Soul Control by C. Elizabeth Read Free Book Online Page A

bedroom.
    “Oh, Saydi?”
    I turned in the doorway. “Yeah?”
    “What did you mean when you said the Braxton boys gave you the willies yesterday?”
    “I don’t know, but whatever it was, it wasn’t all that.” Great. She was going to start worrying, and that’s the last thing I needed. “Mom, don’t worry, it wasn’t a huge thing,” I reemphasized.
    She put my plate in the sink. “If you say so.”
    ~ * ~
    Miranda Bennett was the store manager and always had a smile on her face, even though if anyone had a reason to hate the world, she did. Miranda was in a bad car accident years before that left her with a limp and scars all over her body. She always said it could have been worse, such that she could have died or the scars could be on her face.
    “Morning, Saydi.” She smiled.
    “Morning,” I parroted, taking the cash drawer from her and putting it in the register.
    “It could be a very dead day today. I think most of the town will sleep after that whoopla of a party last night.”
    It wasn’t a shock that she knew. It was a small town and everyone knew everything. “Do you know how long it went on?” Of course I was more interested in hearing any news that may have leaked about Nathanael. Why are you so intrigued with him? He practically made you jump out of your skin in your dream.
    Miranda began sweeping the floor. “My understanding is they just shut it down maybe an hour ago, so that puts it at about six this morning.”
    “Wow! I hope Angie and them didn’t stay that long.”
    In mid-sweep she stopped and looked at me. “Were you there, too?”
    “Only for about forty-five minutes.” A small smile twitched, then the heat rose to my cheeks, immediately giving me away.
    Her mouth turned slowly up into a smirk. “Looks like a very interesting forty-five minutes.”
    I focused on counting the cash...again. A little chuckle could be heard over yonder.
    The annoying bells above the door rang, telling us we had a customer, or should I say customers...three to be exact.
     
     

Seven
     
     
    The triplets filed in one by one, all wearing tight jeans. Nathanael had a blue t-shirt on that fit snugly, while one of his brothers wore a white button up shirt and the other had on a green pullover. None was walking as if they had drunk all night. In fact, they looked freshly showered and ready for anything.
    Nathanael loitered around the chips, acting like he was reading the backs of them, but at the same time stole peeks at me from under his eyelashes, increasing the temperature in my face. I waited for some sort of anxiety to rise stemming from the dream the night before, but it didn’t. To watch him made me feel safe from anything.
    Either Job or Joshua yanked three large bags of chips off the shelf, while Job or Joshua pulled three bottles of Coke from the cooler. Unfortunately, my ease was halted when they approached.
    “Hi, Saydi,” one said.
    “Hi,” I replied, waiting for them to put all their items down before ringing them in.
    He, whichever one he was, placed his hands on the counter, arching forward a little too close for my comfort. “Why is it your mom has long blonde hair and blue eyes and you have long black hair and brown eyes?”
    The way he said it while staring at me gave me the willies again. “I guess from my dad’s side.”
    It was like he knew he made me uncomfortable and said, “Don’t get me wrong, you’re quite beautiful yourself. It struck me as odd, is all.”
    Ignoring his offhanded compliment, I pronounced, “That’ll be six fifty-nine.” Wanting those two to leave, but not Nathanael.
    The other one handed me a ten and smiled. “You’ll have to forgive my brother, sometimes he says things before he thinks.” He shoved the other brother, laughing.
    I bagged their purchases and held it out to them. It was Nathanael who reached over and inconspicuously ran his fingers across the back of my hand before grabbing it, then winked. “Don’t listen to those two