Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace Read Free Book Online Page B

that one question.
    “I’m not really sure. Do you think you could come over? I think I need my best friend right now,” I sniffled.
    “I’m on my way. Do you want me to stop and get some double chunk chocolate ice cream?” She knew the keys to comfort oh so well.
    “Please.” My lip quivered.
    As soon as Kaitlynn arrived, I started to feel better about everything. She had a way of soothing me when I went in freak-out mode.
    “The reason why you’re so hurt is because you care about him and want to be with him, right?” Kaitlynn asked. She brushed aside some of the mess my hair had become.
    “Yeah,” I said.
    “And he said he didn’t want Tiffany, but that he wanted to be with you, right?”
    “Yeah.”
    “So, be with him,” she said simply. She had a point. I couldn’t change the past. I didn’t like what happened, but I couldn’t do anything about it. My choices were to either be with Jaren, or not be with Jaren. Even after everything that had happened, I honestly still wanted to be with him.
    Kaitlynn and I made plans for her to spend the night at my house. As we got ready for bed, I texted Jaren to tell him I would pick him up tomorrow so we could talk. He texted me back right away saying he was sorry for hurting me, and he was glad he’d get to see me tomorrow.
    “I would say it’s a good sign he texted back so soon. I think he’s been waiting around to hear from you,” Kaitlynn said, fluffing her pillow and throwing back her end of the covers. She climbed in, then turned off the table lamp.
    I was exhausted from all of the crying, but I felt like things were set right again. Before I passed out for the night, I had the most satisfying thought: Tiffany didn’t get the guy.
    I guess I had gotten my sweet revenge after all. She wouldn’t be made a fool in front of the whole school like I would’ve been, but I knew and she knew that she had made her move to get Jaren back, or her sloppy seconds, as she’d called him, and she’d failed. I snuggled deeper into the blankets with a victorious smile on my face.

 
    8
    His Mouth Was Warm
    Kaitlynn and I got up at ten o’clock to get showered and dressed for the day. She and David had plans and she told me to call her if Jaren and I wanted to hang out with them.
    She followed me into the living room where we found my mom. My mom didn’t show houses on Sundays so here she was, wiping down the blinds.
    My eyes had been red and swollen when my mom came home last night, so I ended up telling her about Tiffany trying to get Jaren back. I didn’t tell her about the part where they kissed, though. Even at that, she was concerned with how hard I’d fallen for Jaren.
    “I’m going to meet up with Jaren to discuss some things,” I told my mom. She knew how much this meant to me, so I hoped she wouldn’t try to stop me.
    “What time will you be home?” she asked.
    “I’ll only be gone an hour. Two at the most.”
    “All right,” she said. “Call me to check in after an hour.”
    “’Kay.” I was willing to call her every fifteen minutes if she’d let me go.
    I followed Kaitlynn out to her car. “Thanks for everything, bestie,” I said, giving her a tight squeeze that lifted her off the ground a little.
    “I’m glad you’re back to your giddy self again,” Kaitlynn laughed, dropping back to the ground. She grabbed her keys out of her purse and got in her Jeep.
    My boots crunched the leaves into the gravel drive as I hustled over to my car.
    “Call me later,” Kaitlynn hollered out of her window as she drove away.
    Jaren was waiting for me in his driveway when I pulled up. He made a motion of driving an invisible steering wheel, asking me if he could drive. I laughed and put the car in park.
    I stepped out into the crisp, cold morning, and we walked to meet each other. I smiled up at him. I could see the relief on his face that we were on good terms again. My eyes dropped to his chest.
    I placed my hand over his heart. His body’s heat