From Gods Read Online Free PDF

walked away.
    Skylar had just stopped thinking about Mason, but after Mona’s words…well, she was now…again. He had already consumed her mind all day at the mall; she didn’t want the thought of him to linger any longer.
    After ten minutes, Kayla’s mom brought dinner over and sat with the girls. “How do you like working here, Skylar?”
    “I have to say, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.”
    “That’s because you’re with me,” Kayla butted in. “Imagine working here alone and no one our age to talk to. Let’s see what you’d say then.” She looked at her mom, taking a huge bite of her burger.
    Ignoring her daughter, Kelly continued. “Let me know if you don’t like it. I’m not going to force you to work for me. Do you understand?”
    “Sure, Auntie Kelly.” Skylar poured the ketchup on her plate and inside her burger.
    “So…what are you girls doing after dinner?”
    “I think we’re—” Skylar started to say with a mouthful of food.
    Kayla kicked Skylar under the table. “We’re going home. We’re exhausted from shopping all day.”
    “Really?” Kelly looked surprised. “If you do decide to go out, make sure to stick together and be back home before I am. Well….” Kelly stood up. “I’d better get back to work.”
    “But you’re the boss,” Kayla pointed out.
    “What kind of boss would I be if I didn’t set a good example…right?” She winked. “Remember that girls.”
    With a nod from Skylar and a roll of the eyes from Kayla, Kelly greeted the new customer that had just walked in.
    “Why did you kick me under the table?” Skylar huffed. “That hurt.”
    “Sorry, but I didn’t want you to tell my mom.”
    “Why?”
    “She wouldn’t let us go.”
    “How do you know? You didn’t ask.”
    “Trust me. I know. And like she said, we just need to be back before she is. No need to tell her where we are going or whom we are going with.” After they finished their meal, they headed home to get ready for the beach party.

Chapter 5
     
    “There it is.” Kayla pointed, focusing her eyes on the bonfire, which was blazing skyward, dancing with the colors of red and orange. Readjusting her bag, Kayla slung it over the other shoulder and walked side by side with Skylar along a path. Kayla was told to look for a bonfire, so a bonfire she’d found. 
    Seeing Nick, Kayla waved happily. He grinned as he watched them approach, wearing only navy blue trunks. Holding a bottle of beer in his hand, he gave the girls each a light hug, then turned to his friends. “Hey everyone…this is Kayla and Skylar.”
    Everyone waved without making eye contact, ignoring them, turning back to their own conversations. There were about ten of them. Skylar set her eyes on everyone when she greeted them, but she didn’t see Mason, or Doug, or whatever his real name was. Feeling disappointed and not knowing why, she settled on the ground when Kayla took out a beach towel and laid it on the sand.
    The night temperature felt comfortable and the bonfire kept them warm, though it wasn’t cold. Nick went to the cooler and brought back a couple of opened bottles. “Here.” He handed one to Kayla.
    “Thanks,” Kayla nodded, taking a sip. Skylar gave Kayla a long stare, a look she used when she was not happy with her cousin, and Kayla understood. “What? It’s okay,” Kayla whispered and smiled. “I’ve had one before.”
    Then he gave one to Skylar.
    “Umm…no thank you. I actually don’t like beer. But thank you anyway.” She tried to sound as polite as possible. She didn’t want to offend him, and she definitely didn’t want to tell him she’d never drank beer before.
    “Oh…no problem. More for me then.” He chuckled and sat on the other side of Kayla.
    As they sat there soaking in the perfect temperature, Skylar dug her feet into the sand. How she loved the feel of the cool, soft sand seeping between her toes. Oddly, like Nick had said, there was no one else on the beach besides