Lies in Blood by A. M. Hudson Read Free Book Online Page A

whispered.
    “ Missed you.”
    I reached down and linked my fingers through his, cupping my other hand over his wrist.
    “ What are we watching?” he asked.
    “ Shh.” Em jammed her elbow in his ribs.
    “ Ow.” He laughed and poked her back.
    “ Chick flick,” I whispered.
    He turned his head to look at Emily, then Morg, and laughed quietly, swiping a tear from Em’s cheek. “Sad movie?”
    “ Shut up,” Emily said. “Just because you lack the ability to show any human emotion.”
    “ I'm beginning to see why I stopped in the first place,” he said playfully, then wrapped his other arm over Emily’s shoulder and pulled her ear to his lips. “What happened?”
    I was about to fill him in on the plot line, when Emily’s lip trembled, and I realised quickly that he wasn’t referring to the film.
    My gaze went back to the TV set. I knew anything she had to say would be said in thought—not for my ears, clearly. She was so upset tonight, which could only mean there was more to this story than she’d said. But, of course, she wasn’t about to badmouth Mike with me in the room. I think she knew, deep down inside, which side I’d take. But she was kidding herself to think David would side with her, either; he and Mike were two peas in a pod.
    “ I’ll talk to him for you,” David said in that deep, whispery tone.
    She shook her head. “Don't bother. I'm not sure I care anymore.”
    “ Of course you do, or you wouldn’t be crying.”
    “ This would be so much sadder if they were vampires, not humans,” Morg cut in, her mouth full of popcorn.
    “ Just pretend they are,” I said.
    “ You’re not crying, Ara,” David stated, removing his arm from around Emily. “You always cry in these movies.”
    “ Guess I've done my fair share of crying for the next decade or so.”
    He sat forward and looked at my face, sinking back again with a sigh. “I'm sorry.”
    “ What are you sorry for?”
    “ Just…” He scratched his chin, leaving his hand just under it for a second after. “I just wish I’d taken better care of you.”
    My words were lost, and I think Morg and Em were so shocked by it, even they held their breath. I felt the awkwardness saturate the air then, as both girls slowly turned back to watch the movie, and David looked on with a certain amount of trouble behind that gaze. He wasn't watching the movie at all; he was lost in whatever picture of the past he’d just apologised for. But we all looked up, Morg pausing the film, when a loud rap came down on her door, and before she even got off the bed, the tension rose in the room with the scent of Mike outside.
    “ Hey,” Morg said, opening the door only a crack.
    “ Hey.” Mike’s arm appeared on the doorframe above Morg’s head. “You got a sec?”
    “ Uh, I’ve got…company,” she said, opening the door.
    Mike’s mouth popped open a little. “Em, there you are. I was wondering where you’d got to.”
    She looked into her lap.
    I leaned over and whispered in Em’s ear, “What’s he doing here if he’s not here to see you?”
    “ You’re welcome to join us.” Morg’s voice rose over mine in an obvious attempt to shut me up.
    “ No, he's not,” Emily said, coldly.
    “ Aw, Em, come on.” Mike took a step into the room. “Don't be like that, you know I—”
    “ Mike, just go, please,” she said, holding a hand up.
    “ You’re serious?”
    She nodded.
    “ Why? What did I do?”
    Morg, Emily and I huffed loudly.
    Mike stopped walking, looked at David, then me, then Morg, and turned around, leaving the icy welcome behind.
    “ Just give it time, Em,” David said as Morg closed the door. “He’s got a lot going on.”
    “ I know.” The tension in her shoulders eased with David’s fingers softly tangling in her hair, rolling her head toward his lap. “I’m just not sure I can always wait for him to care.”
    I placed my hand over David's for a second, then stroked Emily’s forehead. “We’re here for