Eyes Ever to the Sky (A Sci Fi Romance) (The Sky Trilogy) by Katie French Read Free Book Online Page A

smoke a bowl or whatever, so I’m in charge.” She raised an eyebrow and twiddled her fingers evilly. “Mwa, ha, ha. You will do my bidding, minion.”
    Cece crossed her arms over her chest. “Minion? Who let you copy all year in Algebra?”
    Fer dropped her maniacal smirk. “Fine. Forget the minion part. Just take out the trash and I’ll mop up.”
    Cece looked at the bulging trash barrel next to the counter. Then she spied the one overflowing onto the cement outside. She suspected she was still a minion.
    She yanked out both bags, dropping a glop of chocolate ice cream on one shoe and smearing something unidentifiable on her arm. Then she dragged them to the dark back lot where the dumpster sat reeking. The rancid smell of garbage made her gag, but she held her breath and heaved the first bag in.
    “ Umph ,” said a voice from inside the dumpster. Cece froze. A head appeared.
    “ Oh I...” she stammered. Her mouth dropped open as a man peered out at her from the dark recesses of the dumpster. He was tall with short brown hair and wide dark eyes. She took a step back. He grabbed the lip of the dumpster and swung himself out. Despite his size—over six feet, broad shoulders, muscular arms—he moved with the agility of a gymnast. In the orange light from the bulb over the door, she took him in.  Not a man, a teen, maybe seventeen with a crop of sexy stubble on his cheeks. He stood facing her, his back to the dumpster and his eyes tracking her every movement.
    “ Sorry,” he said, watching her face. His whole body was clenched.
    “ Sorry?” She blinked. “I’m the one who threw garbage on your head.”
    He said nothing, just watched like a frightened animal. She scanned his clothes, the too small t-shirt, tight women’s running shorts, no shoes. What was he doing in a dumpster?
    “Were you…” She looked up at his face. “Were you eating in there?”
    Even in the dark, she noted the embarrassment flooding him. He shook his head and tucked his hands behind his back, a banana peel clutched in one fist.
    “You don’t have to do that,” she said. “We have fresh bananas.”
    His eyes followed her as she set the garbage bag on the ground.
    “Stay here,” she said. “I’ll be right back.” As she walked back into Lizzy’s, she could feel his eyes on her the whole way.
    Inside the building, her thoughts buzzed. What was she thinking? She was going to go back into a dark alley with some stranger who was twice her size, armed with nothing but a handful of bananas? She was nuts. She glanced at Fer, who was mopping the back corner with her headphones stuffed in her ears, some indie rock blaring. Cece snagged a bunch of bananas from the counter, tucked them under her arm and raced out the back.
    When she got back, he was gone. She searched dark alley, walking to the smelly dumpster and peering in. No sign of him. Her arms drooped, the bananas banging against her thigh. A pitiful offering. It had been a dumb idea anyway.  
    “ Cece!” Fer yelled from the doorway behind her. “Quit dickin’ around out there.”
    Cece shot a glance toward the door. Should she tell Fer? And risk the scolding of her life? She walked back, the bananas at her side. “I thought these were bad. I was going to throw them out.” She held up the bananas and shrugged.
    Fer picked up the bunch. “These are fine,” she said, inspecting them. “Besides, you shouldn't hang out here alone. This is rapist central when it gets dark.”
    Cece nodded, walking back inside with Fer.
    She turned and looked once more. Where would he sleep tonight?
     
     
     

CHAPTER NINE — HUGH
    Tuesday 9:19 p.m.
     
     
    He shouldn’t have talked to her.
    As he pounded down the dark alleys, he chided himself. You shouldn't trust , said a voice inside his head. They are all your enemy. All of them.
    Hugh blinked and shook his head. They were his enemy? The pretty girl with the understanding eyes? He thought about her soft tan skin, the dark hair