Page 201 of Overcast

“So you can get home and start reading,” I put in, flipping the book over to check the price but flick my eyes up to see his smirk.

“You see right through me.” Ringing him up, I put his book in a large paper bag, and slide it to him. “It was nice meeting you, Raine. Welcome to town.”

“Thank you, appreciate it.”

“I dare you to pick this book up,” he adds, walking backward towards the front door. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

“How do you know? You haven’t read it yet.”

He lifts his shoulders. “Taking a risk. Then you can pick something for me to read next.”

I mean, it’s not like I don’t have tons of time.

“I’ll think about it.” Eli gives me a curt wave and makes his way out of the store, prompting me to go pick up the book he bought.

It’s orange with a black cat on it, something generically done for Halloween, and I flip it over to read the blurb. It sounds interesting enough, and I need something to get my mind off my own personal issues I’m working through.

Marty needs to be a memory.

Not something I constantly dwell on twenty-four-seven. If I’m going to continue to survive through this world, I need to raise my chin, power through and take hold of my new identity.

Raine was never in love with Marty.

Stormi was.

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