Charade

Read Charade for Free Online

Book: Read Charade for Free Online
Authors: Cambria Hebert
Tags: Romance Speculative Fiction Suspense
to be a BFF with someone whose aura gave away that maybe she isn’t as great of a friend as you thought.
    “Hey!” I said, tossing the rag on the last table and turning around. From behind Kimber, Cole grinned and waved. I smiled even as my stomach did a little dip. I didn’t want to feel uncomfortable around Cole. But ever since the other day in the parking lot, I did.
    “What the heck happened in here?” Kimber said, looking around at the damage the crowd had left.
    “I think everyone in Sebago Lake stampeded the place this afternoon.” I finished wiping up the last table and turned my attention to the floor. It was littered with napkins and sample spoons. I sighed. “What can I get you guys?”
    “I’ll take a scoop of Moose Tracks,” Kimber said, coming to stand at the counter.
    I looked over at Cole, but he wasn’t paying me any attention. He was picking up the trash-littered floor. “You don’t have to do that Cole.”
    He shoved a handful of trash in a nearby wastebasket and straightened, our eyes meeting for the first time that day. He was such a great guy. “It’s no big.” He smiled.
    I smiled back, then went to work scooping out Kimber’s ice cream and handing it over. Then I looked at Cole, lifting a brow. “Peanut Butter cup.” He pointed to the flavor he wanted.
    I scooped out a huge cupful and then added a drizzle of caramel to the top. It was the way he always got it. “Thanks, Hev,” he said around a huge mouthful.
    “So what are you guys up to today?” I asked, turning away to begin the dreaded cleaning of the milkshake machine.
    “Shopping,” Kimber answered. “My wardrobe for Italy is completely lacking.”
    The mention of the trip made my stomach go tight. I still wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to go. I had to go. Returning the Treasure Map to its rightful place was the only way Sam or I would get any peace. I pushed away my thoughts and worked to make my voice as light as possible. “The trip isn’t for a few weeks yet and already you’re shopping?”
    “A good wardrobe takes planning,” Kimber said, exasperated.
    “Did you get your mom to sign the permission slip yet?” Cole asked.
    “Not yet,” I hedged. “But I will this week.” I had to. Mrs. Britt told me if I didn’t get it signed by the end of the week, she couldn’t hold my spot any longer. I felt the first tingling of panic curl through my belly and stifled the urge to groan. I thought I was past this panic stuff. You are stronger than this! I yelled at myself. Still, the thought of Sam flying off to Rome with the scroll and without me made my heart race. Sam could get hurt, the scroll could get taken, and then… people would die.
    “Heven?” Cole spoke from behind me.
    I spun around, the warm soapy water in the tumbler spilled over onto my sneakers. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”
    “You okay?” he asked, concern darkening his brilliant blue eyes, eyes that seemed to see too much these days.
    “Sure,” I lied, forcing a smile and looked around him at Kimber. “Heading into Portland to shop?”
    “Of course, so we better get going.” Her aura was huge and bright, the colors always bursting around her erratically. Sometimes it was hard to focus when she was around; it was so distracting.
    “Sure. Thanks for coming by.” I took a deep breath and realized that I had managed to calm myself down. Way to go! I was so much stronger than I used to be and it made me proud of myself.
    To my relief, Cole moved off to stand at Kimber’s side. His aura was a lot less intense than Kimber’s, but it was still distracting. Why was his different than everyone else’s? Before going out the door, he fished a five-dollar bill out of his pocket.
    “It’s free,” I reminded him of our free ice cream deal.
    “I know,” he said, sticking the five into the half-empty tip jar.
    I opened my mouth to respond, but my vision clouded with red. Kimber’s aura was practically exploding with jealousy. Not

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