Golden Blood Read Free Page A

into the
kitchen.
    “Tin-ass freak? Honey! They get that from
you.”
    “You don’t have to thank me, sweetie.”
    “I’m not thanking you, you big oaf!” She
threw the towel she’d just folded at him and laughed.
    He grabbed it off his head and jumped around
the table, wrapping his arms around her waist and raspberrying her
neck. She giggled like a schoolgirl. Harrison folded his arms and
leaned his hip against the counter, watching with a smile.
    Bryan had brought his mother back to life.
Harrison had been nine when Bryan came on the scene, before that
they’d just been a duo. His father had died before he was born.
    Harrison had wanted to hate the guy and his
two annoying kids, but fell in love with them before he could stop
himself. Two years later Sam was born and his mother officially
became Mrs. Helen Chatsworth.
    Harrison’s cell phone beeped, pulling the
canoodling couple apart.
    “Oh hey sweetie. How was town?”
    “Good.” He slid open his phone.
    Rosie crashed down the stairs and into the
kitchen. “Okay, I’m done. Can I have my life back now?”
    She stood in front of Helen with an
outstretched hand. Her stepmother held out the fuchsia pink cell
phone.
    “Thank you.” She snatched it back and
retreated up the stairs.
    Bryan shook his head as he closed the
fridge.
    “She’s your daughter.” Helen kissed his cheek
as he walked past. He slapped her on the butt and headed back out
to the garage, a cold beer in hand.
    “You home for dinner, hon?” Helen placed a
folded shirt onto Justin’s pile.
    Harrison slid his phone shut. “No, looks like
I’m going to the movies with Darren and the girls. I’ll just grab
something on the way.”
    “Please don’t have chili fries and a
coke.”
    “What do you want me to eat, Mom? Sushi?”
    “Sushi would be great.” She beamed.
    “I’m not eating seaweed.”
    “Well could you at least have something with
vegetables in it?”
    Harrison laughed as he grabbed a chocolate
chip cookie from the jar. “I love you too, Mom.”
    “Yeah, whatever.” She placed a folded shirt
on Sam’s pile and grimaced as he ate the cookie in one bite. “How
did I get such a charming son?”
    He brushed the crumbs from his lips and
walked past her with a cheeky grin.
    “Stop.”
    No way. She couldn’t have seen…
    “Turn.”
    He knew that tone. Keeping his expression
bland, he turned. His mother’s eyes narrowed and she tipped her
head.
    “What’s that look in your eyes?”
    “What look?”
    “That one you get when you’ve seen something
you want and are coming up with a plan of attack.”
    He shrugged. “Don’t know what you’re talking
about.”
    Her eyes narrowed further. He was done
for.
    “Do you like one of the girls you’re going to
the movies with tonight?”
    “Nope.”
    She leaned towards him.
    “You like someone .”
    He looked at the floor.
    “Harrison Nathan Granger.”
    “It’s no big deal, Mom.”
    “This isn’t going to be another Amy incident,
is it?”
    He tipped back his head and rolled his eyes.
“Mom, I was a love sick romantic when she dumped me, of course I
was going to react badly.”
    “I haven’t seen this look on your face for a
long time. Don’t forget I know you better than you think.”
    He shook his head. “Amy never would have
broken it off if we hadn’t been moving for the millionth time that
year.”
    “Hey…”
    “Anyway, if you’re serious about staying here
until after I graduate, that gives me a year and a half to have a
little fun, so what’s the big deal?”
    “That’s not your style, baby. You’re always
all or nothing.”
    Harrison sniffed and shoved his hands in his
pockets. “Well, it’s nothing, so don’t worry about it.”
    Helen’s face crinkled with a frown, her eyes
storming with intensity. Harrison sighed and placed his hands on
her shoulders.
    “Mom, I know it’s like asking you not to
breathe, but you can do it, okay? You don’t have to worry about
me.”
    “I just don’t