Read Beautiful Sins: Leigha Lowery for Free Online

joked. She threw the spoon at me.
    "Ouch! Mom, no need to get on the defensive." I winced, rubbing my shoulder.
    "So, what were you cooking anyway?" I asked. She shrugged and took the pan of frying produce and tossed it into the sink.
    "I was going to make some chili. But I guess we can go out. Oh, that reminds me… That small Escape is your car. Randy bought me an Escalade." I frowned at her. I did not want that truck.
    "Mom, I told you something small!" I cried.
    "I know honey, but Randy thinks that an SUV would be safer for you to drive." I rolled my eyes. I couldn't complain though. Randy was the first man in my life to put my needs first. I would respect his wishes, and just deal with the Escape.
    "Maybe we could go out to eat… Let's see how good these diners are around town." I frowned. I didn't want to tell my mother I had plans to go into the city already. However, I couldn't invite her either. What would the girls think of me if I had my lonely mother tagging along side me?
    "Mom, I already promised some friends that I would meet them in Portland already." She sighed. I knew she didn't want to be away from me but, I couldn't just avoid the girls. They would be in town.
    "It's alright honey. Go on, have a good time. Just make sure you get back at a decent hour." She said as she walked into the living room. I felt guilty for leaving her but, I simply didn't have much of a choice. You don't just stand up the most popular girls in school. I sighed, grabbed my purse and keys along with my coat and headed off to Portland. This would be an interesting night…
     
     
     
     

* * * * *
     
     
    Café Voila
     
    Portland was dead, just as I assumed. So it wasn't difficult to find a parking spot. I fluffed out my hair and put on some lip-gloss to brighten my features. The night sky was beautiful, and I could see myself here on the Coast for a long time. I decided not to carry my purse, and pulled some cash and my pepper spray out and tucked them into my back pockets. I'm sure the pepper spray was a little unnecessary but, I grew up in Detroit. You could never be too careful these days.
    The café was unlike any place I had imagined. I had missed their movie outing, so I would try to make up for it by buying them a latte or something. I really needed to at least attempt to try to fit in. I was never the "type" to be considered popular at all. So the fact that they were paying attention to me was all that mattered.
    Jenny gasped in shock as I took a seat between her and Tiffany.
    "What?" I asked anxiously. Jenny reached out for my charm necklace and held it gently in her palm.
    "I didn't know you were a part of Royce's court? Why didn't you say anything?" She chided. I shrugged.
    "Court? Oh yeah, my stepfather Randy has a high position with King Royce. I forgot all about that." I muttered.
    "Well, what is his position? How often does he go up to the Islands?"
    "Er… I really don't know. I'll ask him though." I answered. Naomi glowered at me.
    "So when are your etiquette courses? You should be prepping yourself for marriage if you want a nice decent man from the court." Naomi chided.
    "I heard they are all monsters on the Island, and that King Royce and his family are vampires." Tiffany gossiped in a whisper.
    "Shh… You cannot talk like that here." Naomi chided, slapping her on the wrist.
    "Oh why not? We are hundreds of miles from the Islands. What would it matter to them what was said?" Tiffany defended. I groaned. My attempt to fit in was a complete failure.
    "I'm going to head to the bar to get a latte or something. Do you guys want anything?" I asked.
    I was happy to be at the bar. All those questions about King Royce, and courtship made me feel like I was on an old King Henry film or something.
    "Good evening, can I get you anything?" The pretty barista offered.
    "Yes, I'll have a small vanilla latte. With non-fat milk of course." The barista smiled back at me and began to make my drink.
    "Vanilla huh? That explains