Read Online Vengeance by Michelle Madow - Free Book Online Page B

about his company. I couldn’t help thinking there was a possibility he was dating. He hadn’t been on many dates since my mom passed away when I was in third grade. No one would ever be able to replace her, but I would be happy if he was making an effort to get himself out there. I’d been telling him he should for years.
    I didn’t have much time to think about it before my cell phone buzzed in my back pocket.
    I’m outside , the text from Shannon read.
    On my way out , I replied. I grabbed my jacket and gloves from the front closet and put them on before leaving the house, watching out for patches of ice on the sidewalk as I headed towards Shannon’s Lexus SUV. She had on huge pink designer sunglasses, and her short blonde hair was ironed straight, not a strand out of place.
    “You’re looking better,” she said as I got into the car, lowering the pop music blaring from her speakers.
    “Thanks,” I said, even though I felt anything but. These past few weeks, full of rejection from the two people I cared most about in the world, had worn me out more than I ever thought possible.
    I didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then Shannon asked, “So, have you talked to Drew since the party?”
    “No.” I shook my head and gazed out the window, not wanting to think about Friday night more than I had to. “I almost called him a few times, but it felt too pathetic. I’m not going to be that girl who won’t stop calling her ex and annoys him to death.”
    “Good move,” she agreed. “You don’t want to make him happy about breaking up with you.”
    “Definitely not,” I said. “But I do want him to regret it.”
    Shannon raised an eyebrow. “Did you have anything in mind?” she asked.
    “I was up for a while last night trying to think of something,” I started, glad she was willing to listen. She even seemed on board to help. I wasn’t sure why she cared, but I did like having someone to talk with about it all.
    “And …” she prodded.
    “Nothing.” I sighed and sat back in the seat. “All my ideas seemed lame—finding someone else to date to make him jealous, telling him I’m okay being friends with him and then having him regret breaking up with me in the first place, or wearing hot outfits to school to make sure he notices me. I couldn’t think of anything that would work. And I have this feeling, even though it doesn’t make sense, that this wasn’t supposed to be how things ended with us. That we’re supposed to be together. It sounds nuts, and I feel like an idiot for thinking it, but I can’t shake the idea that everything happening now is wrong. It’s all off, and I can’t explain why.”
    Shannon pressed her glossed lips together and nodded, like she wasn’t sure how to respond.
    “I know it sounds crazy,” I said. “Forget it.”
    “No.” Shannon shook her head and tapped her French manicured fingernails on the steering wheel. “That’s all very interesting. In fact, I might be able to help.”
    That wasn’t what I was expecting. “If you have any ideas, I’m willing to listen,” I said. “I need all the help I can get.”
    “Alright.” She flipped her short blonde hair over her shoulder and looked at me before turning her attention back to the road. “This might sound strange, but hear me out. Have you ever seen that store in the mall, Mystic Pathways?”
    “The one with the crystals in the display windows?” I asked. I’d seen the store and even been inside it once—but that was a few years ago, with Lizzie as a joke. I still remembered it clearly though. It was dark inside, and full of beads, old books, and unidentifiable herbs. Plus, the lady who worked there was strange. She reminded me of the old scary women in fairytales—the ones who give candy to children before kidnapping them and cooking them in the oven.
    “That’s the one.” Shannon nodded. “My great-aunt owns it. She’s into all that magic stuff. Promise you won’t tell anyone though,