The Weight of Rain Read Online Free PDF

amongst the maze of clothes and toys in her room, and heads toward the greeting.
    “Hey, buttercup! How are you doing?”
    “Why are you home so late?”
    “Sorry, I had a long meeting with Stan.” His attention shifts to me as I trail into the room, feeling a new sense of unease. Not only have I had a terribly awkward afternoon with his daughter, but I don’t know the guy, and he’s attractive. Like ridiculously attractive. “Hey! You must be Lauren. I’m Kashton,” he says, extending a hand.
    His smile is warm, inviting me to reply with my own. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say, taking a few steps closer to the man who doesn’t look much older than me.
    “Yeah, you too. You came highly recommended.” His hand feels slightly rough, but it’s the warmth of it that distracts me. It feels as if he just emerged from the hot sun rather than the cooler rain that has made an early appearance. As our hands slide apart, I notice several small nicks and scratches across his knuckles.
    The impulse to object about my qualifications dances across my tongue, so I bite it. I bite harder when the desire to question him about not meeting me prior to allowing his daughter for the afternoon enters my mind.
    “Did you guys have a good day?” he asks.
    “She doesn’t know how to cook.” Mercedes announces the fact like this has been the biggest issue we’ve faced today.
    Kashton’s eyes meet mine. They’re a warm brown, reminding me of well-worn leather, but are a similar shape and depth to Mercedes. “Maybe your uncle can teach her.” His voice is playful, accompanied by a smile that assures me the thought is more for Mercedes.
    “He will have to; otherwise, I’ll starve.”
    Kashton laughs and ruffles a palm over Mercedes’ head, triggering the same look of disdain she’s been sending me for most of the afternoon.
    “We’ll see you tomorrow, then, Lauren?” Kashton asks.
    “Yes, at four, right?”
    He nods and shoves his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “Yeah, I’ll be here tomorrow, but I’ll be out in the shop, so four will work great.”
    I nod in response and then jerkily move forward to grab the strap of my messenger bag, still leaning beside the door, and pull it on.
    I’m already near a large SUV in the driveway when I turn around and wave. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow, then.”
    “Yeah. Nice to meet you, Lauren,” Kashton calls in reply.
    “You too. Bye, Mercedes.”
    “Bye.” I hear her voice, quiet and lacking warmth or amusement, then watch as she closes the door with a bang.
     

     
    “S O HOW was your first day of the new job?” Even Charleigh’s warm voice sends chills of frustration through me that make my teeth grind.
    “I’m pretty sure Lucifer has a daughter, and her name is Mercedes.”
    Charleigh’s loud giggle goes from a sound to a vibration as she wraps her arms around my shoulders, hugging me from behind. “Was it that awful?”
    “Worse.”
    “What were her parents like?”
    “Her dad is young. Really young. And he’s a total slob.”
    “Did you meet the Queen?”
    I shake my head slowly and avert my eyes back to my sketch. “No, I guess she passed away.”
    “Oh, that’s awful. Maybe that’s why she was so difficult?”
    I shoot her a glare that says I don’t care what her excuse is .
    “Why don’t we go get something to eat. Something totally bad for us. We’ll put in a movie and watch our pant sizes grow.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “You are cross, aren’t you?”
    I rub a palm over my eyes that have gone dry from staring too long, a side effect of my art.
    “That’s Lucifer’s daughter?” Charleigh keeps one hand wrapped around me while the other snakes out and hovers over my drawing. “She’s lovely.”
    “I’m sure Eve thought the apple looked really delicious too. That’s why looks are deceiving.”
    “You know, I learned in my history of religion class that they don’t believe Adam and Eve ate an apple. Before the