Painfully Ordinary Special Edition Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Nope, we provide curbside
service.”
    Just then, I
heard an engine growling behind me. I spun around and gasped. Pulling up to the
curb, was a glossy, black beast of a muscle car. It rumbled with what sounded
like barely contained power, perhaps even sexuality. Well, for a car.
    Leah gave a
low whistle. “ Niiiiiiice .”
    Talon
stepped out of the car.
    My God , he looked good in that car.
    “This is my
new dream car. What is it?” Leah asked.
    “It’s a 1970
Dodge Challenger,” I blurted out. Everyone turned their heads to stare at me in stunned silence.
    “What?” I
shrugged one shoulder, embarrassed. “My Uncle Johr is a car nut.”
    Talon came
around to the passenger side and held the door open. Jace and Leah hopped in
the back and let me have shotgun. Talon got into the driver’s seat and switched
on the radio, which was definitely not stock. He rummaged around in the console
and pulled out a Zune. He flicked through the tracks, selected one, and soon
the sound of one of my favorite bands filled the car as we thundered away from
the curb.
    I faced him.
    “Don’t you
have any flaws?”
    A brief
shadow crossed his face. “Believe, me, I am not perfect. Not by any means.”
    “I’ll
believe that when I see it.” I grumbled.
    Talon stared
out his window, but I saw him smile anyway. Jace snorted loudly from the
backseat, and I glanced at them just in time to see Leah poke him in the ribs
with her elbow.
    She is lethal
with those elbows.
    We didn’t
say much on the way to the house, aside from Leah chirping to Jace in the back
seat. I enjoyed the ride, tapping my fingers lightly on the windowsill with the
beat of the music. We rumbled into my driveway and Talon once again came around
to open my door. My mom would be thrilled if she saw it, since she is always on
Brady’s case about being a gentleman and opening doors for girls. Leah hopped
out of the back as Jace jumped in the front seat and together, we stood in the
driveway, listening as the car growled down the street and around the corner.
    She giggled.
“Do you think your mom will give me a lift home? I just couldn’t pass up the
opportunity to ride in that car, not to mention the extra time with Jace. He is
amazing!”
    “I don’t
think it will be an issue. I was thinking the same thing—he is absolutely right
for you.” I shook my head. “I keep waiting to find some flaw with those two. Seriously,
no one can be that perfect.”
    We went into
the house and filled my mom in on all the details of our bizarre day. Leah danced
around the den while we described our new friends in meticulous detail.
    My mom bit
her bottom lip. “Where did they say they transferred from?”
    Leah stopped
for a minute. “Hmm, I don’t think we ever even got around to asking.” She giggled.
“Wait until you see them—you will totally understand why.”
    Mom rolled
her eyes and strolled back into the kitchen, but I thought I heard her
chuckling as she walked away.
      Leah and I bolted up the stairs to my room,
slamming the door behind us. She threw herself on my bed, while I pushed the
clothes out of my papasan chair and sat down.
    “Oh girl, I
think this has been the greatest day of my life!” Leah squealed.
    I remained pensive.
“Don’t you think it’s kind of weird though? It’s like they had some sort of user manual for us. If I could have created the perfect
guy for you, he would have been Jace. And all the sudden I find someone who is
the ideal protector against Ryan, seems to really dislike Tami… and is absolutely gorgeous on top of everything else. You know
me—my luck just isn’t this good.”
    She flipped
over on her stomach and cris-crossed her legs in the air. “Caiti, for once,
just go with it and let yourself be happy. You are
always waiting for the dark cloud. Even if it doesn’t last forever, we should
enjoy it while we can.”
    I reached
over and gave her a big hug. “This is why I keep you around. You keep me
balanced.”
    She