The Masquerade Read Online Free PDF Page B

goodbyes. We waited outside the front, and Justin got his mum to come.
    “Is Rick sick?” I asked.
    “Why do you care where he is?”
    I crossed my arms over my chest. “I d-don’t.”
    When Mrs Delaney rolled by the kerb in her sedan and beeped, Justin and I jumped. We were on the front porch with a wide gap between us. Justin stood and kissed my lips, pausing long enough that I felt his hand ride up my neck, glide over my jaw, and tighten behind my neck.
    “What’s that for?” I said, eyes closed. It felt … nice.
    He shrugged but grinned. “Because.”
    “Okay, let me see you off.”
    “You don’t have to.”
    “It’s fine. I want to.”
    As we approached the car, I waved at Mrs Delaney and said, “Hi! Nice to see you again. It’s been so long.”
    She didn’t say anything. I rested my arm on the door and looked through the open window to her. Her eyes were red, and she sniffled, phlegmy and deep.
    “Oh , no, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
    She raised her red, serious eyes to mine and asked, “Why would I be okay? He left. He just left us.”
    “He?” I asked. “He?” My questions fired up her tears, and she sunk her nose into a handkerchief instead of saying anything else. I spun to Justin, who bit the inside of his cheek. What the hell was going on?
    “Justin, who’s gone?”
    His stoic expression fixed on me. “Rick.”
    I turned to his mum who sob bed harder, then to Justin, whose lips tightened. He banged his fist on the roof. But no one scolded him.
    “How long?” My voice trembled, so I cleared my throat. “Where?”
    “London,” Justin said.
    Mrs Delaney was crying as if London meant Mars.
    “London,” she scoffed. I shivered at how we’d been thinking the same thing. Something must have happened. “Come on, Justin. We both haven’t got a clue if he’ll be all right or if he’s coming back.”
    Justin held my shoulder and shr ugged a sad smile. Then he left too, without an explanation.
    His departure stripped the masquerade from my eyes. I saw—through blurry vision—that I had fallen in love with a guy who I may never see again.
     
    • • •
     
    Loved this prequel? Begin Rick and Vee’s love story in book one of the series, The Rental :
    Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble