Page 52 of Ordinary Secrets

“What’s so funny?”

She continues to giggle. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but they wouldn’t like you. They wouldn’t like anyone who shows interest in me. They’re super-protective. When I told them I wanted to move to LA, they fought me on it for months.”

“Why are they so protective?”

“I’m their only grandkid. It’s expected.” With a wooden spoon, Arella stirs around the taco meat. “Since my mom passed away so young, they treated me like their own child instead of a grandbaby.”

Here’s my chance!Make it sound unintentional.“What was your mom’s name?”

“Bella.”

“And your dad?”

“Aries.”

I make a mental note to dig up everything I can on Bella and Aries Rance tonight. “What did they do for a living?”

“Dad was an accountant. Mom was his secretary.”

“Sounds kinky.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and it makes Arella chuckle.

“It’s exactly what you think it is. Grammy said they hit it off during the job interview. Apparently, my dad only hired my mom because he wanted to date her.”

“And you said they passed away in a car accident?”

“Yeah. They were driving home on a rainy night in September of ’95. It was dark, and they went right over a cliff.”

A rainy night? In September of ’95?My heart stills, and my back straightens like a rod. No way in hell. It’d be too much of a coincidence.

But I have to ask... “What day was it in September?”

She pauses to think. “Um, I’m not sure.”

I’m barely breathing as more words spew from my lips. “Where was the cliff?”

“Don’t know.” Arella shrugs nonchalantly as she goes back to stirring. I can’t tell if she actually doesn’t know or if she’s trying to hide information. Seriously, what a time to not be able to sense someone! If I could sense her, maybe I could tell if she’s lying or not. But what reason would she have to lie?

I try to keep my voice from shaking. “Do you remember where you lived when you were that age?”

She shakes her head. “I was three. I barely remember what I ate yesterday.”

Since she doesn’t seem to have the answers I’m looking for, I stop asking questions.

Eventually, dinner is ready. I’m quiet as we consume our meal, because my brain is too busy thinking up an excuse to leave.

When we finally finish the tacos, I say, “Hey, I just got a text from Liz. She needs me for somethin’. You mind if I head out?”

If she’s disappointed about me leaving, she doesn’t show it. I hate having to rely on someone’s facial expressions to know how they feel.

“Don’t worry about the dishes,” she says as I’m about to pick up my plate. “I’ll get it.”

I’m halfway home when I realize I forgot to make plans with Arella to see her again. I’ll have to text her tomorrow. Right now, my mind’s a mess. The only thing I can think about is going home to research Arella’s parents. I almost stop on the side of the road to do it. I don’t though, because I know if whatever information I find jumbles my mind even more, I won’t be able to get home safely.

I run into my house so fast that I trip over some shoes I apparently left lying in the middle of the entrance. In my bedroom, I wave a hand at my burner laptop. It flies toward me at full speed, and I catch it in midair. With it propped open on my mattress, I type,Bella and Aries Rance.

What comes up is a bunch of romance novels. Definitely not what I’m looking for.

I try searching for each of her parents’ names on their own and find nothing useful. On a whim, I type,Isabella Rance.A lady from the 1200s shows up for that. Not Arella’s mother.

---