Bite Me! (10 page)

I
sat in the parking lot of Pot and Kettle for at least ten minutes before I went inside. I didn't want to go into Rick's office and tell him that I had just been suspended from school on the suspicion that I had cheated on my test with his son.

“It's now or never,” I muttered.

Pot and Kettle was a cookware manufacturing company specializing in, you guessed it, pots and pans. I had been inside the headquarters a few times before. Since it was the Fraser family business, Ryan worked there in the summer, so I kinda knew my way around.

The offices were in an old stone house that looked like it had been around since medieval times. It wasn't a castle,
but it definitely would've been considered a “manor.”

The large plank wood and wrought-iron door creaked when I opened it. Rick's secretary, a pretty woman named Heather, smiled when I entered. She reminded me of one of those calendar pinup girls from the 1950s.

“Hello, AJ. We've been expecting you,” she said.

“Hi. I guess my mom called?” I asked.

Heather just smiled and picked up the phone. “Rick, your daughter is here.”

His daughter
. Well, I guess that was better than being called his stepdaughter. Still, he hadn't even been married to my mom a week. I wasn't really ready to be called his daughter yet.

“He'll be here in just a second,” Heather said. “Can I bring you a soda or something while you wait?”

“No, thanks,” I said just as Rick walked into the room.

His smile was warm. “Come on back, AJ,” he said, his faint Scottish burr tickling my ears.

Rick draped his arm across my shoulders and led me down the hallway and up a spiral staircase to a large room that would've been the master bedchamber had this actually been a medieval home.

The walls were rock and the floors were wood plank.
There was a giant stone fireplace to the right, with a large cast-iron pot suspended in the center. Huge windows with heavy plaid draperies tied back with rope lined every wall.

Rick sat at his oak desk in the middle of the room. “You have something you want to talk about?” Rick asked.

“Um, yeah. That pot looks like a witch's cauldron,” I said, pointing to the fireplace.

Rick smiled. “It's a great conversation piece, don't you think? But I don't think that's what we really need to discuss right now, is it?”

I sighed. Obviously I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon if I didn't start talking.

“I was suspended from school today,” I blurted.

“I see.”

“And it was totally bogus. They said I cheated off of Ryan, but I didn't—we don't even sit near each other. Then they found the test key in my locker, but I didn't put it there! I mean, what kind of idiot would keep the evidence on school property?” I was talking so fast, everything I said came out in one breathless sentence.

“That does seem rather careless,” Rick said.

“I know, right? And I'm not that stupid. I didn't even study for the test because of all the stuff with Noah. I was
tired and cranky and I just wrote my name on the paper and turned it in. I don't know how or by whom my test was altered, but I know Crandall saw that it was blank when I turned it in. I was totally set up and nobody believes me. You believe me, right? Will you help me with Mom?”

“Whoa. Hold on for a second. That puts me in a bit of a tough spot, don't you think?”

My lungs deflated a little. “I guess. But if you're not gonna help me—”

“I didn't say that. We'll get this sorted out, I promise. But I do need to talk to Ryan and to your mom before I figure out what to do.”

So much for having Rick in my corner. He walked me out to my car, and waiting in the parking lot was Sheriff Al Christopher.

I saw him immediately but pretended I hadn't noticed him. I opened my car door and started to get in, but the good sheriff was right there to stop me.

Sheriff Christopher was a big guy with graying coal black hair and apple pie cheeks. When he smiled, he seemed like the greatest guy in the world. But today, there were no smiles—in fact, he looked pretty grim.

“Hello, Sheriff, how can I help you today?” Rick asked.

“I'm here to speak to AJ. You're welcome to stay around if you'd like, Mr. Fraser, but you're not required to,” the sheriff said.

“I think it would be best if she had a parent present, thank you.”

“AJ,” Sheriff Christopher said. “I've got a few more questions for you about Noah.”

“Okay. Maybe come by tonight when my mom is around? I don't feel comfortable answering questions without her.”

