The Dead Boyfriend Read Online Free PDF Page A

bag of Twizzlers. I hadn’t had any dinner. But with Ricky in such a foul mood, I decided it wasn’t a good idea.
    Ricky is twenty-four or twenty-five. He’s lanky and blond with freckles around his nose and cheeks. He has these big hands that look like cartoon hands because they’re too big for his skinny arms. Everything about him is bony and awkward. His jeans are too big, and the Polo shirts he wears are droopy and wrinkled.
    He’s almost always in a grouchy mood. I think it’s because he doesn’t want to be the manager here. He told me once he planned to go to Penn and be a Business major. But he didn’t get accepted and now he takes courses online, and he still lives at home with his mother.
    My phone vibrated. I pulled it from my pocket. A text from Blade: C U tomorrow?
    Ricky finished mopping and walked over toward me, carrying the mop and bucket. I slid the phone back into my jeans. “Caitlyn, don’t just stand there,” he said.
    â€œThere’s no one here,” I said, motioning with one hand. “What am I supposed to do?”
    â€œWipe off the display case counters,” he said. “Check the ice machine.”
    I nodded. “No problem.” I’d learned not to argue with him. I wanted to keep this job. It was pretty easy, and it paid fifteen dollars an hour (and all the popcorn I could sneak).
    I found a cloth in back and started to wipe down the glass countertop. My stomach growled. Those Twizzlers looked mighty tempting. I was at the far end of the counter when I saw someone enter the lobby.
    It took me a few seconds to recognize Deena Fear. I stared at her as she approached the counter. She wore a dark purple sweater over a short black skirt and black tights. Her purple lips matched the sweater.
    Her long black hair flowed down her back in thick tangles. She had dark mascara circling her eyes. It made me think of a raccoon.
    Is she following me? Why am I suddenly seeing her everywhere?
    The questions made my whole body tense up. I could feel my muscles tighten. “Hey, Deena.” I tried to look casual.
    She leaned her hands on the counter, her black fingernails glistening, smearing the glass I had just wiped. “I remembered you work here,” she said.
    I nodded. “What movie are you seeing?”
    She pointed to Auditorium Four. “ Vampire High School III, ” she said.
    I should have known.
    â€œThe first two were awesome,” she said. “Life-changing. Seriously.”
    â€œI … didn’t see them,” I said.
    â€œI love the books, too. I have them all. It’s the best series.”
    Over her shoulder, I saw Ricky watching us from the doorway to Auditorium Two.
    â€œHow’s Blade?” Deena asked. The raccoon eyes peered into mine.
    â€œFine,” I said. Ricky didn’t like for us to chat with people. We were supposed to stick to business. “Do you want some popcorn or something?”
    She ignored my question. Her fingernails tapped the countertop. “Sometimes I see things,” she said, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Good things and bad things.”
    I felt a chill. I suddenly remembered my bracelet. How her hand wrapped around it. How it burned hot, then melted onto my skin. I lowered my arm, keeping the bracelet out of sight.
    â€œI … don’t understand,” I said.
    â€œI want you to be my friend,” she whispered, not lowering her gaze, not blinking. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
    â€œUh … thanks,” I murmured.
    Ricky hadn’t moved. He was still watching, an unhappy look on his face.
    â€œDoes Blade talk about me?” Deena asked.
    My breath caught in my throat. “Talk about you? Well…”
    â€œDoes he? Does he talk about me?”
    â€œWell … I don’t know,” I said. “About what exactly?”
    Her eyes still hadn’t blinked. She kept them