Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?Why are you here?? Helen screeched.

?We got an earlier flight. Didn?t you get any of my messages??

?I . . .? Helen trailed off, holding up her cell phone stupidly. She

knew she had to make something up, but she also knew she was a

terrible liar. She started to panic. Lucas grabbed her phone from

her and, as he did, Helen heard an almost imperceptible crunch.

?Her phone?s broken,? Lucas said, passing Helen?s phone to her

father so he could see it. It came apart in Jerry?s hand. ?I came over

to see why she wasn?t picking up and she was out here in the driveway

on her way to go get you.? Helen stared at Lucas with her

mouth open, wondering how someone who demanded honesty

from everyone else could be so quick to lie.

?How did you do this, Len?? Jerry asked in a dismayed voice as

he studied the pulverized sandwich of plastic and microchips.

?This was brand-new.?

?I know!? Helen said a little too emphatically. ?Piece of junk,

right? I?m so sorry, Dad. I had no idea you were coming early.

Really.?

?Oh, it?s all right,? Jerry said a bit sheepishly now that he wasn?t

so worried. He and Helen smiled at each other, all forgiven. Then

Jerry turned to Lucas. ?You look familiar,? he said suspiciously,

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acknowledging Lucas?s presence for the first time and distrusting it

immediately.

For a moment Helen could see Lucas as her father did?a heartbreakingly

beautiful young man who was too well built, too well

dressed, and driving too nice of a car to ever be liked by anyone?s

father.

?Lucas Delos,? he said, holding out his hand.

?Don?t you hate this kid?? Jerry asked Helen candidly as he