Mick & Michelle by Nina Rossing

Author:Nina Rossing [Rossing, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult
ISBN: 978-1-63533-717-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“THIS FEELS like a date,” Gabriel says, chuckling.

God, I wish it was late enough to be dark outside, because I’m blushing like the silly and sweet maidens in fairy tales. No question who the prince is. I’m all mushy heart and jellied legs, fighting myself to stand here as a cool dude or whatever. More like a pathetic kid blinded by the age and wisdom of someone two years older and hotter than should be legal. I might be the only one of that opinion, or else surely the cops in the house would have busted him by now.

My parents just put Gabriel through a regular interrogation regarding this music event at the PS1. I’m well aware it’s because of Tommy and ditching school and some unspecified maybe-trouble that they walked through the parental checklist with such stern attitudes.

Dad was one octave away from appropriating his cop voice, trying to hover over Gabriel and failing since Gabriel is probably two or three inches taller than him if he ever straightens his slightly hunched shoulders. Ma would have better luck at looking down on him, having a full inch on Dad and perching on the first step of the stairs. She took on the good cop role tonight, though, acting all sensible and curious as to what activities Gabriel planned on introducing me to.

“New music? DJs and dancing? Sounds fun!” she said.

“No drinking. No smooching with girls. Unless they’re coming after you first, of course,” Dad added, allowing himself to smile for the first time since Gabriel rang the bell. I worked hard to stop myself from turning into Ash, with her rolling eyes and exasperated “Dad!” exclamations whenever the man acts like a concerned daddy. Which is often.

“Bring him back by midnight,” Dad finally said, running out of time and constantly checking his watch. “No raving around on side streets—stay on the main ones where the crowds are. And you take the metro. You hear?”

“Absolutely, Mr. Mullins,” Gabriel replied, very serious.

“Yeah, yeah. You can call me Gerry until further notice. Call me if anything happens. I’m patrolling the area anyway. Zap me a text when you’re leaving.”

If Dad doesn’t happen to drive by the gathering at least a couple of times, I’ll eat my dirty socks. The event ends at nine, and there’s no question Gabriel has other plans than taking me home that early.

“Ha-ha-ha,” I say to Gabriel’s date comment. “That’s what happens when your older sister is a rule-breaking nightmare.”

“Where is Ash tonight, anyway?”

“Working.” Which also means she gets to see Grandpa. Yesterday, he was in a foul mood, not interested in any guitar playing or news reading. He told me he felt tired and needed to rest, so I made myself scarce. I’ve been all jittery and a bundle of incoherent nerves around him lately, as if his blue eyes are chilly lasers that can pierce the protective walls I meticulously maintain.

Since Ash got inaugurated into my Hall of Secrets, paranoia has grown tentacles that hook themselves everywhere.

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