“Well, we can do that, I suppose. But since your stepfather has offered to be here, it makes me wonder if you're not putting me off because you're guilty of something. But you go ahead and call her if you'd like.”

I sighed—heavily. Then I looked at my watch. “No. She's with a patient right now. And I have nothing to feel guilty about.”

“If you're lying to protect Ryan, you do,” the sheriff said.

“Wait a minute, what are you saying, Sheriff?” Rick asked.

“I'm just asking questions, Mr. Fraser. Now AJ, are you lying to protect your boyfriend?”

“He's my brother,” I said, sliding a glance to Rick.
“And I'm not a liar, Sheriff.”

“Darlin', you and I both know that's not true.”

I swallowed as he stared at me with those all-knowing, almost silver eyes. Seriously, was I wearing a scarlet L?

“I don't know what you're talkin' about.” I broke away from his gaze and got into my car.

“Really?” he asked, stopping me from shutting the car door in his face. “Because I just left your school and they told me you'd been suspended for cheating. Isn't cheating a form of lying?”

“I didn't cheat! I was set up.”

“You and every other asshole in prison.”

“Excuse me?”

“Now Sheriff, that was unnecessary,” Rick said.

“My apologies. I'm just saying, darlin', the ‘I was framed' defense is a little overused.”

“Whatever. Just tell me what you want so I can go home and pout alone.”

He chuckled at that, and his apple pie cheeks reddened a little more. I relaxed a bit. At least when he smiled, I didn't feel like he was about to arrest me.

“When Officer Littleton questioned you, you told him that Noah got rough with you. Is that correct?”

My face turned hot in an instant. Why did I have to
re-answer these questions? It was bad enough I had to tell the story in front of Mom, but now I had to talk about my almost sex life in front of my stepfather? Just. Shoot. Me. Now.

“Would you like me to leave?” Rick asked. “I don't want to make this any more difficult than it already is for you.”

I nodded sheepishly.

“Sheriff, don't bully her. She's had a rough day.” Rick squeezed my arm and hesitated, like he didn't want to leave. He gave me a forced smile, attempting to reassure me, then left me alone with the hungry wolf.

“Don't worry, AJ. I've heard everything in this business. Now just tell me, as best you can, what happened.”

I relayed the sordid details, all the way down to Noah forcing me to grab his crotch.

“And you reported that you bit his tongue when he forced himself on you. Correct?”

“Yes. Couldn't you have just confirmed this with a text message or an email? My story isn't gonna change no matter who asks me.”

“Your friends came along right after you bit Noah. Then you and the girls left together, right?”

“Right.”

“Okay, so Ryan stayed back with Noah. What happened next?”

“Wait. No. Ryan left with us, too.”

Sheriff Christopher raised his eyebrows and stared at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Sounds like your story's changing, darlin'.”

“No. It sounds like you're trying to trick me. We all left together. Just like I told Cody.” Was it too late to get Rick to come back? Suddenly I felt like I needed a dad, any dad.

As he was making another notation in his lie detector book, my phone rang. It was Mom.

“I just called the house and Aunt Doreen said she hasn't seen you yet,” Mom said before I could even say hello.

“That's because I'm still at Pot and Kettle getting the third degree from the sheriff.”

“Put him on the phone.”

I held the phone out to Sheriff Christopher and said, “Um, Mom wants to talk to you.”

He took my pink RAZR. “Hello?”

Silence.

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Yes, ma'am. I understand. You have a good day, Dr. Fraser.”

He handed me the phone, closed his notebook, and said, “Thanks, AJ. We'll talk again soon.”

I put the phone back to my ear. “Mom, whatever you said to him to make him go away, I totally love you for it.”

“Don't thank me just yet, Ariel Jane. Now, get home and don't move until I get there. And trust me, you don't want to test me on this. Are we clear?”

Clear as fucking glass.

 

My phone started ringing the moment school was out. Word of my suspension traveled fast, it seems. I was none too happy to hear from my soccer coach that I was suspended from practice and the first game of the season. If you asked me, I was being punished twice for the same crime.

