Genesis (The Legend of Glory Book 3) Read Free Page A

Carmela said. “I didn’t know you two were an item until I saw you slow dancing.”
    “We’re just friends.”
    “You sure about that?”
    “You said it yourself. He’s beyond hot. I’m just me.”
    Carmela gave me the once-over. “Look at you, all sexy tonight. You could turn up the heat like this all the time if you wanted to. I could help.”
    “I’m happy with who I am. Besides, I’d rather be his friend. Friendships last longer than hookups.”
    “Suit yourself.” She sighed. “Well, speaking of bizarro families, my father has me on punch bowl duty tonight—on guard for spikers. I don’t think he realizes the usual suspects are the kids I have helping me guard it.” Carmela’s father was the school principal. “He’s keeping me on a tight leash, dragging me home the minute this ends, and tethering me to a statue of the Madonna for safe keeping.” She crossed herself like a good Catholic girl and then rolled her eyes.
    “He loves you. Considering what we just saw, consider yourself lucky.”
    She patted me on the back. “It was good to have you here. I wish you were more of a social butterfly though.”
    “Not my style.” I chuckled. “Admit it, you only befriended me because you were looking for a renovation project.”
    An odd expression crossed her face. “No. You know why I really took you under my wing? Well, as much as you’ve let me anyway.”
    I had always been curious why the coolest girl in school became my friend. “Why?”
    “The Virgin Mary appeared to me and told me I’d someday be responsible for saving your soul.”
    I burst out laughing, but Carmela didn’t.
    “You’re serious?” She had invited me to go to church with her now and then, but never preached.
    Carmela gave me a half-hearted nod. “Creepy, huh? If you ever tell anyone I told you that, I’ll kill you. And then I’d have to go to confession, and I really hate going to confession. So, our secret, right?”
    “Right.” I noticed her father looking our way. “Thanks for checking on me. You’d better get back to protecting everyone else from evil spirits.”
    She seemed grateful to scamper away, and I telephoned my dad to come get me. As I waited outside in the cold, I paced and fought back tears. I willed Jesse to be okay. Even though he lived in fear of his dad, his behavior was often recklessly bold and defiant. The risks he took were dangerous and designed to prove his father’s wrath didn’t intimidate him. A classic daredevil.
    One time Cosmic had dragged him along to Denver on what turned out to be a drug run to buy a big stash of OxyContin. Disgusted, Jesse picked his dad’s pocket, stole the wad of cash destined for the drugs, and deposited it into the pocket of a homeless woman. I had been so scared Cosmic would figure it out, but Jesse had the god, Audacity, in his corner.
    Another time, the school bully had been ruthless to one of the geeky kids so we broke into the building after hours, picked the lock on the bully’s locker, and filled it with very organic manure. It was awesome.
    Jesse was awesome. I had never known anyone like him before.
    “So, Jesse’s mom’s sick?” Dad asked when he picked me up.
    I knew ‘sick’ in the James’ household was a euphemism for drunk, but didn’t want to spill Jesse’s secrets. “I guess so.”
    Dad sighed. “Sounds like his father could have handled it better.”
    “His parents could handle a lot of things better.”
    “Something I should know? Maybe I can help.”
    I shook my head and refused to say anything more.
    Later, after Dad and Mom left to go to a party in Boulder, I sat down on the couch—still in full costume—and held my phone trying to decide if I should call Jesse. Two hours later I was still planted there, frozen by fear for him. I had a bad feeling. Finally, my cell rang. The caller ID said Jesse, but the voice on the other end sounded nothing like him.
    “I screwed up bad,” a deep, slurred voice