Read Online Rite of Passage by Kevin V. Symmons - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kevin V. Symmons
Tags: General Fiction
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mirrors, grist for the tabloids…”
“Yeah. What if it is, are you gonna ditch your life for this girl?”
“I don’t know, Mike. But I have to know. Please.” I put my hands together in mock prayer.
Michael checked his watch and put up his hand. “It’s three in the morning over there. One of the top guys owes me big time. Saved his life in an air raid. Okay. Can you keep your hands off this British cutie until tomorrow, Romeo?”
I nodded and crossed my heart. “Thanks, Mike. I’ll never forget this.” I stood up and headed for the door, swaying with the effects of the alcohol on an empty stomach. “Keep the articles until the next time we meet.”
“Where the hell are you going, man? You didn’t even touch that five-dollar piece of meat in front of you.”
“Sorry, brother. I can’t.” I checked my watch. It was almost ten. “I’ve gotta get back. I just have to see her again.”
“Love. Hope I never catch it! Go ahead. Get the hell out of here.” He waved me toward the door. “Expect to hear from me. And drive safely, goddamn it.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “You’ve had a lot to drink and if anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself and neither would Mom.”
Chapter Eleven
I stumbled down the long staircase and jumped into my roadster without benefit of the door. Michael stood on the deck shaking his head as he waved goodnight. The alcohol in my empty stomach took control. Random thoughts and questions swam through my head. About Courtney, my feelings, witchcraft, Jonathan’s dislike for her, Rachel, and what to say when I worked up the courage to call her.
The dark, narrow roads shot past in a blur. I had no memory of their passing. In no time I found myself at the estate. I vowed to find Jon and give him a punch in the nose, but there was something I wanted more: to find Courtney and stare into her enormous brown eyes. Maybe I was bewitched. I’d never been a drippy romantic. Every relationship was fun, satisfying, and good for me. This all-consuming passion was something totally new and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
I was at the turnoff for the estate when I saw the red and blue lights in the rearview mirror.I pulled over a hundred yards from the long gravel driveway, leaning my head against the steering wheel. The officer pulled up behind me and got out of his powerful Ford cruiser. He started toward me. I opened the door and put my foot on the pavement.
“Please, sir,” he commanded. “Stay in the vehicle.”
As he spoke a vision in a long black skirt and fitted white blouse materialized in the mirror.
“Officer,” I overheard her as she approached the policeman. “This poor man must have been at the hospital. We have a very sick friend and Robert is distraught.”
Who could resist that voice, that face, that figure? I turned to watch the show. The trooper surveyed Courtney like a road map.
“Hello.” He nodded, giving her a generous smile. As he did, she touched the pendant that adorned her neck, then wrapped her long fingers around his arm.
“Well, miss. If you…say…so...” Was it the alcohol? His speech sounded strange and slurred. I tried to focus. He stood, eyes glassy as he stared at her. She turned in my direction, staring at me. A strange glow illuminated her brown eyes. I felt weak and limp. Imagination and alcohol run amok!
“Just to make sure, Officer…Kent.” Courtney turned her attention toward the policeman again. She touched his chest softly. “I’ll drive my friend’s car the last quarter mile. And as you can tell”—she approached him closely and blew softly in his face—“I’m in perfect condition to drive.”
“Ah yes, yes, miss. You certainly are.” He took a clumsy step backward, shaking his head. “That’s fine.” He walked erratically back to his vehicle. “Fine, fine condition,” he repeated, still shaking his head as he nodded and got in.
“You’ve been very kind,” she thanked him and
“Yeah. What if it is, are you gonna ditch your life for this girl?”
“I don’t know, Mike. But I have to know. Please.” I put my hands together in mock prayer.
Michael checked his watch and put up his hand. “It’s three in the morning over there. One of the top guys owes me big time. Saved his life in an air raid. Okay. Can you keep your hands off this British cutie until tomorrow, Romeo?”
I nodded and crossed my heart. “Thanks, Mike. I’ll never forget this.” I stood up and headed for the door, swaying with the effects of the alcohol on an empty stomach. “Keep the articles until the next time we meet.”
“Where the hell are you going, man? You didn’t even touch that five-dollar piece of meat in front of you.”
“Sorry, brother. I can’t.” I checked my watch. It was almost ten. “I’ve gotta get back. I just have to see her again.”
“Love. Hope I never catch it! Go ahead. Get the hell out of here.” He waved me toward the door. “Expect to hear from me. And drive safely, goddamn it.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “You’ve had a lot to drink and if anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself and neither would Mom.”
Chapter Eleven
I stumbled down the long staircase and jumped into my roadster without benefit of the door. Michael stood on the deck shaking his head as he waved goodnight. The alcohol in my empty stomach took control. Random thoughts and questions swam through my head. About Courtney, my feelings, witchcraft, Jonathan’s dislike for her, Rachel, and what to say when I worked up the courage to call her.
The dark, narrow roads shot past in a blur. I had no memory of their passing. In no time I found myself at the estate. I vowed to find Jon and give him a punch in the nose, but there was something I wanted more: to find Courtney and stare into her enormous brown eyes. Maybe I was bewitched. I’d never been a drippy romantic. Every relationship was fun, satisfying, and good for me. This all-consuming passion was something totally new and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
I was at the turnoff for the estate when I saw the red and blue lights in the rearview mirror.I pulled over a hundred yards from the long gravel driveway, leaning my head against the steering wheel. The officer pulled up behind me and got out of his powerful Ford cruiser. He started toward me. I opened the door and put my foot on the pavement.
“Please, sir,” he commanded. “Stay in the vehicle.”
As he spoke a vision in a long black skirt and fitted white blouse materialized in the mirror.
“Officer,” I overheard her as she approached the policeman. “This poor man must have been at the hospital. We have a very sick friend and Robert is distraught.”
Who could resist that voice, that face, that figure? I turned to watch the show. The trooper surveyed Courtney like a road map.
“Hello.” He nodded, giving her a generous smile. As he did, she touched the pendant that adorned her neck, then wrapped her long fingers around his arm.
“Well, miss. If you…say…so...” Was it the alcohol? His speech sounded strange and slurred. I tried to focus. He stood, eyes glassy as he stared at her. She turned in my direction, staring at me. A strange glow illuminated her brown eyes. I felt weak and limp. Imagination and alcohol run amok!
“Just to make sure, Officer…Kent.” Courtney turned her attention toward the policeman again. She touched his chest softly. “I’ll drive my friend’s car the last quarter mile. And as you can tell”—she approached him closely and blew softly in his face—“I’m in perfect condition to drive.”
“Ah yes, yes, miss. You certainly are.” He took a clumsy step backward, shaking his head. “That’s fine.” He walked erratically back to his vehicle. “Fine, fine condition,” he repeated, still shaking his head as he nodded and got in.
“You’ve been very kind,” she thanked him and
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