Full Moon Games Series

Chapter 3

I slammed my econ textbook closed and tossed it on my bed, then touched the screen of my phone to see what time it was. Almost dinnertime, and Mom was making mac and cheese.

Here's the deal: I'm a broke-ass college student who lives in my mom's basement. My major is undecided, and I'm considered a second-year sophomore, having already completed my sophomore classes last year. This year I was just stalling.

So that whole flinging an alligator through a drive-through window? Yeah, not so farfetched now, huh?

See, the idea of being on my own and doing the adulting thing twenty-four-seven f*****g terrified me. The longer I could put it off, the better. I had a part-time job slinging coffee with a great employee discount to help feed my coffee addiction and pretty good pay to help feed my other addiction - books.

I lovingly caressed Dominic's chest on the cover of The Winter of Shadows and Prey, careful of the bookmark placed already a quarter of the way through.

My mind wandered to the god of the bookstore, Aimes, and his intriguing offer to go to a private party. Did I even want to go? What would I wear? Most importantly, could I convince Mom to let me go?

Her house, her rules, after all. It was a fair enough deal though. She didn't charge me for rent or groceries, so normally I had no problem following the rules about thirty, thirty-five percent of the time.

This party though... It felt different somehow.

I hopped off the bed and left my bedroom to go upstairs to the kitchen. "Hey, Mom."

She turned from the boiling water on the stovetop and smiled at me. She had the same long, silky hair I had, except mine was purple, but aside from that, we didn't really look much alike. Similar, but not alike. She was much prettier than I was.

"Hey, babe. How were classes?"

"My morning's were cancelled. The rest were unexciting."

"You don't have track practice today?"

"No." A shame, really, since running track was about the only thing I was actually good at. So good that it helped fund college.

I had always been a fast runner, almost unnaturally so, according to my coaches. Considering I had commitment issues with coursework and college in general and often dangled too close to the academic probation list, I could've used an afternoon doing what made me feel strong and capable.

I sat down at the island while she prepped dinner. "So, I was thinking of going to a party tonight," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Whose party?" She didn't look up at me as she added the macaroni to the boiling pot.

"A guy I met. You don't know him."

"Do you?" She turned with a smirk on her pretty face. "You're not actually considering going to some guy's home. Have you learned nothing from watching Cold Cases?"

"C'mon, Mom. Are you really going to tell me you never went to a party that you were invited to by someone you didn't know well?"

"That's not the point. Besides, I lived in a different time." Her favorite thing to say. Like there weren't serial killers around when she was my age.

"I want to go."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"It's a private party though. It sounds too classy for danger."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that makes sense. Don't you have an econ test on Monday?"

"Already studied." And by that, I meant I'd looked at the words in the textbook and my notes. Nothing else. Econ was stupid boring.

"I still don't think it's a good idea."

"I'll bring my cell and my mace. Plus, I'll threaten any guy within a two-foot radius that I'll skin their balls to make a nice wallet for myself if they get any closer."

"Nope."

"A five-foot radius, then."

"No, not good enough."

"Why?"

She stared at me and opened her mouth like she was going to say something and then closed it again.

"Mom, hello?"

"There are dangers in the world that you don't know about."

"I've watched Cold Cases with you. I'm well aware of all the ways to die. Besides, I'm always careful."

"That's not what I'm talking about." She took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. When she spoke again, her voice was heavy. "Look, there's something I need to tell you."

"Okay..." I was probably adopted or something. That made sense given that Mom was so much prettier and smarter than I was.

Or we were aliens in hiding who escaped from the government. Or maybe my overactive imagination meant someone official would add Syndrome after my name in the future.

Just then my phone rang, and reflex made me look down at it. It was one of the girls from econ class.

"You should probably answer it." Mom stuck her head in the fridge to hide her obvious relief.

I gave her the stink-eye. We'd discuss this great secret later.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Harlow, it's Lacy. I missed class today and wondered if you could send me the notes."

"Sure, I'll send you what I have." Which wasn't much because I was busy struggling to keep up with the lectures.

"Great, I appreciate it."

"No problem." I clicked off the call and turned back to my mom. "You were saying?"

She juggled the milk, cheese, and salad fixings onto the counter, avoiding all eye contact. "It's not important."

"Really? Because it sounded important."

Just then, her cell rang, and she practically leaped toward the island to check it. "I have to take this. We'll talk later. Just don't go out tonight, of all nights, okay?"

My mouth dropped open. "Are you kidding me? What's that supposed to mean?"

She shushed me and answered, and I could tell from the deepening lines on her face that it was someone from the law office and she'd be a while. She'd mentioned some big, important trial she was helping with as a paralegal that started next week.

Super convenient.

I sighed, finishing up dinner where she left off.

After eating alone, I went back downstairs and got ready. I might not have been tall and sexy, but I could contour the hell out of my face. By the time I was dressed in shorts and a crop top to show off my three tats, and my leather jacket, I decided I didn't look completely unpracticed at going to parties.

When it was time to go, Mom was still on the phone, so I left without telling her goodbye, though her words still echoed in my memory:

Just don't go out tonight, of all nights.