The Hidden Door by Liz Botts Read Free Book Online Page A

gap but we kiss. Frantically. Drinking each other in. He tastes like the mocha coffee he had earlier when Malcolm and Riva were still with us. The thought of our friends breaks the spell. Anger wells up in me, hot and fast, blurrin g my vision and my rationality.
    I shove him away, taking a definitive step back. "This is what started everything being bad in the first place," I snap.
    My instinct is to simply walk away. As I do, Justin springs to life and grabs me. "What are you talking about?"
    Tears flood my eyes. I blink rapidly but not before one has a chance to slip down my cheek. Justin reaches out to wipe it away, but I step back— the pain from the past year too real, too fresh. As Justin’s hand drops. He just looks so defeated, I almost sway.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” he says a gain, standing solidly on the sidewalk in front of me. He pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them they look shiny…almost like he might cry.
    Looking up into the face that I know so well, and yet is so foreign to me at the moment, I see only confusion. No pretense. He really doesn’t know what happened between us, or why I am hurt and angry right now.
    â€œNever mind,” I mumble, turning away.
    He catches me by the shoulders, turning me gently to face him. “No. I want to know. What is going on here? Was that not…okay?”
    A gaspy laugh escapes my lips. “No, it was fine. Great.”
    â€œThen…what?”
    â€œDon’t you remember what happened the last time we went Hidden Door hunting?” The words whoosh out of me so fast they sort of run together. I know Justin understands just by the look on his face.
    â€œOf course I do,” he says, his voice so soft I can barely hear him.
    The wind picks up again and I take a step closer to Justin for warmth. His arms draw me in as he continues staring down at me with a sorrowful look in his beautiful eyes.
    My throat constricts. I can hear the blood rushing through my ears, louder than a timpani drum. The moment slows down in a cheesy romantic movie way.
    This is not how I expected tonight to go. This whole confessional thing was never supposed to happen. But now that I’ve come this far there is no turning back. I miss my best friend. I miss what we could have together. And I miss this…these adventures we have together.
    Waiting for Justin to respond is torture so finally I say, "How could you kiss me and then start dating someone else a week later? A week!"
    My voice shakes, is full of anger and heartbreak. Justin's face twists with pain. He closes his eyes for a moment pulling me into a tighter hug.
    "I'm sorry," he whispers pressing his forehead against mine. "I...I...there's nothing I can say to change the past. I never meant to hurt you. Geez, I wish I had known how you felt. I wish I hadn't been so dense."
    I pull back long enough to look up at him curiously. What is he talking about? Wisely I keep my mouth shut, waiting for him to go on. Justin doesn't just open up, so on the rare occasion that he does, I know better than to interrupt.
    He worries his thumb along the ridge of my knuckles. The movement warms me even as the bitter wind sneaks down the collar of my sweater, interjecting itself through the knit holes in my sleeves.
    "I didn't know you liked me that way," Justin says, his voice still just above a murmur. "I thought you were mad at me for kissing you. My pride was bruised, I guess."
    I try to laugh but the sound strangles in my throat. Whatever else Justin was going to say falls to the wayside as he leans down to kiss me again. His lips are gentle as they brush against mine. Then he moves in for the real kiss, and I swoon. Never has anything been so picture perf ect.
    "I knew I'd find you again."
    We break apart at the sound of the voice. A tiny shriek escapes my lips. Standing among the shadows, mere feet away from us, is The Vampire. His costume has torn a bit,