Moon Glamour by Aimee Easterling (books to read to be successful TXT) 📕

know?” He removed the key from the ignition, flicking the metal part into the plastic base by pressing it against the steering wheel.

Fastidious. That was the word I’d use to describe my unasked-for companion. Unfortunately, the related term—perceptive—was equally true.

So I didn’t try to sidestep my relationship to the ice-cream licker. “My stepfather,” I admitted. “If you don’t mind giving me a minute....”

I’d used the same phrase all day. While picking out fresh underwear for my sister. While depositing my ill-gotten check and learning that the bank put holds on deposits containing so many zeroes. I kept expecting Butch to make some snarky comment about how many minutes he’d given me already. But he simply did that half-bow thing, the same way he’d done repeatedly throughout the day, then let me limp toward Nick alone.

“Get run over by a truck, kid?” my stepfather greeted me, jerking his chin at my crutches. I didn’t really need them, my ankle having loosened up over the course of the day. But Tank had left the crutches for me. And, anyway, it was better to be safe than sorry.

“Yes,” I lied. After all, Nick wasn’t a werewolf able to smell untruth...and he couldn’t care less about my ankle. He was here for one thing only—money. The fact that Harper expected me in five minutes made it certain that he’d get his way.

Before Nick could demand cash, though, a family clattered past us. Mother, father, daughter. All perfectly dressed. All smiling. “I love the Eiffel Tower at night!” the girl emoted, twirling into a pirouette. “Chocolate croissants! Picnics by the Seine!”

“Try not to sound so posh,” the mother chided, tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear while reining in her exuberance. “There are scholarship students here. Not everyone can enjoy fall break in Europe.”

I flinched, knowing that Harper was one of those scholarship students. But, thanks to Marina, I’d no longer struggle to pay the tuition portion we were responsible for. Maybe one day I’d take my sister to Paris....

Nick had no such regrets about his child-rearing abilities. Instead, he licked furiously at his ice cream to prevent it from melting onto his fingers. Only after that disaster was averted did he acknowledge me again.

“I hear you paid for the rest of Harper’s school year.”

“How could you know that?” I’d been in the bursar’s office only half an hour ago. Although, technically, Nick was wrong about my payment. I’d asked the clerk not to deposit my check until Monday, which is when the bank had suggested Marina’s initial payment should clear.

“Went to pick these up,” Nick answered, pulling a sheaf of familiar papers out from under his butt.

My stepfather had been sitting on Harper’s permission forms to keep his butt dry on the damp stone. Worse, there was no signature at the bottom of the page. My teeth clenched so tight my jaw ached.

So we were being overt about the quid pro quo. I shook off my fury and started negotiating. “I’ll have your money Monday. Plus an extra hundred if you sign the papers now.”

“Do I look like an idiot?” Nick flung his hands wide, the gesture dislodging the remainder of his ice cream. The semi-solid lump flew through the air and landed at the feet of a woman whose handbag, I was pretty sure, cost as much as Butch’s car.

Nick smirked and I realized the gesture hadn’t been accidental. He was going to make a scene. Right here, in front of Harper’s schoolmates and their parents.

So I pulled out my wallet. Removed every bill I had—which wasn’t very many. “Will this tide you over for the weekend?” I asked, keeping my voice low and hoping he’d get the message.

Rather than answering, Nick counted, muttering numbers under his breath as if he couldn’t manage the simple arithmetic silently. My cheeks heated. I could only hope no one linked us to Harper....

Then hope faded as my sister and Clara pushed out the dormitory’s front door.

“DAD?” HARPER SHIFTED her weight from foot to foot, face uncertain. She’d been expecting me, but given our relative positions, Nick was the more obvious sight.

I swung my crutches around so I could clomp sideways into full view. “Harper. Your dad and I were visiting, but he’s got to go...”

“...Get you girls some ice cream.” Nick was all smiles as he rose off the wall, dropping his empty cone onto the sidewalk as if Highlands’ grounds were a dump rather than a spotless showplace. “I’ve come into a small windfall. Shall we hit up the truck in the quad?”

For some reason, I half expected a werewolf to show up and get rid of Nick before he could cause any further damage to Harper’s vacation. But a glance toward the parking lot showed that Butch was in the back seat meditating. His eyes were closed. Unless I called out to him, he wouldn’t know I needed assistance.

Which was fine. I was used to dealing with Nick solo. “We’re on a schedule....” I started, only to be interrupted by the person I least expected to find on campus.

“Harper, a moment.” Marina’s melodic voice was instantly recognizable. But that didn’t make any sense....

I turned to face the approaching woman. It really was Marina, even though she was dressed completely differently in a pencil skirt and fitted jacket. Still, I recognized the grace of her steps as she insinuated her way into our little cluster, the way the air sweetened as she came near.

“Ms. Rothschild.” Harper’s eyes dropped to the pavement. “I’ve got my history textbook with me. I’m going to study over break, I promise.”

Marina/Ms. Rothschild’s gaze met mine even though her words were directed at my sister. “Perhaps I could speak to your guardian for a moment.”

Harper’s face twisted. “Dad? Do you mind?”

Feeding his daughter ice cream was about as much parenting as Nick was up for. No wonder he slid out from under the responsibility like a cat bowing away from an unwanted pat. “I promised these girls