The Princes of Tangleforest by Dorlana Vann Read Free Book Online Page B

and the locked room—but her unspoiled natural beauty, the secrecy, and the excitement of having her all to himself easily controlled his mind… and his judgment.

Chapter 11
     
    Tanner gazed out the car window, watching for Julia’s house. He had been surprised to receive the text from her inviting him over for food; he never declined a food invite. He hitched a ride with his Mom and Bonnie who were on their way to visit a new church in the neighborhood. He had to promise he would go with them next time.
     He saw Julia sitting on a front porch of a yellow trimmed two-story.  “This is it. Stop here.”
    “That’s her?” Joanne said. “She’s… pretty.”
    “Don’t worry. She’s not my girlfriend. She invited me over to eat. No big deal.”
    “Did I say anything about girlfriend? I’m only saying she has such pretty blue hair.”
    “Who?” Bonnie said from the back seat. “I wanna see. I wanna see...”
    “Do you want me to pick you up after church?”
    “Nah. I can walk,” he said wishing he had grabbed his board. He turned to Bonnie, who was stretching her neck up to see out her window. “See you later, Squirt.”
    She dropped back into her booster seat with an exaggerated frown. “My name’s Bonnie.”
     “What was I thinking? I’ll see you later, Bonnie.”
    “Bye,” she said and waved.
    “Hey,” Julia said walking up to him. “I um… figured I’d wait out here so you could find my house.”
    “Thanks. Yeah. Most of the houses do look the same.” Confused by the unexpected awkward tension between them, Tanner suddenly didn’t know how to use his arms. He put them on his hips, crossed them over his chest… 
    “Come on in. My dad’s not up yet. He had a late night,” she said as they walked into the front door. “We celebrated his forty-fifth birthday last night.”
      Tanner could see beyond the foyer and into the party-littered living room. “Sure looks like he had a great time.”
    “Yeah, I hope.” Julia sighed as she shut the door behind them. She gave him a quick smile, but her eyes reflected what she was about to say. “It’s been hard on him since my mom died.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
    “No… I…” She shrugged her shoulders. “Anyway, I’m glad you came over.”
    He nodded and looked away when the silence between them became uneasy.   
    “Let’s go to the kitchen,” she said quickly. “There is soooo much food. I hope you’re hungry.”
    “Yeah, starving.” He followed her through the living room, kicking a balloon lolling in his path, and into a spacious bright yellow and white kitchen. “I actually had a late night, too.”
    She opened the refrigerator door. “Really,” she said with her head inside. She brought out bowls of food and set them on the counter and opened a cabinet above her and reached inside.
    “Well, yesterday after Poppi’s grandma—who by the way, actually does look like witch—wouldn’t even let me talk to her, I got Poppi’s attention by throwing stuff at her window.  She then actually dropped a note that said to come over after midnight when her grandma was asleep. So I did.”  The loud bang of the cabinet door distracted him for half a second before he continued. “Umm, anyway, she’s really different… strange, even.”
    Julia said, “Oh, she’s really weird, huh. Figures if what they—”
    “No, no not weird, just quiet and kind of helpless, I guess. You know.” He followed Julia to the small breakfast table. “Kind of lonely and sad. I feel sorry for her but at the same time I kind of like her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. About the way she kissed me.”
     “Oh. Uh huh.”
    “And wow. That second kiss...”
    Julia started shoveling food onto the plate. A lot of food.
    “Woah! I’m not that hungry.” That’s when he noticed only one plate. “Aren’t you going to eat with me?”
    “I’ll be right back.” She walked out of the kitchen.
    Tanner scratched his head,