Demonosity by Amanda Ashby Page B

concern. “But thanks for asking.”
    “I’m pleased to hear that. Though it’s a pity about the tattoo. I liked it,” he said before giving her a boyish grin. “So I was wondering if you could tell me what the situation is with the school play. I was thinking of auditioning but didn’t want to step into a land mine.”
    “Sorry, I’m not much of a drama person,” Cassidy admitted—though for the first time since her mom had mentioned it, she was genuinely sorry.
    “Really?” Travis sounded surprised as he arched an eyebrow. “That’s too bad, because I think you would be pretty amazing up on the stage.”
    “If, by amazing, you mean shaking violently and forgetting my own name, then yes, you might be right,” she quipped before she could stop herself, but instead of looking at her as if she was stupid, he gave her a reassuring smile.
    “Stage fright can happen to the best of us,” he said, his gorgeous eyes catching hers. Before she could reply, his cell phone rang. For a moment he just stared at the pocket of his leather jacket, seemingly unsure whether to answer it or not. Cassidy nodded to let him know that she didn’t mind, while privately impressed that he’d even considered it might be rude.
    She watched him answer it in a low voice. He didn’t say much, but as the conversation continued his face darkened until he finally shoved the phone back in his pocket and rubbed his full lower lip.
    “Is there a problem?”
    “Not exactly, but there is something I have to take care of.” He let out a frustrated sigh before shooting her a curious look. “Seriously, is it just my family, or does every family have one person in it who drives you crazy?”
    “Oh, you definitely don’t have the franchise on crazy family members,” Cassidy assured him as she thought of her mom. Who wasn’t so much crazy as overpowering, detached, and selfish—but hey; tomato, tamahto.
    Travis looked at her with interest. “Sounds like we’ll have to compare notes one day.”
    “I-I’d like that,” Cassidy said, surprised at just how disappointed she was that he was leaving so soon.
    “Anyway, Cassidy, I’d better go and sort this thing out, but hey, it was nice to see you, and thanks again for the book.”
    “What book?” Nash suddenly turned to her, his conversation with the Super Mario zombie finished. Cassidy waited until Travis had finally disappeared from sight altogether before turning to Nash and letting out her own dreamy sigh.
    “Harper Lee. I lent him my copy. Can you believe he thought he might find a copy in the library?”
    “Good-looking and innocent?” Nash reflected. “He’s going to get eaten alive at this school.”
    “I don’t know.” Cassidy shook her head as she told him about what happened with Scott in the hallway earlier. “He obviously has some kind of mojo that he uses.”
    “So I’m discovering.” Nash raised his eyebrows, causing her to flush. At the same time Reuben’s fake laugh floated over, and they could both hear him tell the very boring story of how he once got kicked out of a concert for wearing the wrong footwear.
    “Could your ex be any more of a jerk?” Nash rolled his eyes as he pulled her to her feet and led her out through sliding glass doors to the large patio. There were two large coal patio heaters to ward off the chilly weather, and pumpkin-shaped lights were dotted across the lawn below, stopped only by the shadowy darkness of the surrounding woods. As far as spook factor went, it was definitely an A-plus.
    “I didn’t think it was possible, but he does seem to be doing his best to prove us wrong.” Cassidy shivered, since thanks to the groups of people huddled around the braziers, not much of the warmth was reaching her. Nash immediately slipped off his Scarlet Pimpernel jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
    “Here you go. You already look ghoulish enough with the zombie face paint, I don’t think you need to turn blue.”
    “Thanks.”