Elemental Reality by Cesya Cuono Read Free Book Online Page B

could have nested, and I would have had no idea. And the eye shadow. Don’t even get me started on that. They used electric blue, and it covered from my lid to my eyebrows. Then there was the glitter. I was surprised no one had mistaken me for Boy George.
    “I should probably be the one getting pampered right now,” Lola mock-groaned.
    “You’re the one who set up this whole date,” I reminded her.
    “Shush. Not important. Just enjoy the special treatment on my day.”
    Ady went into a myriad of questions about Oli as she rubbed soothing oil on my cuticles. It had been awhile since I’d been on a date. My last boyfriend was during my third year of college. We didn’t click so I ended it after five months. The guys I went on dates with after that could be counted on one hand. No one ever satisfied me. Ady and Emery thought I was afraid of commitment, but it just didn’t feel right with any of them.
    “I remember when Emery took me on our first date . . .” Ady prattled on.
    I couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying as thoughts of Oli danced in my head. His eyes were emerald pools of sexiness that I wanted to get lost in. His simple, innocent touch on my arm had ignited a firestorm inside of me. But the way he glared at me in the club still haunted my mind.
    “Our first kiss was perfect too.” Ady’s voice broke through my thoughts. “He took me to the Pirate Ship mini golf. We were on the last hole. I got a hole-in-one, and he reached into the cup to retrieve my ball for me. I held out my hand, waiting for him to hand it to me. Instead he pulled me toward him. His lips were so soft . . .”
    I wondered if Oli’s lips were soft. They looked soft. I closed my eyes and thought about our almost-kiss and what it would have been like—felt like—if we weren’t interrupted. Instead of me being the one to touch his face, he would have cupped my face in his strong hands, leaned in close, and placed the most gentle kiss on my mouth before deepening it. Letting me taste him and feel his lips mingling with mine. My fingers tingled, and my body heated up at the thought. Why was I so drawn to someone I was wary of the night before? Maybe he spiked my tea. A chilled heat rolled through my body.
    “Ow!”
    “Ouch!”
    Ady and Lola yelped at the same time. I opened my eyes and was greeted with startled expressions.
    “What?” I glanced around.
    “Your skin was on fire,” Lola said, shaking her hand.
    “And you shocked me,” Ady exclaimed.
    “Um, what?” I tried hard not to let them see how freaked out I was. These strange occurrences kept happening and growing more intense. Now I was hurting people I loved. I felt sick.
    “I’m okay. You just shocked me.” Ady giggled nervously as she took my hand cautiously.
    Lola examined her palm and narrowed her eyes, questioning me with her gaze. I had no response and no answers.
    “Are you okay?” Lola asked. “Feeling hot at all? I swear your body temperature spiked enough to blister my hand.”
    “That’s not possible.” I reached for Lola’s hand, but she jerked back.
    “Let me see,” Ady demanded.
    Lola let her examine the injury, and Ady’s face paled.
    My heart skipped a beat, panicked. “Here.” I held out my hand. “I’m not hot. I’m normal.” The last wasn’t convincing.
    “Hell no. No way am I touching you again.” Lola was truly terrified, and a part of me didn’t blame her. “You’ll burn me.”
    My stomach clenched at the fear in their eyes. “Will not,” I said defensively. “Just touch me.” I moved quicker than she could back away, palming her cheek. Lola screamed. Scared, I ripped my hand away with unhuman speed, horrified.
    Lola’s screams were abruptly cut off. “Yeah, you’re right,” she said. “You feel normal to me.”
    I could have punched her. “Dude, you suck.”
    “Payback’s a bitch.” Lola shrugged. “I don’t know what you did, but it freaking burns.” She left to run cold water on her palm.
    Ady