Page 9 of The 13th Daughter

"Kay?" he frowned.

"She's the Junior Coven leader," I explained. "So you should go on. I can find my way home."

He nodded and gave me a wicked smile. "Can I take you out for a bite to eat tomorrow after school?"

My eyes went round. Did he just ask me on a date?

"Umm..."

"No?" he cocked his head.

"Sure." I took a shaky breath. His eyes swirled with laughter. Did he have to look so yummy? He robbed me of speech when he looked at me like that.

"Good." He leaned down and gave me another quick kiss before handing me my bookbag. "It's a date, Cassie Jayne Bishop."

I stared, dumb-founded, as he walked away.

A date. I'd just agreed to go out with the most gorgeous boy I'd ever met. And I'd let him kiss me? I never kissed a guy until at least the third date. Something was definitely wrong with me. Or I really, really, liked him.

The wind picked up and howled around me, mirroring the confusion I felt inside.

"I know, right?" I said to the wind. I could still feel his kiss.

Sighing, I picked up my bookbag and headed home, my dad forgotten, as I thought about what to wear.

Chapter Four

I creptaround to the back of the house and slid in through the kitchen door. It was quiet. I heard the muffled roar of the TV coming from the direction of the living room. With any luck Dad would be passed out by now and I'd get upstairs without notice. Mom had made herself scarce so it must have been a pretty bad fight. I looked in the trash can and winced. Grandma's crystal vase lay in shattered ruins. It was Mom's most prized possession.

I grabbed myself a Coke and a Lunchable from the fridge. I had a ton of homework to do and I needed to figure out what to wear to school tomorrow. Ethan said we'd go eat right after school. I still couldn't believe he'd asked me out on a date. Just...wow. I figured I'd have to do some unobtrusive hinting first, but no, he'd shocked me and asked me out.

"Where the hell have you been?"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning around. Dad stood in the doorway, a beer gripped in his hand. His golden eyes were bloodshot and he looked furious. Not a good sign.

"I had some stuff to do."

His eyes narrowed and he stepped closer. "Did you go to the hall, CJ?"

"No."

"Then where were you?”

"I went to visit Emily." I reopened the fridge. "I'm gonna make a sandwich. Do you want one?"

I replaced the Lunchable and started pulling out everything I needed. Just keep him talking, I told myself.

He grunted and sat down at the table. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. He frowned and ran a hand through his reddish brown hair, his eyes suspicious.

"You're sure you didn't go to the meeting tonight?" he asked, his voice hard.

"No, Dad, I never go, same as you."

I slathered the sub buns with mayonnaise and piled on our favorite fixings. "Is NC State or LSU winning?"

"LSU," he said in disgust. "Seven to nothing. Damn fine coach they got themselves."

I nodded and set his plate down in front of him. "I need to do some homework. Is there anything else you need? A Coke or some water?"