The Awakening: A Sisterhood of Spirits Novel Read Online Free PDF

emotional chaos.
    Jordan filled the rest of her cart, barely noticing what she put in, and got in line. What was it with these grocery stores anyway? Ten checkout aisles were built, but only two were operating at the busiest time of the day. Finally, she loaded up her truck and blasted the radio on the short drive home.
    After pulling into her assigned parking place, Jordan opened the hatch on her Ford Explorer and cursed when she realized she’d have to make more than one trip up the three flights of stairs. She’d really have to rethink the whole shopping once a month deal or consider it gym time. She made it to the top of the landing and the door opened behind her. Steve peeked out with his owlish eyes. “Just checking.”
    “On what?”
    “I’ll tell you later. Here, do you need some help?”
    Before Jordan could refuse, he picked up some of her bags and followed her into her small kitchen.
    “Wow,” he said. “Clean slate.”
    Jordan looked at the stark white walls and Spartan counters. In more ways than one, she thought. “Pretty much.”
    She put away the cans and boxes and grabbed her keys to get the rest, making sure to grab the empty bags to take back to the store on her next trip.
    Steve chattered at her all the way down the stairs and through the parking lot to her truck. “See that Toyota?” He pointed. “The blue one? That’s mine. So you know when I’m home, in case you need me.”
    Jordan couldn’t think of a single good reason why she might need the gangly young man, but she didn’t want to be rude either. “Uh-huh.”
    “How was your first day?”
    “Fine.” She slammed the hatch and pushed her key fob to lock it.
    “Don’t talk much, do you?”
    Jordan kept walking to the entrance of their shared wing, trying to stay a step ahead of him, but he had no trouble keeping up with her and asking questions.
    “That’s okay,” he said. “My mom says that I talk enough for three people.”
    “Uh-huh,” she said over her shoulder as they climbed the stairs and went through the door into her kitchen.
    Jordan stopped dead in her tracks, hardly noticing when Steve slammed into her from behind.
    Every single cabinet door stood open, and groceries she’d just put away littered the counter and floor.
    A strange sound came from Steve’s throat. “Dude. I have to go now.” He put the bags on the floor where he stood, but before he could turn and run, Jordan spun him around and grabbed him by his lapels, slamming him into the counter.
    “Who did this?” she asked between clenched teeth. “What the fuck is going on?”
    Steve’s eyes rolled in fear and she felt him tremble. “I have no idea.”
    “Was that your job? To distract me while someone broke in to fuck with me?” Oh, shit. She let him go and ran to the closet where she stored her gun. It was still there. Okay, not a robbery. She sprinted back into the kitchen and was surprised to see Steve still standing in it. Logic said he must have been the one to do the knocking. Make fun of the new neighbor to scare her. Well, he had another think coming. But, dammit, he was right behind her when she went downstairs. He never shut up.
    “Believe me, Jordan. I didn’t do this.”
    “Who did?” she asked sarcastically. The only explanation that made sense was the previous tenants must still have a key. She would change the locks tomorrow.
    “Jordan?”
    “What?”
    “I have to tell you something.”
    “Oh, a confession?” She could hear how nasty her voice was and was slightly sorry for it, but she was finding it difficult to find an explanation.
    Steve shook his head impatiently. “No.”
    Jordan felt him watch her as she closed the cabinets, making sure they clicked closed before looking at him.
    “This building is haunted.”
    She certainly hadn’t expected him to say that. “Uh-huh, right. Get out.”
     
    *
     
    Sunny sat at the table in her small kitchen and finished the cold pasta salad her mother had left for her. She felt