Page 9 of Between Love and War
I whirl around to see him holding it up between two fingers, smug as ever.
“Keep it,” I say with a sarcastic smile. “Maybe make a bonfire. Or light a candle. Or, you know, set yourself on fire.”
Michael pockets the lighter, smirking. “Appreciate the suggestion, but if I wanted to burn in hell, I’d just stand close to you.”
I ignore him and stomp out of his backyard.
Goodbye, secret sanctuary. You will be missed. I’ll light a candle for you… assuming I get my lighter back.
CHAPTER FIVE
Michael
The little hobbit slams the connecting gates. She’s mad that she trespassed my property. Unbelievable. I walk back to my house and notice something glistening on the grass. I go closer to see that it’s one of those e-book readers.
There are stickers on the back—three of which are quotes about reading, one is a drawing of a cake, and one says ‘Property of Kate Cruz.’ I turn it on, and I’m met with an assortment of books. I click on the book titledMurder Thy Neighbor.
Well that’s not comforting. This woman is a psycho.
I return to what she’s currently reading, a book titledPinned on the Bookshelves. The cover is… suggestive. What an interesting contrast to the murder novel. I don’t read books like this, but I find myself scanning through the pages. Just to judge it properly.
And after a few minutes, scanning turns to reading. One chapter turns to two, then five, then, the next thing I know, I’m in bed still reading through Kate’s dirty book. I’m in the partwhere the male character is asking the female character to wear edible underwear when I hear rattling on my window.
Could that be a burglar? Cats?
I approach my window to see that pebbles are being thrown on it. I hesitate for a moment, until I hear a huff. When I finally open the window, I see Kate standing below.
“Well, well,” I say, propping my elbow on the sill. “If it isn’t the neighborhood gremlin.” I tease.
“Very funny. Give me my Kindle!” She whisper-shouts like we’re hiding from someone.
“Cute. You couldn’t go through the front door like a normal person?”
“And risk being seen by neighbors knocking on your door at midnight? No thank you! Just please toss me my Kindle. I’m sure I can catch it.” She extends her hands out. When I don’t budge, she looks down and mutters, “Please.”
“Nope.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no.” I lean forward slightly. “I’m not giving it to you. And, honestly? I don’t think your current reading material is doing you any favors.”
“What?”
“Murder Thy Neighbor?” I exclaim, eyebrow raised. “What’s next?How to Bury a Body in Ten Easy Steps?”
“You went through my Kindle?!” she freaks out.
“Yes. And wow, quite the range you’ve got. Half smut, half true crime.” I wave her Kindle in the air. “Should I be worried?”
She sputters. “First of all, it’s romance.”
“Of course, the one with the edible underwear. Very swoony.” I put a hand to my chest for dramatic effect.
“Second,” she adds, ignoring me, “the true crime is just… research. For when people like you push me to the brink.”
I tilt my head. “Uh-huh. Psychopath Katie.”
She glares. “Don’t call me that.”
