light switch as she released a deep, calming breath. Okay, light–don’t freak out again.
In one quick motion, Evie flicked the switch on, bracing herself for the creepy light show. Instead, warm brightness spilled over the room, constant and full. She glanced at the mirror once more. No dark, creeping tresses. No deep, glaring eyes. The image of the woman was gone.
The darkness of the cool night draped a hazy cloak over the mansion on Twenty-third Street. Large, leafy trees seemed to shield the house from its distant neighbors, providing a more private atmosphere for the party. “How many people live in that place?” Evie asked, eyeing the massive home.
Kelly pulled down the visor and smoothed her hair. “Tons. It’s been a rental for like, ever. They let students share rooms even.” She replaced the visor. “And get this, Tawny’s roommate’s probably moving out, and I might take her place.”
“What?” Evie looked at Kelly. “Are you serious?”
Kelly smiled. “I totally filled out the paper work already.”
“When did this happen?” Evie pushed open her car door, an ugly sort of energy nudging at her insides. Why hadn’t Kelly told her? And since when was she so close to Tawny Clark?
Kelly looped arms with her as they stepped onto the sidewalk. “Just yesterday in class. Who knows if it’ll even go through. Or if my mom will ever agree to it.”
Evie nodded, relaxing just a bit. Her wild friend was always restless; this was just one of her whims. Still, an entirely different set of nerves kicked in as she scanned the cars lining the street, failing to see Calvin’s Jeep along the way. Hopefully he would show.
“Told you we came at the right time,” Kelly said. “Not too early, not too late.”
The chill in the air added to Evie’s nerves as they stepped along the path leading to the house. The pounding rhythm of a fast-paced beat rattled the windows, promising the perfect party vibe. A crowd of rowdy guys walked ahead, joking loudly and shoving one another. They held the front door open, appraising the two with loaded smiles. “Ladies,” one said as they walked through the door.
“Thanks,” Evie said. Kelly introduced herself as Evie eyed the giant foyer and adjacent rooms. Standing as a centerpiece in the kitchen, a row of tables held towers of red, plastic cups. Two liters, six packs, and tubs of ice stood close by.
“And this is my friend, Evie,” Kelly said, gaining her attention. The men shook her hand one by one, each stating their name in turn.
The tallest of the bunch motioned to a spacious dance floor just off the kitchen, before leading the way. “Let’s party!”
The high vaulted area looked just like a dance club–complete with a DJ, flashing lights, and mechanical fog.
“Do you see him?” Kelly asked.
Evie eyed the faces in the crowd, shook her head. “Not yet. It’s possible he won’t come,” she said, realizing the truth of it. “It’s not like he has my number. He couldn’t have called if his plans changed.”
“Glad you ladies made it,” Tawny said, putting her arms around both Evie and Kelly.
“Thanks for having us,” Evie said. “So how is it living in this amazing mansion?”
The tall brunette smiled. “Nice. It’d be even better if I wasn’t sharing it with over twenty roommates.” She nudged into Kelly. “Are you still serious about moving in here?”
“Very. Is she really moving out?” Kelly snagged her lip ring with her teeth.
Tawny grinned. “The outlook is promising.”
Evie had to fight back an eye roll. Kelly wasn’t dependable. But Tawny would figure that out soon enough.
“Oh, my boss wants to know if you’d be willing to work Saturdays,” Tawny said.
“Yeah. You guys close at like, eight o’clock, don’t you?”
Evie shot a glance at Kelly, who looked like a guilty child. “I put in an application at the Tarot House,” Kelly said. “I’ll need a job if I’m going to move out.”
Who the hell was
In one quick motion, Evie flicked the switch on, bracing herself for the creepy light show. Instead, warm brightness spilled over the room, constant and full. She glanced at the mirror once more. No dark, creeping tresses. No deep, glaring eyes. The image of the woman was gone.
The darkness of the cool night draped a hazy cloak over the mansion on Twenty-third Street. Large, leafy trees seemed to shield the house from its distant neighbors, providing a more private atmosphere for the party. “How many people live in that place?” Evie asked, eyeing the massive home.
Kelly pulled down the visor and smoothed her hair. “Tons. It’s been a rental for like, ever. They let students share rooms even.” She replaced the visor. “And get this, Tawny’s roommate’s probably moving out, and I might take her place.”
“What?” Evie looked at Kelly. “Are you serious?”
Kelly smiled. “I totally filled out the paper work already.”
“When did this happen?” Evie pushed open her car door, an ugly sort of energy nudging at her insides. Why hadn’t Kelly told her? And since when was she so close to Tawny Clark?
Kelly looped arms with her as they stepped onto the sidewalk. “Just yesterday in class. Who knows if it’ll even go through. Or if my mom will ever agree to it.”
Evie nodded, relaxing just a bit. Her wild friend was always restless; this was just one of her whims. Still, an entirely different set of nerves kicked in as she scanned the cars lining the street, failing to see Calvin’s Jeep along the way. Hopefully he would show.
“Told you we came at the right time,” Kelly said. “Not too early, not too late.”
The chill in the air added to Evie’s nerves as they stepped along the path leading to the house. The pounding rhythm of a fast-paced beat rattled the windows, promising the perfect party vibe. A crowd of rowdy guys walked ahead, joking loudly and shoving one another. They held the front door open, appraising the two with loaded smiles. “Ladies,” one said as they walked through the door.
“Thanks,” Evie said. Kelly introduced herself as Evie eyed the giant foyer and adjacent rooms. Standing as a centerpiece in the kitchen, a row of tables held towers of red, plastic cups. Two liters, six packs, and tubs of ice stood close by.
“And this is my friend, Evie,” Kelly said, gaining her attention. The men shook her hand one by one, each stating their name in turn.
The tallest of the bunch motioned to a spacious dance floor just off the kitchen, before leading the way. “Let’s party!”
The high vaulted area looked just like a dance club–complete with a DJ, flashing lights, and mechanical fog.
“Do you see him?” Kelly asked.
Evie eyed the faces in the crowd, shook her head. “Not yet. It’s possible he won’t come,” she said, realizing the truth of it. “It’s not like he has my number. He couldn’t have called if his plans changed.”
“Glad you ladies made it,” Tawny said, putting her arms around both Evie and Kelly.
“Thanks for having us,” Evie said. “So how is it living in this amazing mansion?”
The tall brunette smiled. “Nice. It’d be even better if I wasn’t sharing it with over twenty roommates.” She nudged into Kelly. “Are you still serious about moving in here?”
“Very. Is she really moving out?” Kelly snagged her lip ring with her teeth.
Tawny grinned. “The outlook is promising.”
Evie had to fight back an eye roll. Kelly wasn’t dependable. But Tawny would figure that out soon enough.
“Oh, my boss wants to know if you’d be willing to work Saturdays,” Tawny said.
“Yeah. You guys close at like, eight o’clock, don’t you?”
Evie shot a glance at Kelly, who looked like a guilty child. “I put in an application at the Tarot House,” Kelly said. “I’ll need a job if I’m going to move out.”
Who the hell was
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