Secrets in a Still Life, Kari Ganske [best fiction books to read .TXT] 📗

flat and boring, decided this was the morning to stick up in any number of directions out of the hair-tie knotted on top of my head. Not quite the look I would've picked for waking up with a hot guy in the house. No chance of moving out of "like a little sister" zone with this look. I quickly scrubbed my face and ran a brush over my teeth and finger-combed my hair.

I was wrestling the last wayward strand back into a low ponytail at the nape of my neck when I heard Linc call my name from the hallway.

"Be right there," I called back. My face was a bit splotchy from where I washed it, but it was a thousand times better than looking like I was auditioning Halloween costumes. I wished I'd had time to change into something a little more mature than He-Man, but he'd already seen me in it, so I let it go.

I met him back in the kitchen where he was finishing his bowl of cereal. I poured myself my own bowl and sat beside him on the couch.

"I like your jammies," he said, tugging on the tattered sleeve.

"No one is supposed to see me in this," I said defensively.

"I've seen you in worse in our years together," he reminded me.

"Yeah, but seeing a kid in something crazy is different than seeing an adult in something embarrassing."

"Aww. It's almost like you care what I think."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," I lied. I totally cared what he thought. I just couldn't figure why I cared so much. The thought made me uncomfortable, so I changed the subject. "Who was on the phone?"

"Oh. Right. I got distracted by He-Man. That was Andrea," he said.

I couldn't fix my face to hide the scowl fast enough.

Linc must have thought I was confused because he clarified, "Officer Martinez?"

"I know who Andrea is," I snapped. Then took a breath and tried for sweetness. "Why is she calling you so early? Wondering where you laid your head last night?"

"Why would she care about that?" he asked. I raised an eyebrow. He said, "We're gonna circle back to that. First, though, she informed me that the Vandenburgs and Poledarks are having a memorial service for Missy tonight at Mike's house. I think we should go."

"Oh no. I'm not going there."

"Why not?"

"I was just brought in for questioning in suspicion of her murder. I'm sure that's all over town by now."

"Well, I'm going. If you want to hide here, that's your choice. But I told you last night I would help you get out of this mess, and I meant it. The memorial will be a great place to see all the key players in one setting."

I sighed. He was right. I'd have to suck it up and face the uncomfortable stares. Means to an end. The sooner I figured out who really killed Missy, the sooner I wouldn't have those accusatory stares directed at me.

"I knew you'd come," Linc said, reading me perfectly. He put a hand on my knee to push up off the couch. I felt the skin to skin contact in my gut. The blush from earlier rekindled and overtook my neck. Luckily, Linc wasn't paying attention. He was washing his bowl out in the sink.

What was wrong with me? I hadn't turned into a puddle over a guy since—not since Linc in high school. I must still be embarrassed about my crying jag last night. That was all.

"I've got to head to work. I'm late already, not that anyone else is there to notice. Why don't you take the day off from your community service? I'll pick you up around seven for the memorial."

"Thanks. I do need to apologize to Colleen and face my parents. I'm surprised they aren't here banging down the door already."

I walked him to the door. Even though I'd known Linc practically my whole life, I suddenly felt awkward and unsure around him. Almost like this was the end of a first date with a stranger.

Linc turned at the door, one hand on the frame. My traitorous eyes flicked down to the edge of skin exposed by his lifted shirt. How did he still look so fabulous? He was the one wearing yesterday's clothes after being crumpled on my small couch. Yet I looked like a disaster while he looked like a god. It wasn't fair.

"Thanks for breakfast," he said. "Best cereal I've ever eaten."

I rolled my eyes. "Only the best at Chéz Lightwood." My smile faltered a little. "Thanks, Lincoln. For last night. For forgiving me even though I've been a grumpy jerk. For not price gouging the sign repair."

He surprised me by reaching out to pull me into a hug. I hesitated a moment, then wrapped my arms around him.

"What are friends for," he said. He gave me another tighter squeeze, then chuckled. "I always forget how short you are without your shoes on." I lifted up on my toes a little and heard him chuckle again.

When he released me, I took a step back into the shadows of the interior to hide whatever expression might be playing on my face.

"I'll pick you up at seven. No chickening out," he said. "No offense," he added to Nugget, then disappeared down the steps.

After a shower and a fresh, non-cartoony T-shirt, I wandered down to the orchard market to sit at one of the picnic tables outside. It was a beautiful spring day. I hoped the fresh breeze and bird songs would carry over into my mood. And help me get through the conversations with my parents and Colleen.

I called my father's cell phone. That way he could put me on speaker, and I'd only have to have the conversation once. Mom and Dad were equally angry at Chief Duncan: "To