A crime I didn't commit, thank-you-very-much.

When Bridget and Malia called, I told them to get their butts to my house ASAP so we could work out some sort of plan.

What we were planning exactly was still a mystery.
But we were gonna plan something, come hell or high water.

I went downstairs to gather sustenance from the kitchen and ran smack into Ryan.

“AJ, I'm so sorry.”

“Whatever.”

“Seriously. I tried to go talk to Mrs. Blanchard this afternoon, but she wouldn't let me. I know you didn't cheat.”

“I'm learning the truth doesn't really matter anymore. Thanks for trying, though. And even though it sucks that I can't run for office, thanks for the posters. They were awesome. I'm sorry I couldn't help take them down.”

Ryan shrugged out of his backpack, then walked over to me and wrapped me up in a hug. I melted into him. The tears I'd been fighting all day finally broke free, streaming down my cheeks. “They're all down now, don't worry.”

He pushed my hair out of my face and kissed my cheek. My heart stopped for a second and time crackled to a halt as we stared at each other. The air was so thick, it was almost tangible as he leaned in and touched his lips to mine, never breaking our stare. I realized I didn't want to stop him, even though I knew the repercussions would be messy. I was just so tired of pretending.

Pretending I didn't still care for Ryan.

Pretending that my family wasn't being threatened by a dichampyr.

Pretending I was strong enough to handle everything all by myself.

And, most of all, pretending I wasn't scared to death of all of the above.

Nothing mattered at that moment but Ryan's mouth on mine. I pushed away my doubts about his involvement with Noah and my need to protect him no matter the cost. I ignored the finger of fear that touched my spine, warning me that Noah was out there watching. I disregarded the bells in the back of my head that screamed this was a bad idea, and I tried to forget the burning birthmark on my neck and just let it happen. I opened my mouth and Ryan deepened the kiss. My heart hitched to speed-racing, and chills washed over me as I lost myself to him completely.

“Kinky,” Rayden said, slamming the kitchen door behind him. “Pa! Ryan's kissin' his sister again!” he yelled, turning on a thick country accent that was more exaggerated than Jessica Simpson's version of Daisy Duke.

“Very funny, dickweed,” Ryan retorted, but I saw him
look over Rayden's shoulder to make sure his dad wasn't around.

Thankfully, Rick wasn't there.

Unfortunately, Lindsey was.

That girl was beginning to piss me off.

She stood there, with her eyes large and appropriately shocked and her mouth hanging open like a wide mouth bass.

“Seriously, Ryan?” she asked before she turned and stormed off.

“I'm sorry,” he said to me as he went after her.

I grabbed him by the arm. “You're really gonna go after her? After that kiss?”

“AJ, I'm
so
sorry. I have to.”

“You're sorry. On that point, we both agree.”

Thank God Malia and Bridget walked through the door, otherwise I would've slapped the skin off Ryan's face.

“Uh-oh. Looks like we just missed the fireworks. I didn't know it was the Fourth of July, did you, Malia?” Bridget said, trying, and failing, to lighten my mood.

Malia just shot Bridge a look and ran over to my side. “Ignore the court jester, honey. What's wrong?”

“Nothing. I just need to get out of here,” I said.

“Do you think that's such a good idea? Didn't you tell me when I called that your mom threatened dismemberment if you left the house?” Bridget asked.

“Pretty much,” I said, trying to laugh. “But I don't care. I can't be here right now.”

“Let's go, then,” Malia said, pushing me out the door.

As we were piling into Malia's black SUV, Ana, Ainsley, and Oz were dropped off by this week's carpool mom.

“Is it true?” the twins asked in unison. “Did you really cheat and get suspended?”

Oz didn't say anything. He just stared at Malia.

When she glared back at him and said, “Boo!” he ran off.

“I didn't cheat, but I did get suspended. Listen, Mom told me not to leave, but I have to get outta here. Do me a favor and cover for me? Please? When Mom comes looking for me, pretend I'm in bed asleep? Can y'all do that?”

They both ran over and hugged me big. “Sure,” they said.