The Immortals by Mary Hallberg (chrysanthemum read aloud txt) 📗

it, not even kidding. It’s an app that lets you record conversations from up to a mile away. It’s not coming out until next month, but he let me test one. They’re pretty cool.”

“Wow, that’s amazing,” I gushed. “I can’t believe how much technology has progressed lately.” I realized after I said it that it probably sounded silly to someone who had seen this technology on a daily basis for years. But if Corrina thought so, she didn’t show it.

“So what’s this George guy like?” Gage asked. He picked up a handful of chips, but didn’t pour himself any punch. I was subconsciously relieved that I wasn’t the only one not drinking.

“He’s a character, that’s for sure. Never a dull moment.” She took a sip of punch. “But enough about boring work crap. Did your parents decide to make an offer on that house on Fernandez Street?”

He shook his head. “Nah, we decided not to buy a new house. I think we’re going to stay here for awhile.”

“Sucks. That house is twice as big as this one. I don’t see why you don’t just move out anyway. Get your parents to co-sign for an apartment or something.”

He shrugged. “I don’t really want an apartment right now. I want to save for a really nice house of my own. Anyway, I don’t mind living at home. Free laundry and meals.”

Corrina rolled her eyes. “Typical guy.”

I poured some of the punch-with-punch into a plastic cup and took a sip. It tasted like wet concrete.

I got in late that night (or, rather, early the next morning), but woke up surprisingly early. I found out what had woken me up when I stepped into the kitchen. The sliding glass door was open, leading onto the porch, where mom and grandpa sat in deck chairs. Their chairs, along with two more, were arranged in a circle around a table with a full coffeepot on it.

I stepped outside. “Hi mom…grandpa. Is there anything going on that I should know about?”

Mom shook her head. “We just thought that since you and Luke decided to visit last weekend that we’d return the favor. I had the day off today, so I figured, why not? I’m sorry we didn’t call beforehand, though. Luke tells me you had quite the party yourself last night.”

I was attempting to think up a proper response when Luke walked outside with mugs and began to pour coffee. “Morning Kenzie,” he said. “Did you have a good time last night?” He lowered his voice. “Should we talk softer? Would you like some coffee and aspirin?”

“Shut up,” I groaned.

Grandpa stretched in his seat. “I remember my first big high school party.” He was talking much slower than usual, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. “Went with my buddy William. We lived down the street from NYU, and he had this bright idea that we’d go down to sorority row and…well, I’ll tell you when you’re older.” He snickered and took a sip of coffee. “I’m probably hurting your head anyway.”

“I am not hung over!” I said, maybe a little too loud because a couple of people in the courtyard turned and stared. But it was true. The night before, after that cup of whatever it was that tasted like I had picked it up off the sidewalk, I had opted for water and soda. I yanked the remaining mug out of Luke’s hand and took a sip, but swallowed it quickly when it scalded my tongue. I realized then that, despite the chill in the September air, I was burning up. As I sat in the empty chair beside Luke, I realized why — I was wearing a huge black sweatshirt I knew didn’t belong to me. I vaguely remembered being cold the night before and Gage offering me his jacket. I must have forgotten to give it back. Or maybe he told me to keep it. I smiled at that thought as I slowly worked my arms out of the sleeves.

“Nice jacket,” Luke said. “Were they out of quadruple extra small?”

“I borrowed it from a friend.” I felt my cheeks growing hot, and it wasn’t from the warmth of the jacket or the coffee.

“Oh, it’s from this new guy isn’t it?”

I was too tired to argue. “Yes, it’s Gage’s. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why not?”

“I told you, I don’t want to jinx it.”

“Come on Kenzie, that’s what you said Wednesday and then you guys went out again. I think we’re past jinxing it. What is it about this dude that you don’t want to tell us? Is he broke and living in his mom’s basement? I bet all he does is play video games all day.”

“That’s pretty much all you do when you’re not working,” I said.

He scoffed.

“You know, Luke,” mom said, “You do badger her an awful lot about her boyfriends."

“No I don’t,” he said, “Because she’s never had any boyfriends before.”

“Well, he has to badger her, doesn’t he?” grandpa said. “He’s got to make sure this boy is good enough for his little sister. I used to do the same thing to your aunt Ida all the time.”

Thankfully he changed the subject after that and I sunk down into my seat. Mom and grandpa could joke about getting drunk with me, so why couldn’t I tell them I was dating an Immortal?

chapter six

Back in August, I had promised Luke I’d go to one of his exhibits. The last week of September rolled around, the last week it would be open, and I decided to stop making excuses and go. Then I decided to invite Gage. I still wasn’t sure if I was ready for him to meet Luke, but he had been bugging me for weeks about this new guy I was seemingly in love with. He didn’t seem to realize how slow things were going; we hadn’t kissed, had barely even touched outside of him giving me his jacket. Of course, Luke didn’t tell me until