Magic's Child by Justine Larbalestier Read Free Book Online Page B

out I'm magic! How 'bout that?"
     
     
Nope, that wouldn't work.
     
     
He wondered again if Jay-Tee had meant anything by that kiss. She'd stroked his cheek. That wasn't really a friend thing, was it? Reason would never stroke his cheek. He was amazed at how much he wished she'd meant something by it. It was Jay-Tee , after all, cranky Jay-Tee who never missed an opportunity to hassle him. Why would he want to kiss her?
     
     
Because she smelled good. Because when he remembered that kiss his lips tingled.
     
     
But he liked Reason , not Jay-Tee. He wondered how he'd be feeling now if Reason had kissed him.
     
     
"Tom? Tom? Are you listening?"
     
     
"Yes, Cath, I'm listening. I'm really, really sorry and it won't happen again. But, you know, there's something I have to tell you. Something big."
     
     
"I'm waiting."
     
     
Tom paused. How the hell do you tell someone that you're magic?
     
     
"Well?"
     
     
"Where are you, Cath?"
     
     
"What do you mean where am I? I'm at home. You think I'm going to rack up this kind of phone bill on someone else's phone?"
     
     
"Esmeralda'll pay for it."
     
     
"You know, Tom, you're going to have to stop relying so much on her generosity. It won't last forever, and, as it happens, Tom Yarbro, Esmeralda does not pay my phone bills."
     
     
"Sorry."
     
     
"You were about to tell me something momentous."
     
     
"Um, yeah. Look, can you do me a favour, Cath? Can you stay at home? I have to do something, but I'll call you back within an hour."
     
     
"'Ken oath! No way, Tom, you tell me now! Right now! And why do I have to stay here? You know my mobile number."
     
     
"It's much better talking on a landline. Please, Cathy? Just an hour?"
     
     
"Okay, but if you don't ring I'll kill you. Got that?"
     
     
"Got it. No call equals death. It won't be an hour. More like twenty minutes, okay?"
     
     
"Okay. Talk to you then."
     
     
"'Bye."
     
     
"'Bye."
     
     
He put the phone down, swapped his shorts and T-shirt for jeans, polo neck, woolly jumper, thick socks, boots, and coat, and stuffed a hat and gloves into his pocket.
     
     
    * * *
Tom closed the door behind him. Night time. He'd forgotten it would be dark. Well, not exactly dark, with all the streetlights blazing. He pocketed his sunglasses and shivered. He'd never get used to the cold. What time was it? He looked at his watch: 11:15 AM, so, what time here? Was it six or seven or eight? He could never remember. Reason would know.
     
     
It was winter, that was for sure, so whatever the time, the sun had been down for hours. Over here when it was winter the sun set practically seconds after it rose. He imagined going to school in New York City: leaving in the dark, coming home in the dark. Majorly sucky.
     
     
No Jason Blake in sight. Tom hadn't really expected him to be there. He touched the bandage on his cheek where the bastard had scratched him. He'd be lucky if it didn't get infected. That man was toxic.
     
     
He had to be quick, better to get back before anyone missed him. Esmeralda hadn't explicitly told them not to go through the door. At least, she hadn't said anything about it for a few days now, but he doubted she'd be thrilled with him going through on his own. Esmeralda was the boss of who went through the door and when. But it was the only way to tell Cathy: face to face.
     
     
How else would she believe him?
     
     
    * * *
Tom still had the keys to Cath's flat from his last visit. Come to think of it, she still had his backpack. He paused in front of the door to her flat, only partly because there were so many locks he'd forgotten in what order to unlock them. It would probably be a better idea to knock. Surely him being here in New York City mere minutes after he'd been on the phone to her from Sydney would be enough to convince her. Tom raised his hand to the doorbell and then put it back in his pocket.
     
     
He was nervous.
     
     
What was he going to say when Cath opened the door?