that?’
    ‘You reckon you have the world’s worst parents?’ He shakes his head. ‘My dad’s serving fifteen years for armed robbery while Mum shot herself up with heroin every day until it . . .’ He stops suddenly and turns white like every drop of blood in his head has drained south. He abruptly grins even though he still looks . . . destroyed inside. ‘You win.’
    ‘I’m not so sure,’ I tell him.
    ‘Nah. Hands down, you do. You have two families, you don’t know which one you belong to and they live in different dimensions!’
    We giggle at the sudden absurd turn in our conversation. But hearing Jordan laugh gives me an idea on how to kick-start my match-making plans. ‘We should have a party.’
    He screws his face up in horror. ‘Are you serious? We’re under orders to have a quiet week. What would your fiancé think?’
    Quietly it occurs to me that Nathaneal would approve, especially if Jordan ends up with a girlfriend from it. ‘I don’t mean a big party with an open invitation. Just a few friends like Amber and Danny and Sophie. We’ll watch movies and play pool. I wouldn’t mind some time to hang out with friends.’
    ‘Yeah? Good for you. But don’t count me in,’ he snaps. Seeing my shocked face, he softens his tone. ‘Let’s just forget it,