Read Online Got Thrills? A Boxed Set (A McCray Collection) by Carolyn McCray - Free Book Online
Authors: Carolyn McCray
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house is in that direction.”
Next to her, Michael just shrugged. “I figured I would drop you off on the way back, if that’s okay?”
It wasn’t okay, but Cecilia did not want to make a fuss and draw even more attention to the awkward silence. Ever since they had dropped off Francesca, Helen had been unable to engage either one of them in conversation. She sat pouting, even worse than Cecilia, in the backseat.
As they pulled up to Helen’s driveway, her friend could not help but give it one more try. “Are you sure that I shouldn’t come over and help you with your trig homework? I know how much trouble you have with proofing.”
Cecilia cocked her head. “I think you’ve helped enough, Helen. I will call you tomorrow.”
With a sigh loud enough to be heard across the block, Helen got out of the car and stood at the curb as Michael pulled the car away.
“Tonight!” Helen yelled as they made their way down the block. “No. Call me as soon as you get home !”
Cecilia tried to pretend she didn’t know exactly why Helen wanted her to call. This was the first time she had been alone with a boy since her dad died. She knew her friends meant well, but she really did not see how a hookup, or even a full-fledged boyfriend, would make her life any better. As a matter of fact, she dreaded having to explain half the crap that happened at her house to an outsider.
Michael went to speak, then coughed, then had to clear his throat before he finally was able to get his words out. “So, I take it you’re not a huge Diana Dahmer fan?”
Trying to be polite, Cecilia answered, “You could say that.”
“Is it the beat, or—”
“Look,” she said, stopping him. She squirmed a bit in her seat, regretting accepting the ride. If she had any notion that Michael was going to change the route and drop her off last, she never would have gotten into the car, let alone the front seat.
“I appreciate you driving us all home and everything, but we have absolutely nothing in common to talk about.”
“Okay… ” Michael said, as he focused back on the road in front of them.
Relaxing back into the seat, Cecilia counted the blocks until she was home.
“Um,” Michael continued, thoroughly dashing her hopes of a silent ride home. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“I’m sorry? I don’t understand.”
“Well, to my knowledge, I don’t think we have really exchanged more than a ‘Yo’ in the hallway, so how do you know that we have absolutely nothing in common?”
His eyes slid over playfully to her. “I mean, what’s your position on alpaca farming?”
“I guess, well, I didn’t even know they farmed them,” Cecilia answered.
“See? I didn’t, either.”
In spite of herself, Cecilia felt a grin spread across her lips. She was even a touch sad that he pulled up to her driveway. Michael smiled back as he put the car in park. He turned to her, his blue eyes flashing with humor.
“So, now that we’ve established such a broad base of similarity, how about you come along to the concert tonight?”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” she answered, but not quite as forcefully as she might have a few minutes ago. Still, the smile fell a bit on Michael’s face, so she rushed on. “But thanks. Really.”
She opened the door and got out before her resistance was worn down any more. Michael leaned over the seat. “If you change your mind… ”
“I won’t,” Cecilia said.
But Michael only smiled. “Stranger things have happened.”
Perhaps they had. However, she had three loads of laundry, a sink full of dirty dishes, and one scary-messy garage to clean up. But she did wave as he left. Michael deserved that much. It wasn’t his fault that her life sucked big time.
* * *
Panting, the killer scaled the last of the roof and squeezed his frame through the open window. The thrill of nearly being discovered coursed through his body.
Talk about a thrill rush!
He tossed the bloody knife onto the
Next to her, Michael just shrugged. “I figured I would drop you off on the way back, if that’s okay?”
It wasn’t okay, but Cecilia did not want to make a fuss and draw even more attention to the awkward silence. Ever since they had dropped off Francesca, Helen had been unable to engage either one of them in conversation. She sat pouting, even worse than Cecilia, in the backseat.
As they pulled up to Helen’s driveway, her friend could not help but give it one more try. “Are you sure that I shouldn’t come over and help you with your trig homework? I know how much trouble you have with proofing.”
Cecilia cocked her head. “I think you’ve helped enough, Helen. I will call you tomorrow.”
With a sigh loud enough to be heard across the block, Helen got out of the car and stood at the curb as Michael pulled the car away.
“Tonight!” Helen yelled as they made their way down the block. “No. Call me as soon as you get home !”
Cecilia tried to pretend she didn’t know exactly why Helen wanted her to call. This was the first time she had been alone with a boy since her dad died. She knew her friends meant well, but she really did not see how a hookup, or even a full-fledged boyfriend, would make her life any better. As a matter of fact, she dreaded having to explain half the crap that happened at her house to an outsider.
Michael went to speak, then coughed, then had to clear his throat before he finally was able to get his words out. “So, I take it you’re not a huge Diana Dahmer fan?”
Trying to be polite, Cecilia answered, “You could say that.”
“Is it the beat, or—”
“Look,” she said, stopping him. She squirmed a bit in her seat, regretting accepting the ride. If she had any notion that Michael was going to change the route and drop her off last, she never would have gotten into the car, let alone the front seat.
“I appreciate you driving us all home and everything, but we have absolutely nothing in common to talk about.”
“Okay… ” Michael said, as he focused back on the road in front of them.
Relaxing back into the seat, Cecilia counted the blocks until she was home.
“Um,” Michael continued, thoroughly dashing her hopes of a silent ride home. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“I’m sorry? I don’t understand.”
“Well, to my knowledge, I don’t think we have really exchanged more than a ‘Yo’ in the hallway, so how do you know that we have absolutely nothing in common?”
His eyes slid over playfully to her. “I mean, what’s your position on alpaca farming?”
“I guess, well, I didn’t even know they farmed them,” Cecilia answered.
“See? I didn’t, either.”
In spite of herself, Cecilia felt a grin spread across her lips. She was even a touch sad that he pulled up to her driveway. Michael smiled back as he put the car in park. He turned to her, his blue eyes flashing with humor.
“So, now that we’ve established such a broad base of similarity, how about you come along to the concert tonight?”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” she answered, but not quite as forcefully as she might have a few minutes ago. Still, the smile fell a bit on Michael’s face, so she rushed on. “But thanks. Really.”
She opened the door and got out before her resistance was worn down any more. Michael leaned over the seat. “If you change your mind… ”
“I won’t,” Cecilia said.
But Michael only smiled. “Stranger things have happened.”
Perhaps they had. However, she had three loads of laundry, a sink full of dirty dishes, and one scary-messy garage to clean up. But she did wave as he left. Michael deserved that much. It wasn’t his fault that her life sucked big time.
* * *
Panting, the killer scaled the last of the roof and squeezed his frame through the open window. The thrill of nearly being discovered coursed through his body.
Talk about a thrill rush!
He tossed the bloody knife onto the
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