Midnight Surrender (A Paranormal Romance Anthology), Page 2

  ***

  “So where do you think those girls are?” I knew I was being ridiculous. There were plenty of attractive girls around, but there was something about her that got under my skin. She wouldn’t be escaping from me again so easily.

  Jared tossed me a beer from the fridge. We were back in our apartment hanging out. “It’s their first night in the French Quarter, they’ll be at the Cat’s Meow. They always go to the Cat’s Meow.”

  “No way. She’s not the type.” I tried to picture her at a place like that. No, she was classier. She’d probably be looking for a lounge or something.

  “Not the type? I guarantee they’ll be there. I bet you fifty they’ll sing karaoke.”

  Owen walked in, dumping three po-boys on the table. “Who? Those girls from the hotel? Yeah, I’m in on this. My bet is Girl’s Just Want to Have Fun. They always sing that.”

  “No, I bet they’re more the Like a Virgin types,” Jared threw in.

  “I’m game. But let’s make it a hundred. I haven’t washed either of you out in a while.” Things were always more fun when there was money involved.

  They both laughed. “All right, a hundred.”

  The door burst open again, and the flash of red hair made it immediately obvious who’d arrived.

  “Have you ever heard of knocking?” Owen snapped at his little sister Hailey.

  “If you have a problem with it, lock the door.” She swiped a Coke from the fridge.

  “Is there a reason you’re gracing us with your presence?” I’d known Hailey my whole life and she was like a little sister—the annoying, won’t ever leave you alone type. She was only three years younger than us, but sometimes it seemed like ten.

  “Yeah. I need Owen to talk to Dad.”

  “I doubt I’m going to, but about what?” Owen answered, finishing off his sandwich.

  “He’s making me request J.L. as a dorm, there is no way I’m living in an all-girls dorm!”

  We all laughed. I still couldn’t believe she was starting at Tulane in the fall. How was she old enough for college?

  “Come on, this is so not fair.”

  “You can’t be surprised.” Owen tried to keep a straight face.

  “So he caught me making out with a guy? It’s not like I was sleeping with him!”

  Owen cringed, probably mentally picturing his sister hooking up with someone. “Hailey, Dad’s always been protective. Inviting a guy over when they weren’t home—not the smartest decision—but how could you be stupid enough to get caught? You always wait until you know they can’t possibly come back.” Owen said it snidely, but I think he actually felt bad. Their parents definitely treated them differently.

  “So you really won’t talk to him?” she whined.

  “Living in a girl’s dorm isn’t that bad. It’s nicer than a lot of the others.”

  “I guess.” She slumped down on a couch. “I hope I at least get a cool roommate.”

  “Me too, because then maybe you won’t show up here uninvited all the time.” I couldn’t resist. She was so easy to annoy.

  “Arrgh! You guys are useless. Thanks for nothing.” She stormed out just the way she arrived.

  Owen got up, pushing back his chair. “Seriously, how am I related to her?”

  Jared collected our plates and brought them to the sink. No one would believe how much of a neat freak he was. “I don’t know, she’s hot and you’re ugly as shit.” He grinned.

  “Don’t even start.”

  I laughed. My roommates were definitely entertaining.