Read Online Careful What You Wish For by Shani Petroff - Free Book Online

amused.
    â€œNo!” I couldn’t blame him for thinking I was a juvenile delinquent, following in dear old dad’s footsteps. “Gabi isn’t feeling well,” I lied. “So the nurse gave me permission to take her home. What are you doing here, anyway?”
    â€œWell, you said you didn’t want me visiting you in school. So I waited for you outside.”
    â€œI don’t want you visiting me anywhere !” I needed him gone. And not just because I hated being around him. But because I needed to warn Gabi about what I did. To her! Without Lou finding out.
    â€œNow, now,” he said. “Don’t be so quick. I can be useful. I can help your friend get better. Gabi, what would you like? Chicken soup? Or I can whip you up some cold medicine that tastes like chocolate-dipped strawberries. Or maybe you just need some relaxation. How about a spa day?”
    â€œGabi, don’t even think about accepting any of that,” I warned.
    â€œFine,” she said to me. “But some of it does sound good. I wish—”
    I covered her mouth with my hand. “Think about Max. How he acted in science class. Seriously. Just think about Max.”
    Lou raised an eyebrow at me, and Gabi was completely confused. I could tell by her expression she thought I was nuts.
    â€œWhat?” I moved my hands to my hips. “I just don’t want Lou to go after your soul. You say you want something and he’ll try to bargain you for it.”
    But that wasn’t why I was so frantic. Not this time. I didn’t want Gabi to wish for something because if she did—it would come true. And not because of Lou. But because I ACCIDENTALLY MADE ALL OF HER WISHES COME TRUE. That’s right. All of them. It was the only way to explain everything. Why Max was acting all superior, the junk food in her lunch, the automatic A, getting to leave early. Gabi wished for all of those things to happen—and they did.
    I couldn’t risk her wishing something else—something that could be way, way worse. Especially not with Lou watching.
    â€œI wouldn’t take her soul,” Lou said.
    â€œNo, you’d send Gremory for that,” I shot back at him.
    â€œGremory won’t be trying that again. Not after what happened last time.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œAhh, that demon,” Lou laughed, and shook his head. “Instead of only granting one of his subject’s wishes, he accidentally granted them all. What a mess. But that’s what happens when you don’t have the right training.”
    Gabi let out a gasp.
    Why did she have to pick now to catch on? I glared at her and shook my head ever so slightly. Lou wasn’t supposed to see.
    But of course he did.
    â€œAngel?” he said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHave you tried to grant a wish?”
    â€œOf course not.” I kept eye contact with him. Looking away would have made me seem guilty.
    But Lou wasn’t buying it. He was the devil. A pro at spotting deception. “Angel?” he said again.
    â€œFine,” I answered, giving him a half truth. I read in some article that the best way to get away with a lie was to keep it as close to reality as possible. Without too many details. “I haven’t granted any wishes, but I’m thinking about it. It’ll let me do some good in this world. Unlike you.”
    â€œIt’s too dangerous,” he warned me.
    â€œLike having the devil roaming the streets isn’t?”
    â€œLet’s talk about this.” He took a step closer to me.
    â€œNo. Now go. I have to get Gabi home. She’s sick, remember?”
    Without another word, I grabbed Gabi’s arm and stormed off, dragging her behind me. She might not have been sick, but something was terribly wrong.

chapter 18
    I took Gabi to the McBrin house. It was old and abandoned and we met there every morning so we could walk to school together. No one else ever hung