Read Online Something Of A Kind by Miranda Wheeler - Free Book Online Page B

changeling or a wizard or something.
I’m literally expecting an owl to crash through my bedroom window
with an apology letter, explaining he’s really been with Albus
Dumbledore the whole time.”
“No way,” Noah smirked, nudging her elbow. “Your dad’s
definitely a closet death eater.”
    She laughed, sounding uncertain whether it was hilarious or
ironic or both. “Of course! That explains everything. He’s awful
because he’s secretly working for Voldemort.”
    “You
-KnowWho,” Noah teased, thankful Harry Potter was one
of the few pieces of childhood that hadn’t been distorted by his
parents’ troubles. Sobering at the thought of her leaving, Noah
continued, “So, where would you go if you went back to New
York?”
    “I don’t really know. I mean, I’ve been staying with my aunt and
uncle, sharing a room with my cousin. They’re family, and I love
them, but it’s not like I can stay. Not when I have another legal
guardian. I always felt like I was intruding in their home. Or at least
making it hard for them to move on. I thought it would be better
with Greg, but with him, I’m not just intruding. I’m an entire
invasion. We’re each an outsider in each other’s world. He prefers
his isolation.”
    “Part of you wanted to come to Ashland, though.” He noted,
with one finger pulling away from the cup to point at nothing. “It
doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The researchers all hole up in their
satellite office unless they’re out on their expeditions, sectioning off
half the trails and stuff. I can’t imagine they’re home all that often.”
    “He’s not,” Aly agreed. “Why do you guys keep calling him
that? It makes sense, since he’s a biologist that he would be. It just
strikes me as bizarre.”
    “That’s what the townies call t
he group of scientists he works
with. They call themselves all sorts of things. I guess they work with
a B.F.R.O. type deal, but they claim they’re not an actual part of
them. I guess it’s a private industry thing. They don’t stick around
much, so I’m not sure how much of it is true.”
“The B.F.R.O.” She spoke as if repeating it would bring
recognition, but he didn’t see it clear in her confused expression.
    “The
Big Foot Research Organizationor something like that.”
Chuckling, he added, “Some of them call themselves ‘Squatchers’.
It’s kind of funny. They’re pretty serious.”
    She gave him a funny look, like he was revealing a third arm or
claiming he actually saw the things. “I think you’ve got my father
confused with someone else.”
“No, I’m pretty sure I don’t. You said he’s a field biologist. What
do you think he studies up here in the middle of nowhere?”
    She paused, her eyebrows knitted together in thought. “You
know, I honestly have no idea. I really don’t think my dad has
anything to do with it.”
He shrugged, a palm raised in surrender. “Maybe not. It’s just
what I heard.”
     
Aly nodded, approving his explanation. As she gave it more
thought, she relaxed, her brow smoothing. “Today was fun.”
     
“It was,” he concurred.
     
Smiling at his smile, she met his eyes.
    Aly was simple and somehow complicated. He couldn’t name
her favorite color or her favorite band, but he knew her cousins and
her doubts and that she loved her mother and she didn’t know the
man her father was any more than he did. He met her this morning,
and it already felt like months.
“What do you like to do, Aly?”
“In general?” she inquired, biting her lip.
     
He nodded.
     
“I paint a lot. Lately I’ve been drawing. You?”
     
He smirked. “I like music, but I dowork.”
     
“Guitar?” She guessed, one eye closed in a feigned wince.
     
“Yeah,” he said, brow raised in surprise. “How’d you know?”
    “Lucky guess.” She sipped her coffee with an expression of
euphoria. Setting the cup down, she took his free hand in both of
hers. He shuddered as her fingers explored his.