Harkham's Case (Harkam's #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

dragged about.
    “It’s the only way I can think about it, otherwise I’ll go nuts, because I really don’t know all the answers.” His nostrils flared.
    Was something bugging him?
    “What is it?” She took her hand off her elbow and set it on his wrist.
    “I really, really don’t wanna let go. You’re better than okay, Mari. You’re a pretty little light that shows me the way. I’m in the dark sometimes when I’m in public, but you know the steps. I think you can take me where I need to go.” His eyes misted.
    Whoa. What the fuck was going on? She wanted to step back, but instead, she stepped into him.
    “It’s gonna be all right. It’s not so dangerous as all that. It’s just high school. I mean, most of the boys your age are like dealing with a pack of hyenas, but if you know how to blend in, they won’t mess with you.” She blinked and dropped her gaze.
    His feet were almost touching hers. They were very close. It probably looked like they were dating or something.
    In order to make sure there was no misunderstanding, she released his hand and walked away. But not without a wave first.
    He smiled, but it was a wistful one.
    God, Jesus, and anything holy—please help her. He was turning her heart to mush.
    He started to mumble the twelves multiplication table to himself. She smiled at him and gave him the hush signal, mouthing, “Blend in, okay?”
    He nodded, and his little twitchy smile broke her heart. She was ready to go back to him and eat whatever unhealthy schlop he was going to dish up on his tray, but then she remembered why she couldn’t do that and went back to her line for a salad.
    A loud breath hit her a moment later. She pivoted around, and there was Adam, looking completely lost and miserable.
    “Adam . . .” She reached out and stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. “I don’t abandon my friends—and you are my friend. Trust me. Get your lunch. We’ll sit together. Go now.” She shooed her hand at him a little. “You can do this.” She smiled once more, and he reciprocated with a frightened, but genuine smile as well. He angled the lower half of his body away from her. “Go.”
    Was she scaring him? He seemed torn with the way his body was all twisted in half.
    “Sam says I need friends, and it’s okay to trust them.”
    “Samara is as smart as she is pretty.”
    He stepped back. “You think another girl is pretty? Are you homosexual?”
    She laughed. “Not the last time I checked. But I can admit when another person of the same sex is attractive without it meaning I want to . . . Never mind.” She cut herself off because his whole face scrunched in confusion. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll meet you at the table in five minutes.” She shooed him away again with her hand.
    “I’ll be counting the seconds,” he said.
    If she was smart, she’d know that statement was a fact and be more than a little concerned. It wasn’t said as a type of rhetorical musing on his part. He was pretty confident she was going to be his girlfriend in the near future. What was she supposed to do about that?
    What could she do? So far, he was an unstoppable force.
    And for some reason, she was drawn to him and wasn’t even sure if she wanted to talk some sense into him. That was the craziest thought of all, so she hustled to get her food before she let her imagination run wild. There were things she needed to take care of before he was at her side again.
    When she sat down, he wasn’t nearby. She sighed with relief as she slipped her homemade salad dressing from her bag and added a little bit of chicken to her dish that she’d brought from home. The chunks were pushed down to the bottom of her bowl so he wouldn’t see them and make a fuss about it, which would result in asked questions she was uncomfortable answering.
    She wiggled her hips into her seat, forcing herself to relax and get comfortable. He was a prying sort of guy—that much was clear. But if she was careful, she