Read Online Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Becca Fitzpatrick
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that’s what this was.
“It’s not easy losing your dad, believe me,” I said. “The pain never really goes away, but it does eventually become bearable. And somehow, life moves on.”
“I’m not looking for a sympathy card, Nora.”
“Okay,” I said with a reluctant shrug. “If you ever need to talk, I guess you can call me.”
“I won’t have to. I’m moving in with you,” Marcie announced. “I’ll bring my stuff over later this week. My mom is driving me crazy, and we both agree I need
somewhere else to crash for a while. Your place is as good as any. Well, I for one am so glad we had this talk. If there’s one thing my dad taught me, it’s that Nephilim stick
together.”
C HAPTER
6
N O,” I BLURTED AUTOMATICALLY. “NO, NO, NO. YOU can’t just—move in with me.” A feeling of
pure panic escalated from my toes to the tips of my ears, blowing up faster than I could contain it. I needed an argument.
Now.
But my brain kept spitting out the same frantic and
completely unhelpful thought—
No.
“I’ve made up my mind,” Marcie said, and disappeared inside.
“What about me?” I called out. I kicked the door, but what I really felt like doing was kicking myself around for an hour or two. I’d done Vee a favor and look where it had
gotten me.
I flung open the door and marched inside. I found Vee at our booth.
“Which way did she go?” I demanded.
“Who?”
“Marcie!”
“I thought she was with you.”
I shot Vee my best bristled look. “This is all your fault! I have to find her.”
Without further explanation, I pushed through the crowd, eyes alert and attentive for any sign of Marcie. I needed to sort this out before it got wildly out of hand.
She’s testing
you,
I told myself.
Putting feelers out. Nothing is set in stone.
Besides, my mom had final say in this. And she wouldn’t let Marcie move in with us. Marcie had her own family.
She was short one parent, sure, but I was a living testament that family was about more than numbers. Buoyed by this line of thinking, I felt my breathing start to relax.
The lights dimmed and the lead singer for Serpentine grabbed the mic, pounding his head in a silent cadence. Taking the cue, the drummer hammered out an intro, and Scott and the other guitarist
joined in, kicking off the show with a violent and angsty number. The crowd went wild, head-banging and chanting the lyrics.
I gave one last frustrated glance around for Marcie, then dropped it. I’d have to sort things out with her later. The start of the show was my signal to meet Patch at the bar, and just
like that, my heart was back to lurching in my chest.
I made my way over to the bar and took the first bar stool I saw. I sat down a little too hard, losing my balance at the last second. My legs felt like they were made of rubber, and my fingers
shook. I didn’t know how I was going to get through this.
“ID, sweetheart?” the bartender asked. An electric-like current vibrated off him, alerting me that he was Nephilim. Just as Patch had said he’d be.
I shook my head. “Just a Sprite, please.”
Not a moment later, I felt Patch move behind me. The energy radiating off him was far stronger than the bartender’s, skimming like heat under my skin. He always had that effect on me, but
unlike usual, tonight the sizzling current made me sick with anxiety. It meant Patch had arrived, and I was out of time. I didn’t want to go through with this, but I understood that I
didn’t really have a choice. I had to play this smart and factor in my safety, and that of those I loved most dearly.
Ready?
Patch asked me in the privacy of our thoughts.
If feeling like I’ll throw up at any minute constitutes ready, sure.
I’ll come over to your place later and we’ll talk it over. Right now, let’s just get through this.
I nodded.
Just like we rehearsed,
he spoke calmly to my mind.
Patch? Whatever happens, I love you.
I wanted to say more, those three words pitifully
“It’s not easy losing your dad, believe me,” I said. “The pain never really goes away, but it does eventually become bearable. And somehow, life moves on.”
“I’m not looking for a sympathy card, Nora.”
“Okay,” I said with a reluctant shrug. “If you ever need to talk, I guess you can call me.”
“I won’t have to. I’m moving in with you,” Marcie announced. “I’ll bring my stuff over later this week. My mom is driving me crazy, and we both agree I need
somewhere else to crash for a while. Your place is as good as any. Well, I for one am so glad we had this talk. If there’s one thing my dad taught me, it’s that Nephilim stick
together.”
C HAPTER
6
N O,” I BLURTED AUTOMATICALLY. “NO, NO, NO. YOU can’t just—move in with me.” A feeling of
pure panic escalated from my toes to the tips of my ears, blowing up faster than I could contain it. I needed an argument.
Now.
But my brain kept spitting out the same frantic and
completely unhelpful thought—
No.
“I’ve made up my mind,” Marcie said, and disappeared inside.
“What about me?” I called out. I kicked the door, but what I really felt like doing was kicking myself around for an hour or two. I’d done Vee a favor and look where it had
gotten me.
I flung open the door and marched inside. I found Vee at our booth.
“Which way did she go?” I demanded.
“Who?”
“Marcie!”
“I thought she was with you.”
I shot Vee my best bristled look. “This is all your fault! I have to find her.”
Without further explanation, I pushed through the crowd, eyes alert and attentive for any sign of Marcie. I needed to sort this out before it got wildly out of hand.
She’s testing
you,
I told myself.
Putting feelers out. Nothing is set in stone.
Besides, my mom had final say in this. And she wouldn’t let Marcie move in with us. Marcie had her own family.
She was short one parent, sure, but I was a living testament that family was about more than numbers. Buoyed by this line of thinking, I felt my breathing start to relax.
The lights dimmed and the lead singer for Serpentine grabbed the mic, pounding his head in a silent cadence. Taking the cue, the drummer hammered out an intro, and Scott and the other guitarist
joined in, kicking off the show with a violent and angsty number. The crowd went wild, head-banging and chanting the lyrics.
I gave one last frustrated glance around for Marcie, then dropped it. I’d have to sort things out with her later. The start of the show was my signal to meet Patch at the bar, and just
like that, my heart was back to lurching in my chest.
I made my way over to the bar and took the first bar stool I saw. I sat down a little too hard, losing my balance at the last second. My legs felt like they were made of rubber, and my fingers
shook. I didn’t know how I was going to get through this.
“ID, sweetheart?” the bartender asked. An electric-like current vibrated off him, alerting me that he was Nephilim. Just as Patch had said he’d be.
I shook my head. “Just a Sprite, please.”
Not a moment later, I felt Patch move behind me. The energy radiating off him was far stronger than the bartender’s, skimming like heat under my skin. He always had that effect on me, but
unlike usual, tonight the sizzling current made me sick with anxiety. It meant Patch had arrived, and I was out of time. I didn’t want to go through with this, but I understood that I
didn’t really have a choice. I had to play this smart and factor in my safety, and that of those I loved most dearly.
Ready?
Patch asked me in the privacy of our thoughts.
If feeling like I’ll throw up at any minute constitutes ready, sure.
I’ll come over to your place later and we’ll talk it over. Right now, let’s just get through this.
I nodded.
Just like we rehearsed,
he spoke calmly to my mind.
Patch? Whatever happens, I love you.
I wanted to say more, those three words pitifully
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