Mark of the Seer Read Free Page A

dropped. “Clarity, are you serious? Look at that guy. He's totally hawt !”
    I bit my lip, trying not to giggle. “Yep, you're right. He's definitely cute.” The urge to laugh was caught in my throat, ready to burst any minute.
    “Told ya!” she exclaimed with a satisfied grin.
    “Only one problem.”
    “What?”
    Cutting my eyes slowly and mischievously, I said, “That's Kevin Davis.” Her eyes grew the size of softballs at the revelation. I kept going—couldn't help myself. “You know that bronzed god!” The uncontainable laughter escaped again, splitting my sides.
    She shook her head. “Uh-uh, no way.”
    “Yes way.” I wiped tears from my eyes. “Kevin Davis, Garlandton's bronzed god !” I had deepened my voice with the last three words, like an announcer at a football game.
    Kora's face was a complete blank, uncertainty clouded her eyes. “Well, I'll be darned,” she commented, turning around and leaning her back against the bale, looking troubled. “How, uh, hmm.” I was thoroughly amazed. For the first time ever, Kora Dodd was speechless!
    “Let me explain,” I began, leaning my back on the bale, too. “You see, Kora, when you live on a farm workin' twelve, sometimes sixteen hour days in the hot summer sun, it tends to change your entire form, giving you a tan and some massive muscles. What you are seeing is the product of hard work.”
    Kora snickered, smiling wickedly. “All that work has sho' paid off—Kevin's a hottie now!”
    The words Kevin's a hottie coming out of Kora's mouth disturbed me. Not that Kevin was a bad guy or anything. In fact he was a pretty decent guy and a hard worker. I guess I was disturbed because she sounded interested in Kevin, which sounded a little off to me.
    Kora was known around town as being a party girl, drinking until she fell over and, sometimes, sleeping with the occasional stranger. Listening to her talk about Kevin being hot was just plain comical.
    On the other hand, Kevin was a shy simple farm boy who attended church faithfully and had never had a girlfriend (at least not that I knew of). I mean, I doubt he'd ever kissed a girl. Thinking about a perverted Kora and a bashful Kevin—well, that would be an odd combo.
    “So, Kora. Now you're interested in Kevin?” I didn't try to hide my astonishment.
    She shrugged her shoulders. “A girl can dream, can't she?”
    Before I could retort, a male voice broke into our little powwow.
    “Hey.” Turning around to see who the voice belonged to, a smile took control of my lips. It was Brenton.
    “H-Hey, Brenton,” I stammered like a moron. I wondered if he had heard everything. “How long ya been standin' there?”
    “Yeah,” Kora nervously pushed in, her body tensing next to me. “Did you, uh, hear anything we said?”
    Brenton looked amused, grinning from ear to ear, deep dimples lounging on his cheeks. Oh, how I loved those dimples!
    “No, no, no, I didn't hear a thing,” he answered promptly, his eyes flicking from me back to Kora. “I mean, all that about Kevin having massive muscles and being a hottie didn't catch my attention at all.” He snickered, wagging his eyebrows at Kora.
    Kora's face turned as red as a fireball. “Brenton, please. Don't say anything...”
    Brenton laughed, backing up and throwing his hands in the air. “Hey, no worries. It's none of my business. But just so you know,” he leaned in close, “Kevin is very fragile and delicate when he's off the football field, so you have to be gentle. Especially since you're not as, well, delicate .”
    “Brenton, please.” I rolled my eyes.
    Kora's neck was now bright red, embarrassment and anger flaring in her eyes. “Clarity, your boyfriend's gettin' on my nerves.”
    “Kora, settle down,” I told her, patting her back. “He's only kidding. Right, Brenton?” He smirked at Kora. “R ight , Brenton?”
    After a moment he replied, “Right. Don't worry, Kora, your secret's safe with me.”
    “Thanks, Brenton,” Kora