Friday, May 16, 2025

Excerpt: NIGHT OF THE LIVING PROOF, Neighborlee, Ohio, Book 5

 “Umm, hate to tell you, but New Year’s Eve is only five days away. So where are you performing?”

“Eden.” It was no good keeping it a secret from him, since it was in yesterday’s newspaper. “It’s the annual overnight lock-in.”

“Lock-in? Like, no one gets out for the entire night? And no one gets in, once the doors are locked?”

The excitement in his voice made me suspicious. I was tempted to reach across the desk and grab his hand, to try to pick up any images in his mind for clues into his reasons and thoughts. However, no way did I want to hold hands with the ex-Evil Overlord. My only option was to ask or guess.

“What do you need an excuse not to do?”

“Not exactly do, but see.” Daniel shrugged and put his elbows on the desk and rested his chin in his hands. That made it hard for him to talk, but he managed. “How many times do you have to tell someone you don’t want to spend time with them before they stop insisting that you’re being silly and immature, and you were meant for each other?”

“Sounds fair to me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” That crease between his eyebrows got so deep, it threatened to bisect his nose. It struck me as kind of endearing, even cute. Panic shot through me a moment later.

“You never took the hint when you were chasing me around town.”

“Yeah, but I’m not a bloodsucking gold-digger with a Mata Hari complex.”

“Oh, a female stalker.” I had a hard time smothering laughter, but I tried, just out of a sense of pity.

“Save me. If we’re friends at all, give me a good excuse not to be available.”

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