Ghoulies Abroad, Julie Steimle [libby ebook reader .TXT] 📗

phone rang.

Rick picked it up. “Hello?”

<< Alright. Let’s have it out. Why are you ragging on me so much? >>

It was Andrew.

Sighing, Rick replied, “I told you in the emails. I need you on this trip and you are neglecting Jessica.”

<< Neglecting?! Howie! I have med school— >>

“And so does Hanz Johaansen, but you don’t see him neglecting Eve McAllister.”

Andy went silent on the other side. Then he murmured, << Eve is a dangerous demon. She could rip his heart out if he upset her. >>

Rick snorted. “And Jessica isn’t dangerous? She could rip your heart out too—though maybe not as literally. I’m telling you, Abey. You are taking her for granted. Women need attention. If you don’t give it, you will lose her.”

<< What makes you the expert? >> Andy sullenly replied.

Groaning, Rick decided to be a little petty as he replied, “I’ve actually ‘been with’ a woman. I know firsthand if you don’t give a woman attention, they get really upset.”

<< You’re not counting Daisy, are you? That she-wolf wanted you only for— >>

“I know,” Rick growled, hating the topic of conversation though it was necessary. “But even she demanded that I give her attention.”

<< But you have been ignoring her for the past four years, and you know she hasn’t given up. >>

Rick growled lower. “But Jessica isn’t Daisy. If you ignore her—”

<< I’m not ignoring her! >>

“If you are too busy for her, that is the same thing,” Rick snapped. “She will look somewhere else.”

<< So Matthew— >>

“No,” Rick moaned. “Matt would never cross that line, though likes her. But I do know there are guys lined up who would want have her if she ever decided you were not worth the effort.”

Andy did not respond.

“Most of them are waiting for if you ever break up,” Rick added.

<< Who? >>

Shrugging, heaving a sigh, Rick said, “Think about it. The other guys in the Seven adore her. And Jessica would get with a guy she gets along with best. But none of them will ever make a move because of you. Except maybe Peter.”

<< Peter? >> Andy sounded shocked.

“Oh, come on,” Rick said with a huff. “She and Peter are great pals. He treats her like a person and pays attention to her. And he’s not scared of you.”

Andy said nothing. Rick hoped his friend was thinking about how fragile his relationship with Jessica really was. But Rick added, just to push him over, “I’d love it if Jessica wanted me, as you know I like her. The only reason I never make a move is because I know she still likes you—even though she is really ticked off at you right now.”

<< She told you that? >>

Groaning, Rick replied, “Of course she did. She and I talk. And she complains about you being ‘too busy’ for her. Dude, you are killing your relationship. And not just with her, but also with the Seven. Isn’t the strength of the Seven in your unity? You cannot afford to be ‘too busy’. There are things you must take care of in life no matter what. Relationships are one of them.”

Andy did not respond.

“Come on this China trip. You need to take time to reprioritize,” Rick said. “You are getting too wrapped up in yourself again.”

<< Howie… >> Andy moaned, preparing to make excuses again. 

“No. I am your best friend, and I care about you. You need to do this.” Rick waited for his response.

He got a lot of silence.

“I need to get visas, so decide now,” Rick said.

Andy groaned. << Fine. But you’d better send someone to record and take notes in my classes. And I’ll be missing labs, you know. >>

“It will be worth it,” Rick said. “And I will take care of everything.”

He hung up.

Feeling lighter, Rick counted Andy into his list of people. That made eight total. And he went back to getting everything arranged. He had to get couriers to collect their passports for their visas, have all the paperwork filled out and signed. And then, of course, were the hotels they would be staying at. He had to set up a tour. He also had to create a legitimate reason for him going to China besides touring with friends. It was suspicious during the middle of the school year, after all.

So Rick called his father. “Dad, I hope I am not interrupting anything, but I need to use one of the family jets for a journey with the Holy Seven to China.”

His father was speechless for a second. When he replied, he said, << Say that again, and slower. >>

Sighing, Rick then explained the email from the monk to his website, how he had arranged everything and what he had promised the others. Then he added, “Dad, I need the big jet, as we need to travel to Shanghai.”

<< You would have to submit a flight plan with air traffic and arrange with the pilot for the trip. It is not the same as hopping into a car and going off on a road trip. >>

Heaving a sigh, Rick nodded. “I know. I know.”

<< You must keep this legal. >>

“I got it,” Rick said. Then he added, “I also need an excuse to visit our factories in the Jiangsu provenance area. That’s where the monk needs us.”

<< Our sister companies in Hangzhou need to be inspected, >> Mr. Deacon said.

Rick moaned. “But that’s west. We are heading north from Shanghai.”

