Page 14 of Haunt the Mall

Besides the hot manager? “Maybe. If you want to see something else, I was actually thinking of buying a movie pass,” I said.

Mom wiggled her manicured nails. “Oh, we have gift cards. Don’t we, Jim?”

He backed up from the table, his chair scraping against the hardwood floors. “I’ll get them.”

“No, you don’t need to do that.” I didn’t want to involve them in theater stuff. Plus, we were eating dinner.

“It’s not like we’re going to use them,” Mom said.

“What’s there to see?” Dad added, strolling out of the room.

Um, everything. I stabbed a piece of chicken, then tore it off the tines with my teeth.

Tori eyed me, her spinach drooping off her fork as I chewed.

Don’t worry, my downcast gaze told her, I wouldn’t bite anyone’s head off tonight. Not unless they snapped at me.

Mom leaned in, her eyes sparkling with conspiracy. “Are you seeing anyone?”

“No.” Not unless they counted the hot spider guy. I hid my grin with a water glass. “Maybe I’ll meet someone at the theater.”

Mom furrowed her brow. “You’re a beautiful girl. Do you think the goth getup scares them off?”

I laughed. “If a guy is intimidated by my outfit, then he’s not much of a soulmate.”

“Madonna wore fingerless gloves, and she got plenty of dates,” Tori said so earnestly I had to bite my cheek to stop from snickering.

Dad strode back in and gently tossed the gift cards between us. “I don’t think Madonna’s love life is a golden standard.”

Mom raised her fork. “But she does have a lot of beautiful children.”

“And on that note, I’d love to change the subject.” I aggressively steered the conversation towards my sister and her classes. Her life was a lot milder than mine. Perfectly in line with my parents’ expectations. She’d probably fall in love with a doctor, then pop out three kids.

It was fine. Whatever made her—and my parents—happy.

But no matter how much spinach pasta I shoveled down, it would never sate my taste for the strange.

8

Talk Me Into It

Post-meal, Tori’s first pick of movies was Mummy’s House. My blood ran cold. I couldn’t do that one again.

I scrolled through the listings. “How about The Moon Pact? It’s got supernatural romance, societal breakdowns, and shirtless men.” I wagged my brows.

She giggled and curled up on the living room couch. “That’s fine. Want me to order the tickets?”

Doing it online meant no personal contact. I snatched the gift cards. “I’ll do it. I was planning on signing up for their loyalty program, anyway.”

“Okay.” She knit her brows.

Better not rouse suspicion. I stared at the theater’s app, my pulse thundering in my ears. This didn’t have to be a big deal. We were only going to the movies. If I happened to see that spider man, so be it. Although it would be nice to confirm potential run-ins.

Tori poked my bouncing knee with her sock-clad toes. “I can call if you want. Or we don’t have to see a movie at all.”

“No, I want to, I just need to use the bathroom. One minute.” I dashed to the upstairs bathroom so my parents didn’t accidentally overhear me on their way back from the kitchen.

Snapping the lock in place, I stood facing the plain white door, bare vanity bulbs glaring at my back. My fingers shook over the blue link on-screen to call the theater. Did I really need to do this? Curiosity killed the cat. But satisfaction brought it back.

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