Relish: A Vicious Feast Book 2 Read Online Free Page B

silk scarf went to my mom. Did I mention the members of Vicious were insanely rich? No? Well, they funded their world tour and produced their own albums. They made up the ultimate indie band. My heart crumpled at the memory of them.
    “What?” Silvia looked up from the magazine she flipped through.
    I leaned my shoulder against the doorframe. “Just wanna say thanks. You didn’t have to babysit me.”
    Her eyebrow arched. “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t? Besides, I got to see all the gorgeous pictures you took of the band. I want copies of the ones with Demitri and Luka in kilts, by the way.”
    A chuckle escaped my lips as I shook my head at her. “You know I can’t do that.”
    Crestfallen, she fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist. “At least I got this baby out of it.”
    “I knew it! It’s the bling that kept you here.”
    She treated me to an overdramatic eye roll. “Will you take a bath already? We may have to burn that T-shirt just to get the smell out.”
    I threw my head back and laughed before backing into the bathroom and closing the door. The rapid inhalation and exhalation spread endorphins all over my body, giving me a much needed boost. I hadn’t felt this good in weeks. With the help of Larry and Silvia, I came back to myself. I never thought it possible.
    Buoyant, I removed my clothes and jumped into the shower.
    ***
    Refreshed, and the weight of my project off my shoulders, I walked side by side with Silvia toward Eddy’s. We’d taken the subway since cabbing it through the heavy snow seemed ridiculous. Last thing I needed was to die in a horrible car crash because of icy roads. Okay, morbid, but I’d read somewhere it was normal to think the worst when approaching the end of something. In this case, the end of my college life.
    “Stop checking your bag,” Silvia admonished for the hundredth time. “The USB is there.”
    “I know.” I checked anyway. The tiny thing that held my entire future sat beside my camera. I finally started bringing my baby with me again and taking random pictures. I already had seven of Silvia in the ugly multi-colored scarf her grandmother had knitted for her.
    “You are so buying me a cup of hot cocoa after this.”
    “I can do better than that,” I said with a grin and she waited with raised eyebrows for me to continue. “How about we go shopping?”
    “But you hate shopping,” she replied, her bright eyes narrowing. She may be a few inches shorter in height, especially in snow boots, but Silvia still intimidated me. She stuffed her mitten-covered hands into her jacket pockets as her perfectly arched eyebrows came together. The powder really started coming down over our heads. If we didn’t reach Eddy’s soon, we might freeze to death. Okay, I was really having a Final Destination moment. I blamed the weird dreams. Now that I relaxed, they haunted my thoughts again.
    To distract myself, I responded to Silvia’s statement. “I know, but I figured I’ll need stuff to wear for my travels. How about you help me pick?”
    Despite the possible hazard of slipping and breaking her neck, Silvia squealed and danced circles around me until we reached Eddy’s. I still promised her hot cocoa though, feeling the need for a cup when we stuffed ourselves into the shop.
    “Hey!” Eddy waved at us from behind the counter, his dreadlocks longer now than from the last time I’d seen him—when I’d printed out my presents for the band. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and waved back.
    “You’re cutting it a little close, aren’t you?” he asked when Silvia and I reached the counter.
    “Call it artist’s block.” I pulled off my gloves and stuffed them into my bag. “Can you get the frames done before Friday next week?”
    “It’ll be a rush job.” Eddy scratched the back of his neck.
    “I’ll double your regular fee if you get it done and discretely. Nobody can know about these pictures.” I leveled my most serious