Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?Do I look like I care?? he replied, dragging her out of the store.

?You can?t treat me like this,? she said. He was leading her across

the lot. ?We hate each other. Fine. Why don?t we just stay away

from each other then??

?And how has that worked out so far?? Lucas asked, sounding

frustrated rather than sarcastic. ?Do you always come to this same

store at this same time every Saturday, or did you come today on a

whim??

?No, never. It?s the busiest day of the week. But I needed groceries,?

Helen sputtered. He laughed incredulously and squeezed her

arm even harder.

Helen suddenly realized how many random events and raw impulses

had driven her decisions these last few days. When she

thought about it, it was as if she had stopped choosing for herself

days ago.

?The Furies won?t allow us to avoid each other,? he said in a dead

voice.

?Then we can make a schedule or something . . .? Helen began,

but she knew it was a lame suggestion and trailed off before he had

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a chance to shoot it down. An ancient, supernatural force was compelling

her to kill Lucas. It probably wasn?t going to be deterred by

something as prosaic as a time-share.

?My family hasn?t decided what we want to do about this, about

you?yet. But we?ll be in touch,? Lucas said. They got to her car. He

shoved her against the driver?s door, as if he couldn?t stop himself

from trying to hurt her one last time. ?Now go home and stay

there,? he ordered again, and stood over her while she fumbled

with the keys.

For a moment as she backed out of her parking space she considered