Soul Crossed by Lisa Gail Green Read Free Book Online

tonight.
    “Hey, Grace.” I pull her aside after leaving practice. She stares at my hand on her jacket like she expects to now turn to stone. Does she have an idea what I am? No way. I push the thought aside and let her go.
    “Yeah?” she asks.
    “You busy tonight?” It’s Friday, and I figure she could use a little fun.
    “You want to run lines?” She’s such a blonde.
    “No. I want to go clubbing. Do you want to come?” I pronounce each word to make sure she gets it. She must because she looks horrified. It figures—I bet she’s never even thought about getting a fake ID, even though she could easily pass for old enough. I bet most of the kids here haven’t either, though. I mean, they probably wouldn’t expect me to know about shit like clubbing when I barely have my license.
    “I don’t think my Aunt will let me,” she says.
    “Are you sixteen? Or are you six?” I’m not letting her out of this one. She frowns and starts to walk away. It’s been muggy this week, and the moisture hangs in the air like a damp sponge. Shelby’s hair makes her look like a poodle. Even Grace’s is extra curly. It looks nice.
    “Fine. How about dinner then?” I call. She pauses halfway across the lawn.
    “I guess an early dinner would be OK,” she says. “I’ll meet you here at five.”
    Either she doesn’t want me to meet this Aunt of hers or she’s hiding something. I suspect it’s a little of both. But I guess I have my own secrets.
    Suddenly Cam is at my side. He’s standing taller these days and wearing his hair pulled back in a ponytail. A few weeks ago he had no backbone—now he looks me in the eyes. His stutter has all but disappeared.
    “Hey, Cam.”
    “You like her.” It’s a statement, not a question.
    “I don’t know.”
    “You said once before if I was interested you’d step back.” I did say something like that didn’t I?
    “Totally. Dude, I’m sorry. I just thought you would have made your move by now.”
    He relaxes. “I’ve never asked a girl out before,” he admits. No news flash there.
    “Well, you should wait until you’re ready.”
    “I don’t know. I see now that if I don’t do something soon, someone else will.”
    Was that a dig? I look away so he can’t see my eyes. “I’ll step back. Don’t worry. And I’ll let you know if I see anyone else coming on to her.”
    “Thanks. Maybe you should ask Shelby out. She’s pining over you as we speak.”
    I glance back toward the main entrance, and sure enough Shelby’s watching me. When she sees me looking, she tucks her wild auburn hair back behind her ear and blushes.
    “Come on, I want to show you something,” Cam is saying.
    “I’ll catch up with you in a few,” I tell him and head off toward temptation. I’ve been making pretty good strides with Cam, I can take a little “me time.”
    “Hey,” I say, catching up to Shelby. “You’re a pretty good actress.”
    “You really think so?” she asks. Her whole body leans forward. This is going to be so easy. Girls like Shelby crave attention from hot guys like me.
    “I’m surprised Grace got Juliet,” I say this softly while looking her in the eyes.
    Five minutes later we are under the bleachers ripping off each other’s jackets. She isn’t Grace, but why turn down a free meal? She’s surprisingly aggressive, which I appreciate in a girl, as she pulls at my shirt and sucks in my lower lip.
    I return the favor and start working at the buttons on her blouse. But as my fingers slip inside her collar to stroke her neck, something brushes against my hand, burning me like a hot poker. I pull away sharply.
    “What the Hell?” I can’t control my temper, so I turn away, shielding her from my eyes. I cradle my wrist and examine it. The shape of a small cross pulses red, branded into my skin. But as I watch, it fades back to normal.
    “Are you OK?” Shelby is all concern, pulling at my arm, trying to turn me around. “It must have been my cross. I’m so