Choked (Devoured #3) by Hazel Kelly Read Free Book Online

“Actually something super weird came in today.
Did I tell you?”
    “Weirder than the collection of nude garden gnomes?”
    Madeline laughed as she tilted the pitcher of Crystal
Light over her glass. “Those were weird alright, but you wouldn’t believe how
fast they sold.”
    “I’m sure I wouldn’t.”
    “No. Do you remember that red silk nightdress you
gave me?”
    “Of course I do. And what a perfect segway from the
cheerleading uniform.” He used his fork like a gravy plow and herded the mash into
one section of his plate. “By the way, if you’re trying to get me all worked up,
it’s working.”
    Madeline sat down in her chair again and pushed her
empty plate a few inches away. “This is actually not sexy at all. Wait till I
tell you.”
    Kirk nodded and scooped some mash into his mouth.
    “Someone dropped off that exact same dress at the
shop today in an envelope.”
    “Well that’ll sell no problem.”
    Madeline shook her head. “Not this one. It has a big
stain on the chest.”
    Kirk looked up from his plate.
    Madeline’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It looked
like semen.”
    Kirk choked so hard on his mashed potatoes that he
had to stand up and brace himself against the table.
    Madeline smacked his back a few times.
    By the time he was finally able to swallow, he was
as red as someone who’d fallen asleep in the sun.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah,” he squeaked. “Wrong tube.” His eyes were full
of tears as he sat back down in his chair.
    Madeline patted him on the back a few times before
picking up her drink and handing it to him.
    Kirk took a sip and pulled his chair back up to the
table.
    “I’m sorry,” Madeline said, taking her seat again.
“That’s my fault. I should’ve waited until you were done eating.”
    “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
    “Sure you’re okay?” She leaned down and tried to
catch his eye.
    “Yeah.” He patted the air with his hand. “Fine now.”
    “Is now a bad time to tell you that I think you eat
too fast?”
    Kirk nodded.
    “Anyway, isn’t that disgusting?”
    “Yes.” Kirk pushed his plate away from him and
leaned against the back of the chair.
    “I mean, who would do something like that?”
    “I don’t know,” Kirk lied.
    “There’s no way you could not notice the stain, and
it was the only thing in the envelope.”
    “What did you do with it?”
    “We threw it away. What else could we do?”
    Kirk nodded and brought his hands together on the
edge of the table.
    “And just in time, too. My mom nearly had a heart
attack!”
    Well it’s still only a matter of time
before that happens.
    “How gross is that, though?”
    “It’s pretty gross alright.”
    “Why would someone do that?”
    Kirk put his hand on top of Madeline’s. “I really
wouldn’t think about it anymore, honey. It was probably just some nutter with a
few screws loose who thought they were doing a nice thing.”
    Madeline nodded.
    “Or did you see who dropped it off?”
    “No. It was just leaning against the front door.”
    “Did anyone else see who left it?”
    “Why?”
    Kirk pulled his hand back. “Just curious.”
    “No. I don’t think anyone did.”
    “Well I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s
nothing. There’s a lot of harmless weirdos out there.”
    Madeline stood up and stacked their empty plates.
    “I just hope nothing like that happens again,” she
said. “You know. For my mom’s sake. “
    “I’m sure it won’t,” Kirk said.
    I’ll make sure it doesn’t.

Julianna
     
     
    Julianna was descending the steps of the psychology
building when he pulled up.
    “Get in the car.”
    She walked to the curb where Kirk was waiting and
pushed her sunglasses on top of her head.
    “Hey stranger.”
    “Get in.”
    She opened the door and sat down.
    He started to drive away before she’d even closed
the door.
    “Hold on! I’m not even in the car!” Julianna pulled
the door shut and looked at him.
    He didn’t look