Reluctant Guardian by Melissa Cunningham Page B

with a crooked smile. “At least from what I can tell.”
    I swear I blush, if that's even possible. I've always thought my straight, dishwater blonde hair and dull brown eyes are plain, bordering on boring. I don't know why, but his compliment warms my cold, little heart a tiny bit. “Thank you. Do you see spirits on a regular basis?”
    He laughs and sits up, brings his arms up to rest on his knees. He turns serious. “Naw. But I’ve seen my grandpa and my grandma a couple of times. Not my mom though. Don't know why.”
    â€œYour mom? She's—”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œOh. Sorry.”
    He shrugs and doesn't say anything more about her. “The other people who've come, the ones like you, didn't like it that I could see them, and they wouldn't talk to me. There were three others.”
    â€œReally? Girls or boys?”
    â€œTwo girls and one guy.”
    I wonder who they were and what it was that made them give up and leave. “How long did they last?”
    â€œHanging with me, you mean?”
    I nod and he glances at the ceiling, thinking. “Let's see. The first one only one day. That was a girl. The next guy lasted a week, but got totally frustrated when I wouldn't obey him.” He laughs and shakes his head. “Idiot. And the last girl stuck around for almost three weeks. I'm still not sure why she left.”
    â€œYeah. That is weird.” I wonder where those guardians are now. Did they get to try again with a new charge? I don't intend to bail on Brecken because this might be my only shot. I can't mess it up, and anyway, talking to him like this seems nice. Maybe we could even be friends. Maybe if he can like me, even a little, he'll listen to me.
    â€œNo it's not. You'll see. You'll leave too, but you are different. I can't tell what it is, but I'll figure it out.” He gazes at me, his eyes steady.
    I sit up straight, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “I'm different? How?”
    â€œWell, first of all, you're talking to me. Second, you kinda have a pink glow around you. None of the others did. They were white.”
    I hold my arm in front of my face and turn it back and forth. No glow that I can see. “Hmm.”
    â€œSo, anyway, I need to go. You should probably stay here.” He grabs a jacket from the foot of his bed.
    â€œWhat? Where are you going?”
    â€œSomewhere you won't want to follow.”
    Â 

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
    ~Little Sisters~
    Alisa
    Â 
    In front of his house, dust blows across the sidewalk, dry and stale. A lone tree grows by the curb but isn't thriving. Neighborhood kids play outside in a grass-less park to the south, dust devils rising on the breeze. A few cars are parked out front, none of them worth enough money to steal.
    Brecken straddles a motorcycle and turns the key. It roars to life, the black paint gleaming in the sunshine. It isn't new or particularly expensive-looking, but it isn't rusty and falling apart either.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    â€œDon't worry about it, angel. I'll be back in a few hours.” He revs the engine and smiles. As he peels out, gravel peppers me like gunshot.
    â€œIdiot.”
    ***
    I follow my charge. Like he thought I wouldn't? I hold back though, worried he will sense me. If I hide in the background and watch, get a sense of who he is, maybe it will help me know how to deal with him. Technically, it's a good plan.
    He drives to a house not far from his and pulls into the driveway. I stay across the street, figuring it's far enough away. He raps on the front door of a ranch-style house with black shutters. When he enters the house, I move closer. Peeking through an open window, I watch Brecken talk to a kid his age. They don't even bother to whisper. And considering their plan, I'm surprised.
    â€œThey'll be gone by six,” the kid says. “The back door will be unlocked, just like last time.”
    Brecken nods but doesn't say anything.
    â€œHer