Read Online Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause - Free Book Online Page A

as they pulled to the curb in front of a large brick, ivy-covered house. Aiden led her through a white picket side gate and past the kitchen steps to the backyard. On a crazy-paved patio a thin, slightly balding man in a striped apron was poking at the embers under the grill.
    â€œHi, Dad!” Aiden called.
    The man looked up, waved a spatula at his son in greeting, and then saw Vivian. His mouth opened a fraction wider, and he raised his eyebrows. He recovered quickly. “You’re Vivian?”
    â€œPleased to meet you,” she answered.
    â€œWell, you’re an improvement,” Mr. Teague said, and laughed.
    â€œDad!” Aiden looked mortified.
    â€œHe usually goes for the combat boots and black eyeliner types,” Aiden’s father explained. “I’m glad he’s brought home someone normal for a change. His girlfriends usually scare the hell out of me.”
    â€œStop embarrassing your son.” An attractive woman, older than Vivian’s mother, came down the kitchen steps, carrying a tray. A skinny girl in pink shorts, about thirteen years old, followed her with soda bottles under each arm. The girl eyed Vivian boldly.
    â€œThis is my mom,” Aiden said, “and my sister, Ashley.”
    â€œWe’re happy you could come,” Mrs. Teague said, but her smile was brittle as she took in Vivian head to toe. She put her tray on the picnic table.
    â€œYeah,” said Ashley. “Sure.” She dumped the big plastic bottles beside the tray, then flopped into a recliner and dragged the earphones around her neck back to her ears.
    â€œAshley, there are people present,” her father called over.
    Ashley closed her eyes in response, and Mrs. Teague sighed in exasperation. “Want a Coke?” she asked Vivian.
    â€œYes, please. Great.”
    â€œHow do you like your burger?” asked Mr. Teague.
    â€œRare, thank you,” Vivian answered. She sat on the other recliner and crossed her legs. Aiden sat on the flagstones at her side. She could tell Mr. Teague was sneaking peeks at her. Aiden was too busy looking at her himself to notice.
    Aiden’s parents were polite enough, but she didn’t feel as if she was being welcomed as part of the family or anything; she was more of a curiosity. She felt vaguely worried. Would they change Aiden’s mind about her?
    The meal was served with small talk at the picnic table. Aiden took every chance he could to touch her, brushing her fingers when he handed her a fork, wiping some crumbs from her face, nudging her with his shoulder when he made a joke. Vivian noticed that his mother looked away when he did this, as if his affection bothered her.
    Vivian told the edited version of her background. Mrs. Teague was thrilled at the concept of running a country inn. She had the impression that Esmé must be very chic. “You must introduce me to your mother,” she said.
Yeah,
Vivian thought.
I know you’d love to go with her to a biker bar and get into a friendly fistfight over some guy with “Suck My Crankshaft” tattooed over his heart.
    â€œI expect you’re proud of Aiden’s poem in
The Trumpet,
” she said to change the subject.
    Ashley burst out laughing.
    Mr. Teague stabbed another burger from the serving plate. “I would have preferred a team picture in the yearbook.” It had the smell of an old argument.
    Vivian expected some words of support from Aiden’s mother, but none came.
    Aiden concentrated on his food, but his cheeks were flushed. Vivian wanted to leave and take him with her.
    When they’d finished eating, Aiden helped his mother take the dishes inside. Mrs. Teague looked surprised, and Vivian knew that Aiden must be on his best behavior.
    Mr. Teague glanced over at his daughter, lost again in her Walkman, before he addressed Vivian. “Um, so, what’s a gorgeous girl like you doing with my son?” he asked.
    She was tempted to