Dragon Song by Jordyn Tracey Read Free Book Online Page B

She wanted to see Stone again, but with all the drama surrounding him, that might not be such a good idea. Then again, if she saw him, she could give him a piece of her mind for bringing the craziness into her life. Who was he anyway to have such an entourage following in his wake?
    “I have to go.” James gave a sharp bow and spun away. His age did not stop him from almost running away and disappearing around a corner. Tielle considered chasing after him to get more answers, but decided against it. This whole situation was becoming absurd, and if she had any sense, she’d forget about it—and him.
    Throughout that day and the rest of the week, Tielle focused on her studies and her part time work at the nearby hospital. She didn’t see Stone’s secretary again, nor did she receive any strange phone calls. On Friday, Jamie called to inquire about Saturday night.
    “You want to go?” Jamie asked.
    “I would but I decided to give Joe a call. We’re doing dinner and see what happens after that, whether I’m feeling him.”
    Jamie laughed. “ Feeling him? Correct me if I’m wrong, girl, but didn’t you two have a thing about seven or eight months ago? You broke it off.”
    “Yes, but we’ve seen each other now and then, and I don’t feel like breaking in a new man. It’s been forever since I got some, and I’m so overdue. I tried talking to someone new, but once outside the club, the chemistry died. If it’s still jumping like it used to with Joe, then maybe I’ll let him take me to his place. If not, then I’ll be back to square one. So since I’m not going to the club, what are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know. Take a break, I guess.”
    “Sounds good. ‘ Cause we agreed, no going without each other, right? Or get another girl to go?”
    “Yeah, yeah.” Jamie laughed. “With the way we remind each other about the rules, you’d think we never broke them.”
    “Is that a hint?”
    “Oh wow, look at the time,” Jamie hedged. “Gotta pop dinner in the oven. Later.”
    Tielle rolled her eyes and shook her head. She knew her friend oh so well. “Okay, girl. I’ll call you Sunday. Your turn to host our breakfast. Bye.”
    “If you can get your— hopefully —sexually-satisfied ass out the bed. Bye!”
     
    * * * *
     
    Tielle jerked awake, sweat-drenched and heart pounding so hard it hurt. Although the late night was still, it seemed like she’d just heard a shout somewhere close by. As she sat up in bed trying to calm down, she waited for the person to call out again, but there was nothing. It had been a part of the nightmare she’d just had. None of the details came to mind.
    Still somewhat shaky, she reached for her phone after checking the time. One a.m. wasn’t too late. She dialed, and after four rings the call connected. “Wow, no respect for your elders, huh?” came the teasing voice. “So late, anything wrong?”
    “No,” Tielle lied. “I…I missed you.”
    “Liar.” Pauline snickered, but Tielle wasn’t fooled. She knew how her foster mother felt about her. Tielle had been placed with her in the last couple of years before she was old enough to be released from being a ward of the state. Yet, in that time she and Pauline had grown close, almost like mother and daughter—in a weird, never-admit-your-real-feelings kind of way. Pauline was rough, hardcore. She’d had a difficult life, had struggled up from what amounted to hell. Being a foster mom had been her way of giving back to someone else and offering them a leg up. Tielle was grateful that first someone was her. The funny thing about it was Pauline wasn’t that good of a mom.
    Changing the subject, Tielle asked, “Have you learned to cook yet? After all these years, I’m still trying to get the taste of your spaghetti surprise off my tongue.”
    Pauline grumbled. “I didn’t kill you. That was enough.”
    “You were there for me,” Tielle admitted. “When no one cared.”
    They each paused a long while.