Cardinal Read Online Free PDF Page B

half-talking to a girl I don’t know. As I make my
way over to them, someone grazes my elbow. I turn and find myself staring at
Latson.
    “What?” I ask.
    “I’m disappointed,” he says.
    “Why?”
    “Your moves.” He flashes a cocky grin. “Especially
that last one. They’re nowhere as good as what I saw this morning.”
    Jackass!  He hasn’t earned the right to tease
me. I step closer to him and try to turn the tables. “That’s because what you
saw this morning is for private audiences only.” I look around the room. “This
is a public place.”
    He looks surprised before I walk away. I make
sure to measure my steps so I won’t trip again. Successful and smiling, I make
it to Juliana, who introduces me to Gwen, a bartender who works with my brother.
She seems sweet, and the three of us spend the next hour talking, drinking, and
dancing.
    Eventually, nature calls. “Guys,” I say. “I
need to use the bathroom. Where is it?”
    “Down the – ahhhh!” Gwen laughs as Carter
swoops in behind her. He spins her around and then sets her on her feet. She
brushes her hair out of her face. “It’s down the hall on the left.”
    “Got it.”
    I weave my way through bodies until I reach the
hallway I spotted when we arrived. I’m surprised there isn’t line for the
bathroom. In fact, the hall is empty and all of the doors are closed. I head to
the left and open the first one I see. Whoops. That’s a closet. Gwen could have
been more specific, but, then again, she’s had a few shots. There is only one other
door to choose from, so I open it and step inside. I feel around for the light
switch and when I flip it, I’m not prepared for what I see.
    Well.
    This is unexpected.

Chapter
Five
    I glance around the room.
    Posters of something called Minecraft hang on
the walls. I’ve never heard of it, but the pictures make it look like some sort
of pixelated video game. A blue striped comforter covers a twin bed, and a small
entertainment stand holds a television and a gaming system. Cords snake across
the carpet to two controllers that lay next to a Nerf gun on the floor. The top
of the dresser is covered in action figures, and a small basketball hoop hangs
over one of the closet doors.
    I blink. This is a kid’s bedroom.
    Why does Latson have a kid’s bedroom?
    I quickly turn off the light and step into the
hallway. I’m about to piss my pants. I decide to try the door across the hall. Where
there’s a bedroom there is usually a bathroom nearby. Lucky for me, I’m right. I
rush inside and close the door. Apparently Gwen can’t tell her right from her
left. I’m going to have to show her that trick where you make a letter L with
your left thumb and forefinger as a reminder.
    When I head back to the living room, I spot
Juliana and she makes a face. “Where were you?”
    “I told you I needed the bathroom.”
    She jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “The
bathroom for parties is over there.”
    I look over her head. She’s pointing to the
hallway on the opposite side of the apartment.
    “No one told me there was a designated toilet.”
My expression twists. “Gwen said ‘down the hall’ and I picked one.”
    My brother comes up behind Jules. He hands her
a cup, wraps his arms around her waist, and sets his chin on her shoulder. He
looks at me. “Having fun?”
    “If you forget about tripping in front of the
host and venturing into prohibited territory, then yes,” I say.
    The music slows down and Juliana’s eyes get
that ‘I’m-buzzed-and-I-want-to-rub-up-on-my-boyfriend’ look. She turns around
in Pete’s arms and I decide I don’t need to watch them get cozy. More party
goers have the same idea as the two of them, so it’s easy to find a place to
sit. I wander over to an empty loveseat to wait out Ed Sheeran’s “Kiss Me”. As
the song plays I can’t stop my fingers from strumming invisible strings. I love
Ed. Hearing him makes me itch to pick up my guitar and play.
    A pair of legs