Alive at Sunset (Rituals of the Night Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

you aced it.”
    “Thanks, I bet you did great too,” Luna said as she glanced up at her friend.
    “What do you feel like doing today?” Amanda asked.
    “I’m not sure, any ideas?”
    “The possibilities are endless, it’s a perfect day to end the semester on,” Amanda said.
    Luna nodded. “It’s great to be out of the classroom.”
    “Couldn’t agree more,” Amanda said. “I’ve been waiting for today for weeks! I haven’t seen some of my friends in so long. And, oh, I can’t wait to start dating again!”
    Luna chuckled but had nothing to say. Dating wasn’t on her agenda. She didn’t want to waste her free time. She couldn’t remember her last romantic encounter- only that it had ended in disaster.
    Amanda glanced up at her. “Something the matter, girl?”
    “Nope,” Luna said, smiling pleasantly. “Just enjoying the food.”
    “Don’t lie, Luna. You don’t like dating…do you?”
    Luna hid her face by taking a gulp of her tea. “Honestly…no, not really.”
    “What?” Amanda screeched, drawing the attention of the people at the next table over. She looked at Luna with borderline horror.
    “It’s just awkward sitting there with a person you barely know,” Luna admitted, looking down at her hands.
    “Well, that will never do. You’re in college. You’re twenty yours old, in the prime of your life! Why not get yourself a man, girlie, if only for a little while? Have some fun,” Amanda said.
    Luna shrugged. “I don’t know, Mandy. I’m not really comfortable with it. I’m more of a loner at heart.”
    “I’ll change that attitude around,” Amanda decided.
    Luna opened her mouth to argue but closed it again. I like myself the way I am.
    Amanda didn’t notice Luna’s reaction. “It’ll be great once we both find dates, we can double date. Then it won’t be so awkward.”
    Luna nodded, too horrified to think of a response. Somehow, the thought of a double date seemed worse than a one on one. Amanda was once again distracted and failed to notice Luna cringe as she glanced behind her.
    Luna scrunched her face as she looked at her. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
    Amanda shook her head as a coy smile appeared on her face. “Nope, just scoping the place for potential dates.”
    Luna smiled, trying to match her friend’s enthusiasm, but the thought of dating again weighed in her mind like a brick. During her studies, she had had plenty of excuses to avoid dates like a deadly disease. Her excuse was gone, and she had to face it head on. Amanda would make sure of it.
    “Cheer up, girl,” Amanda said. “Things aren’t as bad as you’re making them seem.”
    “I haven’t dated in so long. It makes me nervous.”
    “Well, I’ll help you get back in the game,” Amanda said. “This will be the perfect time to go shopping and have some real girl time.”
    “Is shopping really necessary?” Luna asked, picking at her salad.
    “It’s the cornerstone of dating! How will you meet anyone if you don’t wear nice clothes?”
    Luna blinked but didn’t speak. The situation felt far too familiar somehow. She forced herself to brush off the feeling of déjà vu.
    “Like I said, don’t worry about a thing,” Amanda repeated.
    Luna nodded, but she knew that she would worry about plenty of things.
    Amanda looked past her suddenly, eyes squinting to focus on something in the distance. Luna hardly noticed it as she enjoyed the moment of silence.
    “Wow!! He’s kind of cute. I wonder if that’s the kind of guys that come to this place,” Amanda said suddenly, full excitement in her voice.
    Luna felt a pit of foreboding in her stomach as she brought herself to acknowledge her friend. “Who?”
    “The boy in the café. He’s by the window,” she replied gesturing with her eyes. “Take a look.”
    Luna turned to look where her friend pointed, knowing she wouldn’t have a choice either way. Light glinted off of the window, making it impossible to see into the building from