Steph’s house is nice. A larger two story with a two-car

garage attached. It doesn’t stick out in the neighborhood,

where all the houses basically look the same. If I had to guess,

I’d say that the subdivision was completed in the early two

thousands or late nineties. Some of them have been updated

with fancy, fresh, modern siding, while others still sport their

white and pink stucco.

I don’t know what I was expecting. A gated

community? A mansion? I’m relieved that Steph lives in a

normal house, like normal people. She did say her parents’

house was nice and that she hated taking her boyfriends there

because they’d know right away her parents had money, but

she obviously chose hers with care to blend in, not stand out.

The house is kind of like her. Down to earth.

When I ring the bell, Steph opens the door

immediately, like she might have been standing on the other

side waiting.

She looks different. Her hair is wild, like she’s raked

her hands through it all evening. Her eyes are huge, but it’s her

face. Something is wrong. She immediately makes me think

about all those literary references to seeing ghosts and things

walking about people’s graves.

“Hey,” she says, and swallows so hard I can hear it.

She’s making an effort to put on a brave face. “Can I get you

anything to drink?”

“Uh, I’m okay.”

“Water? Juice? Coffee? I can make an espresso.”

I think coffee is the last thing Steph needs. She’s

already so jittery that I doubt she’s sat still for the past few

hours or has any chance of doing so anytime soon. “I’m

Tags: Alexa Woods Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net