Bittersweet Chocolate Read Free Page A

Sarah’s house,” Brittany stated. “And even if you don’t use Susquehanna Avenue to cross Broad Street, you’re still traveling through Avenue turf, with a known member of Camac & Diamond.
    “The Avenue and C & D are not, never have been, on friendly terms.” Nibbling her bottom lip, she said, “If I didn’t have plans, I’d go with you, to make sure you don’t start anything that far from home.”
    “Brie, stop worrying, I’ve changed, I’m all grown up now, a woman. The juvenile gangster mentality is a done deal. I promise it’ll be okay. I won’t start any trouble.”
    “Yeah, right. Clearly, you’ve mistaken me for somebody who doesn’t know you.”
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The night of the party, they dressed at the Windslow’s apartment because Darien’s mother, a beautician, promised to help the girls with their hair. With that taken care of, the girls showered and dressed. By nine thirty, they were ready.
    Marissa stared at her reflection in the mirror, scrutinizing her navy-blue, hip-hugging jumper and a white blouse with a self-tie at the collar— geez. Except for hugging curves and exposing knees, the outfit screamed uniform. Would she never get away from Catholic school influences? Hmm, she was going for the modest look, since she didn’t know the fellas on the other side of town.
    Darien wasn’t of the same mind, having managed to shimmy into a barely decent, navy-blue miniskirt that encased her full figure like a second skin. She wore a white blouse, similar to Marissa’s, and didn’t bother to button it to the top, exposing a tantalizing view of cleavage. But until recently, Darien had lived on that side of town, knew the folkes, and perhaps her relaxed dress code wasn’t anything they hadn’t seen before.
    For the occasion, Marissa applied a light touch of eye shadow, eyeliner, and blush to her usual barebones look of lipstick only, which was all restrictive Catholic school dictates allowed. Her efforts weren’t for naught. Darien seemed impressed.
    “Girl, you look too grown, and sexy.”
    “Sure, don’t exaggerate.”
    “Seriously, you look terrific. You should wear makeup all the time.”
    “Thanks, but I go to parochial school with nuns...remember them, they would have a fit.”
    “Yeah, just for a minute, looking at you with the makeup, I forgot.” Darien chuckled. “It’s easy to forget you go to Catholic school, you play that split personality role so well...good girl, bad girl. Heck. I know you as well as anyone, yet sometimes I don’t know who you are.”
    Marissa sighed. “I know. Cleverly disguised, the devil in uniform and you’re not alone with that opinion. I believe the nuns feel the same, and can’t wait for me to graduate.”
    “Girl, be fair. You must be annoying the hell out of someone at your private, all-girl school. You do hold the record for the most detentions, don’t you?”
    “Hey...” Marissa started to protest, then giggled. “Okay, but you know it doesn’t take much to get a detention in that place. They claim I have an attitude, go figure. If they’d stopped calling me by my sisters’ names, expecting me to answer, then get bent...hey.” She threw her brush at Darien, who fell back on the bed, laughing. “What’s this, an inquisition? Confession’s tomorrow.”
    The bell pealed. Pulling herself together, Darien scrambled off the bed and hurried from the room. She opened the front door and Brad entered the apartment, blowing on his hands, his lean frame bulked up by his winter coat.
    “Hope you’re ready.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Good. Don’t want to spend any more time on this side of town than necessary.” He rolled his shoulders and stared at his cousin. “Who’s going with you this time?”
    “Stupid question.” Darien snorted and gestured behind her as Marissa approached the cousins, and grinned at Brad’s gaping expression.
    Marissa returned his stare, her gaze roaming over his body. Brad Page was tall and lean, with