Starfall Read Online Free PDF Page B

on the floor. We know there’s nothing interesting about the linoleum; he’s just choosing his next words carefully. “The town is going to go crazy again.”
    I want to keep my mouth shut; I want to let this be the last word, but I must know.
    â€œHow is Gallegos?” I ask. “Was he hurt, you know, really bad?”
    It feels like forever before Louis replies.
    â€œHe’s incredibly lucky,” he confirms. “The doctors said he’ll make a full recovery.”
    I keep my relief to myself, but Arla senses it. She also knows that I had something to do with Gallegos’s accident.
    As Louis starts to leave the room, he says, “I have to take a quick shower and get back to the station.”
    â€œCan I hitch a ride with you into town?” Barnaby asks.
    â€œSure,” Louis says. “But you can’t play with the siren.”
    Good to know he hasn’t lost his sense of humor even though he’s about to lose control of the entire town.
    The moment Barnaby and Louis leave the room, I start to ramble on about how cute they are and how happy I am that they seem to be developing a deep bond and a sweet relationship despite all the heartache they’ve both been through. I mean every word I say, but it’s only filler talk and Arla knows it.
    â€œBees,” she says.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œAll you tell me that happened last night is that you were chased by a bunch of bees and you leave out the part about attacking a cop,” Arla lays out.
    â€œDeadly . . . um, killer bees,” I reply.
    Based upon her reaction, Arla doesn’t get my sense of humor. But the truth is she does get me.
    â€œDominy! Haven’t you figured out that our relationship is changing?” she says. “Friends, sisters, whatever we are, you know that you can tell me anything. I’m not going to judge you; I just want to know what’s going on so I can help you.”
    She’s right. Maybe it’s human nature to want to keep secrets, but now that I’m only part human, I should really try mastering the art of disclosure.
    â€œI attacked Gallegos last night because he was going to kill me,” I admit.
    Unfazed, Arla seems greatly satisfied. “Now was that so hard?”
    Actually, it wasn’t.
    â€œYou defended yourself, totally understandable,” she says, fully supportive of my actions. “And the doctors said Gallegos is going to be okay, so obviously you restrained yourself. The girl didn’t let the wolf have copfood.”
    Vulgar and blunt, but at the same time reassuring.
    â€œThat’s right! That’s exactly what I did,” I cry. “I defended myself against Nadine and her insectisidekicks with the help of my inner-Jess, and I fought off Gallegos without doing any permanent damage.”
    â€œYou should feel really proud of yourself,” Arla says, shoving one last spoonful of cereal into her mouth.
    It’s a feeling that proves fleeting.
    â€œGallegos has slipped into a coma,” Louis announces after bursting back into the kitchen and grabbing his car keys. “He might not make it.”
    Louis rushes out of the house with Barnaby and my pride right behind him.

Chapter 2
    Two days later, and my victim is still in a coma. Me? I’m in a bikini.
    While my attire might be appropriate for an end-of-summer party on the banks of the Weeping Water River, which looks incredibly ordinary in the daylight, my attitude is completely inappropriate for someone who is responsible for assaulting a police officer.
    â€œThat’s because it was self-defense,” Arla declares for I think the forty-second time, though I can’t be certain because I’ve stopped counting.
    â€œThat’s right, Dom,” Archie agrees. “You did what any self-respecting wrrgrrl would have done in the same situation.”
    â€œDid you just call Dominy a wrrgrrl?” Arla asks.
    â€œYes, I took out the vowels