Imagine That by Kristin Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

of the parking space, his brother launched the next attack.
    â€œShe had the same expression on her face,” Zach said, looking out the window as if he’d just commented on the weather.
    Nate’s head swiveled around. “What?”
    â€œCar…” Zach said, pointing out the windshield.
    Nate jerked the wheel back, narrowly avoiding an SUV parked on the street.
    â€œGood save.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Nate asked, careful to keep his eyes on the road.
    â€œEmily. Should have seen her face when you grabbed her. Like—”
    He shouldn’t even care, but he had to know. “Like what?”
    â€œLike she could stay there forever.”
    A shiver worked its way down Nate’s spine. “Must have been shock from almost burning herself.”
    Zach snorted.
    They drove in silence for a few minutes.
    â€œYou’re not going to do anything are you?” Zach asked finally.
    â€œShe won’t be here long.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo… she’s leaving.”
    â€œMaybe you can convince her to stay.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œMaybe she’s The One,” he said, waggling his eyebrows and making air quotes with his fingers.
    â€œShut up.”
    â€œI don’t get it.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to get.” Nate made a left onto their street. “She’s passing through. We have nothing in common, and besides I have too much on my plate right now to get distracted.”
    â€œIs that why you let her think you were dumb?” Zach asked. “You should have told her.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to say. I figured out how to live with it.”
    By now they’d reached the house. Nate pulled into the driveway and shut the engine off.
    â€œI think Mom would like her,” Zach said.
    If he’d been hit by a two-by-four, Nate couldn’t have been more shocked. “What?”
    Zach turned back, all signs of teasing had vanished. “I think she’d like Emily, and I think she’d like knowing someone was going to be here with us after—” He trailed off and swallowed, the wise old man expression replaced by one of a lost little boy.
    Nate clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I know, but it’s not going to happen.”
    â€œWhy not?”

Chapter Six
    The creature rose from the water. Seven tentacle-like arms stretched toward the small boat bobbing on the surface. The four teenagers in the raft had thought their boat sinking was the worst of the disaster. Now, a creature more hideous than a nightmare offered a much more terrible fate.
    A shrill alarm cut through the stillness. Emily’s head jerked up, her mind returning from the fantasy world she’d been trying to create. All thoughts of terrible sea creatures and lost teens vanished as she saw smoke pouring from the oven in great waves.
    With a startled cry, she jumped up from the stool and ran across the kitchen. She pulled the oven door open and more acrid smoke flooded out. Coughing, she reached for a dishtowel and clapped it over her face.
    With her free hand, she grabbed an oven mitt, reached inside for the pan, and then sprinted to the sink. She flipped up the handle on the faucet, and cold water gushed out. Then she took up the dishtowel and fanned it in front of the alarm, hoping to stop the shrieking. The ear-splitting wail was enough to make a person go deaf. Or wish they were.
    A door crashed in the dining area, and three hulking figures in full fire regalia rushed in. She screamed before realizing they were only firemen.
    â€œWe had an alarm,” the one in the lead barked out.
    Emily conjured up a contrite smile. “Sorry. I lost track of time and left something in the oven too long. Who knew one cake could produce so much smoke, huh?”
    The lead firefighter blinked. “A cake?”
    â€œYes. Sorry. I tried to get the alarm to stop.”
    â€œEmily!”
    Great. Jessie. Emily