My Wolf’s Bane(11)

Dad had plenty for me to do — filing, data entry, billing. I even started a website for him. He did graphic design, but his true love was computer forensics. He’d examine the hard drive for evidence of hacking or whatever he was hired to investigate. And that required traveling. But why did we have to move for every single job when he could leave us behind and return when he finished?

By the time Maya texted me Saturday afternoon to let me know she’d be there soon, I’d whittled my debt to almost nothing.

“Anything else you need done?” I waited for my dad’s reply while he typed in code for a website.

“Always. There’s another stack of filing.” Dad smiled, blue eyes twinkling, and pointed to the top of the file cabinet. “How’s it going with Daniel? Haven’t seen much of him lately.”

My love life was the last thing I wanted to discuss with my dad. “Fine. He has some friends over tonight. I was supposed to go, but I’m grounded.” I shrugged. “I’ll see him Monday.”

He nodded slowly, eyes narrowed. “Did he do something?”

Damn, my dad had good instincts. “No. I promise.”

“And how are you doing?” Dad’s eyes bored into mine, as though he could hypnotize me into coughing up whatever might be bothering me. But I’d never tell my parents about my school problems or I could lose what few days there I had left. I wasn’t going to spill that I was crazy enough to think I might have superpowers either. Best-case scenario, they’d think I was losing my mind and keep even closer tabs on me. They hovered enough as it was.

“You mean other than being forced to move again?” I asked, struggling to keep the attitude out of my voice.

He sighed.

There, that would throw him off the subject of Daniel and school. If anyone could make me talk, it was my dad. “I didn’t realize it was so late,” I said, checking my cell. “Maya will be here soon. Okay if I do this tomorrow?”

Maya usually spent Sundays with her family. With me avoiding Daniel, and Gina avoiding me, I’d have tons of time to earn money.

“Sure.” He smiled and returned his attention to the computer monitor just as the doorbell chimed.

I hurried downstairs and relieved Maya of her overnight bag. Still holding her pink, vinyl makeup box and a small, paper sack, she followed me to my room. I locked the door and turned up the music, so we could speak freely without anyone eavesdropping.

“Gina still mad?” Setting the pink box on a chair, she flopped on the bed, small bottles clinking against each other inside the sack.

“Yep.” I waved her into the connecting bathroom. “Pedicures first.”

A few minutes later, the jet tub’s motor kicked on and bubbles rose up from the steamy water. We leaned against the tile wall and let the water beat against the bottoms of our heels.

I was dying to tell her about my super-powers, but if they went away and I couldn’t prove it, I’d look crazy. Maybe sitting on it for a while would be better than blurting it out and paying for it later.

“What’s new with Trevor?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She stared into the bubbly liquid.

“Maybe it’s time to make a move. How long have you been crushing on him?”

Maya groaned. “Too long. But a guy has to give me some kind of sign before I’m that brave. How are you and Daniel getting along?”

I still planned to dump him, but didn’t want the added pressure of Maya rushing me, since I clearly sucked at the whole breakup thing. “We’re fine.”

When we finished our pedicures and had given each other cucumber and avocado facials, I whipped out the makeup. It was almost a waste to do full makeup if we weren’t going anywhere, but we loved trying new things, whether anyone saw us or not.

“I’ll do yours first,” I said. Setting the box in the sink, I put the toilet seat lid down for her to sit. I dipped the giant brush in the bronzer, then swished it over her cheekbones, nose and forehead. After rummaging through the box, I found the right shadow. “Close your eyes.”

Maya obeyed. “What do you think of Zack?”

“He seems like a bit of a jerk.” Which was why I loathed the way my stomach fluttered at the mere mention of his name. I concentrated on getting the mascara on thick enough without clumping.

“Then he’s just your type.” Maya chuckled. A few seconds went by before she noticed me staring at her. “What?”

“You think Daniel’s a jerk?”

“Me and everyone else.” She held out her hand. “Give me the mirror, so I can see what you’ve done.”

I passed it to her. “If that’s true, how can he be the most popular guy in school?”