<< You should visit the pack in Jiangsu then. Our business deals with their small town company is a fair enough excuse, >> Mr. Deacon said with serious contemplation. << I’ve noticed some trouble with their output lately. Something is wrong over there. >>

“I intend to visit them. I think they are the wolves the monk mentioned in the email.”

<< But I don’t want the Seven to know where they live. >>

Rick nodded to himself. Neither did he. As much as the Holy Seven were his friends, he knew they were suspicious of werewolves and they did not like the idea of werewolf packs. The only reason they knew about the Wolverton pack and Daisy was because his father thought it better that they protect Rick from that pack rather than protecting the pack.

“I’ll just bring Tom and Chen with me to visit the pack then,” Rick said

<< You know the Seven will get suspicious. >>

“Not if I visit other places while I am there,” Rick said. “I can have them investigate the area while I visit the pack and say I need Chen for a translator and Tom as a bodyguard.”

<< One of your friends might insist on coming anyway. >>

“Tom is enough of a bodyguard,” Rick muttered. “I can remind them.”

<< Alright. Would you like me to make the fight arrangements then? You can handle the visas, I gather. >>

Breathing deep, Rick nodded. “Yes. I am already working on that.”

<< Good. I’ll contact you when everything with the flight is settled. Make sure your visa lasts longer than just a week. You never know how long such a trip might take. It is Chinese New Year over there besides. Be prepared for crowds and dress warm. Jiangsu can still get chilly. >>

“Will do.”

And the call ended.

Rick stared in front of him and added up all the things he had to get done for the trip. As thought about this, he realized this was the first time he had organized something on an international level for the Seven. It made him feel a little odd. Almost… mature. Responsible. It wasn’t that he never had been mature or responsible, but Rick had been battling self-confidence issues since his huge mistake with Daisy. But as he looked at what he had just organized, a rush of satisfaction and pride swept over him. Maybe he wasn’t such a screw up after all. Maybe he could accept that his father’s confidence in him wasn’t misplaced. He had been feeling that for such a long time since his encounter in Wolverton, believing that it was unwise for him to become the CEO of Deacon Enterprises after his father retires (or is killed by a hunter). He had felt so unworthy. But now, maybe he was.

Finishing off the arrangements, making sure he didn’t miss a detail, Rick smiled within himself. This would probably be the first of many trips he would set up as the Seven was growing up and no longer bound to their one town. When they had helped in Randon’s town to prevent the emergence of another witch haven, it had been one of their first excursions together since they were verified by the UN way back when they were still sixteen. That had only been accomplished by a few phone calls and free time due to midterms. And they still had not all been together.

The Seven’s division during college had been a strain which weighed heavily on the minds of concerned members and friends also. And that, Rick believed, he had to do something to rectify. Just like Andy’s relationship with Jessica, Rick was protective of the Seven’s need to keep together.

His father called back.

<< Your flight had been arranged. You leave Saturday evening, at six. Contact the others and send a car for them to take them to the airport. >>

“Got it.” Rick heaved a breath for strength.

<< You’re doing good, son. Keep at it. >>

And that was the best thing he had heard all day.

 

 

Leaving on a Jet Plane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Three

 

 

They arrived at the airport through slushy roads and heavy snowfall. Rick wrapped his scarf tightly around his neck as he climbed out of the vehicle. He glanced it at Henry as he shut the door, but Henry hopped out the driver’s seat to get Rick’s bag from the trunk.

“Henry, I can get it,” Rick said lifting his wheeled suitcase and backpack out from the back.

But Henry shook his head, taking both and lifting them to the curb for him. “No, Rick. This is my job. You should never deprive a person from his job.”

Rick hung his shoulders, gazing at their family’s steward with pain. “Henry…”

“You be careful in China,” Henry said, gazing on him with fond worry. “Don’t do anything impulsive.”

“For pity’s sake, I won’t,” Rick said, rolling his eyes.

“And don’t stay with any wolf packs alone,” Henry added.

Rick winced. Henry was one of the few who knew the entire story about Daisy and Wolverton. He had been there when Rick was coping with his initial separation from her, and Henry knew the severity of his addiction to that she-wolf. Henry didn’t want the same thing to happen again. Wolf packs, after all, were always looking to improve their gene pool.

“I promise,” Rick said contritely. “I will be there with Tom Brown. And Tom will be able to help me curb any crazy temptation—if ever one arises.”

Henry reached out and hugged Rick. It wasn’t often that he did that, but when he did, Rick held on. He had known Henry since he was little. Henry had been the one who had been there during his first wolf transformation. Henry knew the pain he was going through, though he was an ordinary human being. But Henry was such an understanding and sympathetic human being who had helped him so much.