Page 15 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

“No,” I said, at the same time Stevie said, “Yes.”

“I could see Colleen being able to lift the guy, I swear she could bench-press me, but you and Mina, not so much,” said Emily, all smiles. “I’m sorry I missed it. Stevie, why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“Jessica’s birthday was the next day,” said Stevie. “I didn’t want to sour the mood and then spring break was suddenly there. By the time we were back, it sort of slipped my mind.”

“For future reference, finding out my friends tossed a dirtbag out on his backside is totally worth making a note, so you don’t forget to tell me later,” said Emily.

Stevie nodded. “Understood.”

Krissy smiled. “I’m almost ready to get started on the fun tonight.”

“Otherwise known as doing her best to burn down the house,” added Stevie with a laugh.

A change of subject was in order, so I focused on Stevie. “I forgot to ask how your date went last night.”

Her shy grin spoke volumes. “Michael took me for pizza and then we caught that double creature feature they have playing at the drive-in.”

“The one Astria groans and rolls her eyes all the way through?Bride of Frankensteinand theSwamp Thing? It’s back?” asked Krissy, her interest piqued.

As if on cue, I groaned again.

They laughed, clearly not understanding my annoyance with the old films. “I just think there are better things to do with ourselves in place of rotting our brains.”

“Ms. Party-Hard has become the ’rent,” said Emily.

“’Rent?” questioned Stevie from her pillow fort area.

Colleen came in from the kitchen, carrying a tray full of chips and dip. She had to push aside some of the crystals and herbs to find room on the table, but she managed. She plopped into the seat at the end of the table and began to eat.

She was an athlete and had gotten a full-ride scholarship for volleyball. Her idea of a good time was working out and eating whatever she wanted.

I was totally onboard with her eating habits. I liked eating whatever I wanted too. But her sporty side baffled me.

Even I’d pick possibly connecting to an angry spirit over her idea of fun. But it suited her, helped her focus and her mood. She’d been injured briefly our sophomore year and had been forced to take it easy for a month. It had been the longest four weeks of my adult life, especially since her room was next to mine.

“’Rents are, you know, parents,” said Colleen as she loaded a chip with dip. “You’re going to need to really up your cool game, Stevie.”

“Oh yeah, I’m the one with cool-game issues,” said Stevie, tossing her long dark braid over one shoulder before tugging at her T-shirt that had a gargoyle on it, which was the university’s mascot. She returned to flipping through a magazine, thankfully not commenting on Colleen’s obsession with basketball shorts—again. It always ended in an argument between the two of them. “But I’m with Astria. This is a dumb idea. Kind of like begging for problems, if you ask me.”

“We did ask you when we called it to a vote.Youvoted for it,” I reminded quickly.

She shrugged. “Mostly because Emily gave me big puppy dog eyes. You try saying no to those.”

Emily laughed, batting her lashes as she did. “Yeah. I’m adorable.”

“You’re something all right,” added Krissy from her candle circle. “Adorable? Not so much.”

I snorted.

Colleen nodded to me. “Ran into Craig earlier. He was asking about you.”

Emily beamed. “Is it me or are all the Van Helsing guys in this town super hunky?”

“If you’re into that sort of thing,” said Colleen with a shrug.

“Yes, because tall, dark, and handsome is just horrible,” Krissy said with a laugh. “I’m with you, Em. They’re not bad on the eyes.”

Colleen grinned. “I like blonds.”

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