The Taste of Night by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

up to her. “Have you seen Ari?”
    Ana-Li laughed. “You lost him?”
    â€œKinda.” Destiny didn’t feel like telling her what happened.
    â€œLookin’ hot, Dee,” Jerry Freed, one of the three guys, said, grinning at her. He flashed her a thumbs-up.
    Ana-Li pointed to the dance floor with her Coke can. “Isn’t that Ari over there? Who’s he dancing with?”
    Destiny spun around. Squinting into the blinking lights, she saw Ari dancing with his hands on the bare waist of another girl…the red-haired girl he’d been flirting with at the bar. He pulled her close, and they danced cheek-to-cheek even though the music pounded even faster.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” Destiny groaned.
    â€œDid you two break up or something?” Ana-Li asked.
    â€œLooks like it,” Destiny said. She started toward Ari and his new dancing partner.
    What is his problem? Is he just trying to hurt me?
    He’s been totally understanding the whole time, Destiny thought. Was it all an act?
    She grabbed his arm. “Ari?”
    He took his hands off the girl’s waist, blinking at Destiny. “Oh. Hi.” As if he didn’t recognize her.
    The red-haired girl frowned at Destiny and continued to move to the music.
    â€œAri, what’s up with this?” Destiny couldn’t keep her voice from trembling. “I mean—”
    Ari shrugged.
    â€œI mean, what’s going on?”
    â€œJust dancing.”
    She realized her hands were balled into tight fists. Working the turntables, the DJ went into a scratching fit, then changed the rhythm, drum machine pounding in her ears.
    â€œAri, I thought you and I—”
    â€œGive me a break,” Ari said.
    The second time he said that tonight, Destiny told herself.
    Well, okay. I’m not the kind of person who makes a big scene or screams or carries on in front of people. I can’t do that.
    So…I’ll give him a break.
    â€œGood night, Ari,” she said through gritted teeth.
    She spun away and ran along the side of the dance floor, ran without looking back, out the front door, bursting through a couple just arriving. Out into the cool night air,to the edge of the gravel parking lot, where she grabbed onto a wooden fence pole, held onto it, taking breath after breath.
    Okay, okay. I’ll give him a break, she thought.
    Was she angry or hurt, or both?
    Have fun, Ari. Have fun without me.
    See if I care.
    Destiny had no way of knowing that she would never see Ari again.

chapter twelve
LIVVY’S NEW LOVE
    LIVVY STOOD AT THE END OF THE BAR, TILTING A bottle of Rolling Rock to her mouth. The bartender was a fat, old guy; not interesting. Despite the cold beer, Livvy’s stomach growled, and the hunger gnawed at her.
    She turned and gazed around the dance floor, searching for Monica and Suzie. Squinting into the darting red and blue lights, she spotted them both. Whoa. Who was Suzie dancing with? Ari Stark?
    Uh-oh. Looks like Destiny left her boyfriend behind.
    Bad mistake, Dee. Look at the stupid grin on Ari’s face. He thinks he’s gotten lucky tonight.
    Monica stood at the edge of the dance floor, her pale arms around a big guy who looked like he could play middle linebacker. She nestled her head against his shoulderand led him toward the lounge.
    Way to go, Monica.
    Feeling the powerful hunger again, Livvy brushed back her blond hair, straightened her tube top, and gazed down the bar. A dark-haired guy a few stools down seemed to be staring at her.
    Livvy flashed him a smile. He had a beer glass in one hand. He raised it as if toasting her.
    Livvy didn’t hesitate. She strode over to him, a smile on her face. “I’m Livvy,” she said. “How ya doin’?”
    â€œPatrick,” he replied. He had dimples in his cheeks when he smiled. He was probably a college guy—in his early twenties—cute.
    Livvy clicked her bottle against his glass.