Enchanted Chaos (Enchanted Chaos 1)

I offer him a tight smile. “I probably never should’ve taken off to begin with. The parentals … they seem nice enough.”

“You sure?” He casts a wary glance at the Everettson brothers.

Easton rolls his eyes. “Stop looking at us like we’re going to hurt her.”

“I would if I actually believed you wouldn’t.” Gage’s expression hardens as his eyes glide toward Foster. “From what I’ve seen so far, you have and you will.” He protectively tugs me closer to his side.

Foster grinds his teeth with his fists balled up, his gaze locked on where Gage’s side is pressed against mine.

“We’re not going to hurt anyone.” Easton glances at Foster before reaching forward and wrapping his fingers around my wrist. “But we do need to take this lovely thing home before our parents freak out more than they already are.”

I begrudgingly wiggle my arm from Easton’s grip then turn back to Gage. “I’m sorry I’m ditching out early. Tell Nina I’m sorry, too.”

He gapes at me. “You’re seriously leaving?”

I understand his confusion, since we’ve all spent the last few years doing whatever the hell we want whenever we want. But things are different now. The thunder booming outside and the heat in my chest makes me all too aware of th

at.

“I’ll text you later, okay?” I tell Gage apologetically.

The Everettsons move to leave, and I follow, walking backward and giving Gage a slight wave.

He frowns. “See ya later then, I guess.”

I wish I could tell him more—tell him everything—but even if the wall is down, I don’t think it’s a possibility right now. Maybe when I learn more about my new world and my powers, then I can stop being such a liar.

But from all the warnings everyone has given me so far, I’m betting I may just have to spend the rest of my life lying to everyone I care about.

Chapter 18

I grab my bag before we leave and head out into the crowded living room. No one says goodbye to me, but that’s basically the story of my life. I do, however, notice several girls checking out Max, Eaton, and Foster. Max and Foster either don’t care or are oblivious to the attention. Easton soaks it up, though, winking and dazzling them with smiles.

When I roll my eyes, he offers me the same grin, to which I roll my eyes again.

“You know, if you keep doing that, your eyes are going to get stuck like that,” Easton teases. “And I seriously think that might depress Foster.”

I make a big show of crossing my eyes, and Easton chuckles.

Foster scowls at Easton. “Knock it off.”

Easton gives him an innocent look. “Knock what off?”

“You know what,” Foster murmurs, yanking open the front door.

Grinning, Easton steps outside, and the rest of us follow.

An overcast covers the sky, and a light drizzle of rain trickles down from the clouds.

Easton gives an insinuating glance at Foster and me, and then a devious grin rises on his lips. “All right, which one of you is doing this?”

I crinkle my nose. “I don’t think it’s me … I’m too high right now.”

Easton cocks a brow. “You know my parents aren’t going to be cool with that, right?”

“Yeah, I got that impression yesterday.” I tuck a strand of rain-damped hair behind my ear as we slowly make our way across the puddled grass. “I’m not really used to that sort of stuff.”

“What stuff?” Max asks, rain trickling across his face.