Oblivion (Lux 1.5)

I couldn’t believe what I’d done.

Kat hadn’t been seriously injured. Just a scratch and some sore fingers. She would’ve been fine. I swallowed as I scanned her. A barely-there white glow surrounded her. It wouldn’t be that noticeable, probably not even to others. “It’s faint. I don’t think it will be a problem. I can barely see it, but you might—”

“No! It’s faint. No one will see it. I’m fine. No more babysitting.” Her eyes widened as she drew in a shallow breath. “I can take care of myself.”

Denials formed on the tip of my tongue, but she…she was right. Kat was a hundred percent right. I straightened, stepping back from the car. “You’re right. Obviously you can, as long as it doesn’t involve car doors. You’ve lasted longer than any human that’s known about us.”

Kat opened her mouth, but I turned around, stalking back toward the middle of the parking lot. Anger boiled inside me, but not at her. The first time I’m around her alone for a handful of minutes, I ended up healing a very minor injury like a freaking idiot.

Apparently I needed to work on my self-control.

Glancing over to the right, I laughed drily when I spotted Simon on the field. He was carrying his helmet as he jogged toward the center, where a group was huddled together.

My eyes narrowed as I lifted my finger on my right hand.

The helmet flew out of his hand, knocking into his shoulder pads. Caught off guard, he stumbled to the side and then went down on one leg, staring at the fallen helmet like it was a pit viper. The guys in the huddle laughed. My lips twisted into a wry grin.

Yeah, I really needed to work on my self-control.

Slapping the mayo on the piece of bread, I hummed under my breath, as loudly as I could to drown out the conversation from the kitchen. It wasn’t working.

“He’s going to think you’re the hottest chick there,” Dee said, her voice pitched obnoxiously loud.

I glanced up at the ceiling, exhaling loudly through my nose.

“Um, that’s good.” Kat cleared her throat. “I guess.”

Picking up the lid, I nearly broke the mayo jar as I screwed it back on.

“You guess?” Dee laughed. At this point, I’d swear she was yelling. “Girl, he’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you.”

I smushed the slice of bread down, my jaw grinding until there was a good chance I was going to crack my molars.

“I’m pretty sure the same thing can be said about Adam when he sees you in the dress you got,” Kat replied.

Dee giggled. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Oh for the love of everything in this world and the universe…

There was a pause. “You sure about the dress, though? It’s kind of low-cut.”

I closed my eyes, swallowing a groan.

“Oh, I’m sure,” Dee assured her. “I’m so sure.”

All but slamming the sandwich down on my plate, I was seconds from tossing myself out the kitchen window, but then I heard Kat saying she was heading back home and a few seconds later, the door shut.

I moved silently to the window by the table that overlooked the front yard. Kat appeared in the waning light, her backpack bumping off her lower back as she crossed the driveways. That ponytail of hers swayed with each step. As did her hips. My gaze dropped.

It was a couple of days after the day at her car and the tiny trace wasn’t at all visible. Thank God. But I still worried and I—

“What are you doing?” Dee asked.

So caught up in being…well, sort of creepily watching Kat, my sister had sneaked up on me. That never happened. I turned around slowly. “Nothing. What are you doing?”

The look on her face screamed she didn’t believe me. “Nothing.”

I arched a brow.

She mirrored the gesture. “My ‘nothing’ means I’m not checking someone out from the kitchen window.”

My eyes narrowed.

“You know,” she continued, walking over to the counter. “You could’ve come into the living room and stared at her in person. You didn’t have to hide in your bedroom and then in the kitchen.”

“I wasn’t hiding.”

“Uh-huh.” She spotted my turkey sandwich. “Did I tell you—”

“That’s my sandwich. Don’t…” Too late. I sighed as I watched her take a huge bite. “Help yourself.”

“Thank you,” she said as she chewed. “You make awesome sandwiches.”

“I know,” I grumbled.

Dee grinned as she leaned against the counter. “Did I tell you about the awesome dress Katy bought?”

Pulling out the kitchen chair, I dropped down in it and stretched out my legs. “Why would you tell me about her dress?”

“I didn’t, but I’m sure you heard us talking about it.”

“People in the next state heard you talking about it, Dee.”

She ignored that. “It’s stunning and Katy looks amazing in it.”

My jaw was starting to ache again.

“Like she’s going to look so hot at the dance, so hot.” Dee paused, taking another huge bite of my sandwich. “Oh, and did I tell you Simon is taking her out?”

I counted to ten before answering. “Yes, Dee, you told me, and I think you’re a crappy friend for allowing her to go with him.”

“I am not a crappy friend!” She stomped her bare foot and rattled the chairs. “I know Kat isn’t in trouble with him. She’ll be fine. Anyway , did you know about the party after the dance?”