Page 47 of The Heir

“Hey, Shad, one second. I need to get something out of the kitchen.”

He nodded.

Mary pulled me by the arm, and I walked with her into the kitchen, completely confused.

“Not him,” she stated as she let go of my hand.

“Um, what?”

“I mean—I don’t like him—I mean, I think you should stay away from him. He isn’t the type of person you should be hanging out with.”

My mouth was hanging open. I was in shock and completely confused. “Hold on a second, you don’t even know him.” I crossed my arms across my chest.

She was acting like Ryker.

“I know him.”

“You know him? When did you meet him?” I was even more confused than before.

How has everyone met Shad before? Okay, just Ryker and Mary, but still–that is strange.

“I met him a long time ago, and, well, let’s just say, hisfamilyisn’t good for you. Your father knew his father.”

“What?—Really?—How?”

“Some business things—I don’t know all the details,” she said softly.

“Mary, he doesn’t even live with his family, and—that’s rude,” I surprised myself by snapping at her.

“Excuse me?” Mary’s face was pale, and she turned around to face the sink.

“Why are you judging him by his family? That’s not right; I don’t think my parents would have done that.”

“I think here, if they were in this situation, your parents would agree with me.”

“Maybe he isn’t who you think he is—” I began.

“No, there is no doubt of who he is, Emma.” She turned back to face me, her arms resting on the counter.

“Mary, he is the only reason I feel happy at all, once again, since mom and dad . . . He makes me feel alive, as if life may actually be worth living. I need to be around him.”

She looked up to me, then with her eyes narrowing, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, he just makes me happy, okay? He’s a good friend.”

“Do youfeelanything with him? Hear–” she paused.

“What do you mean ‘hear’?” I asked.

I think it is pretty obvious how I feel about him: I like him, duh.

“I mean—oh, never mind. I swear, I don’t know what I am doing. Your parents always knew the right thing to do.”

“Seriously, Mary, I will be fine. Shad is a great guy. It’s funny, actually, because mom used to tell stories aboutmelodies of the souland things in her stories, and I feel like she was using music as a way to describe liking someone, because when I am with him, my soul seems tosing.I know that sounds weird–”

“Really?” She said with wide eyes.

“Yeah, weird, huh?” I said with a smile.

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