Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“Laura?” Ariadne spews a little hot chocolate.
I take my napkin and wipe off her sweater and then the table. “So this is the imaginary friend you told me about?”
“Yeah. You’re here.” Ariadne seems just as surprised as I am.
“You thought I was imaginary?” Laura’s brown eyes swivel to Ariadne, then back to me. “I’m Laura. You’re Brendan.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
“Is it?” she asks sharply.
I’m not following. “Come again?”
“Laura, we’re friends now, okay? Remember? Brendan is one of the good guys?”
She snorts. “I don’t think so.”
“Don’t be rude.” Ariadne squirms.
I don’t like anything that makes my angel feel uncomfortable. “Is there a problem, Laura?”
“You’ve been taunting my girl here for years with your Christmas decoration foolishness, and now you’re trying to win your little game by leading her on and making her think you actually like her? Shame on you.” Laura sneers.
Ariadne’s eyes widen. “Wait, what?”
“He’s not what he seems.” Laura shakes her head. “He’s no good. Come on, let’s go home and see what’s in your fridge.”
Ariadne’s confusion grows. “But we were going to the parade—”
“He’s just playing you, honey. That’s how bad he wants to win the Christmas decorations feud. He’s convinced you that he cares about you so you’ll let your foot off the gas.”
Ariadne pales and looks at me. “Is that true?”
“No, of course not.” I reach across the table for her, but she pulls her hand back. “Angel, please. I’m not tricking you. I swear.”
“That’s just what a trickster would say.” Laura takes Ariadne by the elbow and pulls her to her feet. “Come on.”
“She’s wrong.” I stand, too, but when I see the panic starting to well inside Ariadne, I force myself to relax my posture. “Everything’s okay, Ariadne.”
Her eyes dart around the bakery that’s busy ahead of the parade. She folds in on herself, crossing her arms over her stomach in a defensive move.
“You’re safe.”
“She is now.” Laura puts her arms around Ariadne’s shoulders and leads her away from me.
Laura shoots me a hard glare, and Ariadne moves quickly, her fight or flight taking over.
“Angel,” I call and follow them out into the parking lot. “None of that is true.”
She rubs her temples. “I can’t tell.” Her eyes are watering, and I reach for her, but she steps back. “I can’t tell. I thought it was real, but what if you are tricking me to make fun of me?”
“I’m not.” My heart pounds as I watch her get into Laura’s red car.
“I just need to go home.” A tear drops onto her cheek as she closes the door.
“Stay away from her.” Laura points at me as she gets into the driver’s seat.
“You’re wrong about me.”
“No, I’m not, hacker.” She whispers the last word, my truth escaping into the air on a foggy breath. Then she sinks down and slams her door.
I watch as the car backs away. Ariadne’s face is in her hands, and she doesn’t look my way. Laura knows about me. Ariadne was joking about her being a spy. I don’t think it’s a joke. Not with this girl. She has my number, and that’s a bad, bad thing in this business. But I can deal with that later. Right now, I have to go after Ariadne. Rushing back inside, I grab the bag with the drives in it and toss a $20 onto the table.
The sounds of a band warming up drift over from the parade route. Checking my watch, I realize I have just fifteen minutes before I have to be at the drop spot. That’s where I should be going. I need to get this done. But as I get in my truck, I find myself hesitating. I have to make the drop. But Ariadne is hurting. She needs me, and I can’t let another minute pass without her knowing how I feel about her. I’ll just be late to make the drop, but I’ll still get it done.
Turning away from the parade route, I follow my heart as the first flakes of snow begin to fall.
14
ARIADNE
I stare out the window as the snowflakes start to fall. A lump is lodged in my throat as I try to stop myself from crying. I reach into my sweater and flick off the lights that seem too happy for how I feel right now.
“Don’t turn your sweater off.” Laura reaches over and pats my thigh, trying to reassure me.
I don’t want to believe some of the things she said, but it’s hard not to trust her. Laura is my friend and, imaginary or not, she’s stuck with me despite all my quirks. I almost feel stupid for not realizing what Satan Claus was doing. He seemed so genuine, like he truly cared about me. My insecurities have me easily believing what Laura says is the truth about Brendan, but my gut is telling me otherwise. Which one should I trust?