Midnight Surrender: A Paranormal Romance Anthology by Alyssa Rose Ivy, Airicka Phoenix, Shannon Dermott, Charlotte Abel, Kelly D. Cooper, Laura A. H. Elliott, Amy M. Jones, Kris Kendall Read Free Book Online Page B

g-going to know I’m n-not you.”
    “ You don’t have to talk. Just grab a beer, park your butt against a tree and act broken hearted. I guarantee at least one hot chick is going to try to console you by cramming her tongue down your throat. Just don’t let Naomi see you. I’m already in enough trouble.”
    Frankie wrinkled his nose and frowned. “I’m not going to start drinking just so I can make out with some random fan-girl of yours. And get off my bed.”
    Jonathan grinned and started bouncing again. Heather was the perfect bait. All Jonathan had to do was set the hook and reel him in. “Just smile and nod your head while they jabber at you. It’ll be good practice for when you go out with Heather.”
    “ Do you really think H-Heather w-would go out w-with me?”
    “ Why wouldn’t she? You’re almost as good-looking as I am.”
    Franklin rolled his eyes but his grin was so wide it looked like it hurt. “We’re identical, you moron.”
     
    There was a small parking lot at the trailhead that meandered past the old McKnight mine, but it was already full. Jonathan didn’t want to park on the side of the road so he pulled in behind Rich Blanchard’s souped up Dodge Ram and cut the engine.
    “ You can’t park here. You’re blocking three cars.”
    Jonathan set the emergency brake. “I can park wherever the hell I want.”
    “ You know who owns that truck, right?”
    “ Quit whining. Rich isn’t going to want to leave before we do. In fact, he’ll probably get so drunk he won’t be able to find his truck before daylight.”
    “ No one’s going to believe you’re me if you keep saying ‘hell.’ I don’t swear.”
    “ Okay, Mom … it’s no big f—”
    “ Hey!”
    “— freakin’ deal.”
    Jonathan laughed and hopped out of the Land Rover, slamming the door behind him. “Keep your chin up and head straight for the keg—”
    “ I already told you, I’m not going to drink.”
    “ Then grab a beer out of one of the coolers—”
    “ I said I’m not—”
    “ Calm down. I didn’t say you had to drink it. Just hold it and pretend to take a sip occasionally. Can you do that?” Jonathan’s patience was wearing thin.
    “ Okay, but remember the only kind of beer you can drink is root beer.”
    Jonathan was definitely going to need a couple of real beers if he was going to get through the next hour without popping Franklin in the mouth.
    About twenty people milled around the bonfire in front of the mine. Another half-dozen or so jostled each other to get to the keg. Music blared from someone's portable audio system. It was amazing what you could do with a car battery, an amp and a couple of speakers. The thump, thump of the heavy bass reverberating in Jonathan’s gut lifted his mood. He had to remind himself not to move to the beat as they walked up the trail. Franklin could dance as good as anyone, but he never did it in public.
    That needed to change. Jonathan punched Franklin’s shoulder. “Loosen up, bro. Try to relax. You’re supposed to be excited to be here.”
    Franklin huffed and rolled his eyes.
    They were about halfway between the parking lot and the bonfire when Naomi and her current top three friends spilled out of her Prius. Great. How was he supposed to talk to her with those three hanging around? They openly dissed him in front of Naomi, then came on to him behind her back.
    Jonathan turned to Franklin, hoping he could enlist his help to distract Naomi’s friends for a few minutes, but he should have known better.
    Franklin was already twitching. Jonathan lowered his voice and spoke out of the side of his mouth. “Go grab a beer and pretend to drink it … now.” He stepped in front of Naomi then dropped his gaze to his feet. Franklin would never have the courage for direct eye contact with any girl, much less a hottie like Naomi. “H-h-hello, N-Naomi. H-how are y-y-you?”
    She stopped and did a little double-take. “Franklin?”
    Jonathan chanced a quick glance