Read The Reaping (The Reapers Book 1) for Free Online Page B

were up until four AM and I got that super craving for doughnuts? We drove around for an hour until we found a 24-hour grocery store with doughnuts. You remember?”
    I nodded.
    “That’s what it’s like. Except it’s four AM all the time, and he’s the doughnuts. Does that make any sense?”
    I nodded again because it did make sense, but no person had ever made me feel that way.
    Angelica shook her head. “Of course you understand. I’m sure you’ve felt that way about plenty of guys. Screw it, there’s no point discussing it. It can’t happen, so I have no choice but to move on.”
    “Sure…”
    She smiled. “I don’t think you’ve ever met him. His name’s Paul and he’s tall. I always seem to go for the tall guys, and he’s totally cute. But that’s not important. The big thing is that we have this amazing connection on a spiritual level. He really believes that two people can be drawn together by cosmic forces. I haven’t told him this, but I think he was a lover of mine in a past life…”
    I only half-listened. It made me uncomfortable when Angelica started talking this way. It wasn’t the ideas that bothered me as much as that the attitude, the crystals, the séances, and all the cosmic voodoo didn’t seem to fit her. Like she was trying to be someone she wasn’t. As though she believed depth and value could only be reached on a cosmic, spiritual level, and as a result, she missed out on what was truly wonderful about herself.
    I had wanted to be friends with Angelica the first time I saw her. She had just looked so happy and easy. Like nothing bad could ever touch her. She smiled at me when we met and hugged me as though we were old buddies. She made friends with just about everyone she met and, though she tried to make me more social, she didn’t get upset with me when I insisted I’d rather stay in and read. Most important to me was that she never so much as hinted that she thought I was anything other than perfectly normal, smart, and wonderful. I rarely shared my stories with her, and I never shared my problems, but when I spoke, she listened and accepted my advice or my story with interest and respect.
    We had known each other only a few days when she told me about her interest in the occult. She had never seen a ghost or experienced any sort of magic, but she believed in both ardently. She felt certain if she could find a way to be less dependent on the material aspects of her everyday life, she would open herself up to the other world. I listened to her ideas and only occasionally tried to steer her back to a ghost-and-magic-free reality. I was sure if I told her about my ability, our friendship would change and, though I trusted her, I couldn’t help thinking that once she knew, everyone in Briarton would, too.
    “Kelsey, Kelsey. Have I really bored you to a catatonic state?”
    I jerked my attention back to the present moment. “No, I…You didn’t bore me. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
    “Well, then let’s get out of here and get it off your mind.” She bounced out of her seat and headed back toward the bathroom. “I’ll see you in twenty minutes, and I expect you to look hot!”
    Ten minutes later, Angelica was dressed in a black sweater, a black mini-skirt, and thigh-high boots. Anyone else would have looked like pure sex, but her blonde hair and cute face made her look like a 10-year-old playing dress-up. “Why aren’t you dressed, Kels? Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind.”
    “I’m sorry, Ang.” I put down my book and rubbed my eyes. “I got lost in this book. I’ll go get dressed right now.”
    She smiled. “I will never understand how it is possible to get so caught up in a book that you forget everything else, but I’m kind of glad you aren’t dressed. Now I can pick out your clothes.”
    I groaned. “Okay fine, but I get veto power.”
    I tried on ten outfits before Angelica approved a midriff-baring halter top and jeans. I wasn’t