Rising Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 1) by Amanda M. Lee Page A

following me.
    “I need to call my parents.”
    “Why?” The question was out of Aric’s mouth before he realized he already knew the answer. The color drained from his face. “I don’t think … .” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
    “Where is my phone?”
    “I’ll help you look,” Aric said, resigned.

11

Eleven
    A fter the third try without an answer I gave up calling my parents. Just because they weren’t picking up the phone that didn’t necessarily mean anything was wrong. That’s what I kept telling myself, anyway.
    My parents live a Bohemian lifestyle. They come and go as they please, enjoying the simple things in life. They visit me every few months, my mother doting on Aric while my father pretends all the heavy petting doesn’t bother him. We talk on the phone every few weeks. They refuse to carry cell phones, so the only way to get in touch with them is their landline. It’s not uncommon to not reach them on the first try.
    Still … .
    Paris retired for the evening between the second and third calls. We ate dinner after the first call. The lack of an answer didn’t initially bother me. My parents enjoy taking walks – especially in the summer.
    Hours later it was a different story. I was officially bothered now.
    Because the living room was empty, I assumed James had retired to the second guestroom. It was on the same side of the house as Paris’ room. I slowed my approach when I heard his voice in my bedroom, though.
    “I don’t think you’re overreacting about the book,” James said, his voice low. “I do think Zoe has a point about seeing what she can do with it. There’s no harm in letting her experiment for a few days.”
    “There’s plenty of harm,” Aric replied. I heard the door to the safe close and realized he was locking up the book for the night. “She allowed herself to get struck by lightning this afternoon because she thought it was fun.”
    “I’m taking it you didn’t think that was fun.” James was used to his son’s protective streak. I got a kick out of the way he teased him about it. Well, most of the time.
    “I most definitely did not think it was fun,” Aric snapped. “It was … scary. I sat there and watched her get struck by lightning twice, and the whole time she was laughing.”
    “She finds humor in odd situations.”
    “She’s going to be the death of me,” Aric muttered.
    “Son, you made a choice a long time ago – long before you and Zoe moved in together – that you liked her,” James said, his pragmatic nature taking over. “You liked her mouth, you liked her attitude and you especially liked that wild streak she has. You can’t change your mind now.”
    My heart rolled at the words. Was that why Aric didn’t want to make things permanent between us? That actually made sense. I always worried Aric would eventually tire of the things he once found amusing.
    “I am not changing my mind,” Aric argued. “I still like those things about her.”
    “Then what are you worried about? Personally, as much as I love Zoe, I would have to cut her tongue out after more than a few days alone with her.”
    Aric laughed. “I think she’s funny,” he said. “She makes me smile. She ran my truck into the ditch because she was arguing with a talk radio show not long ago.”
    “I don’t understand how you can find that funny,” James said.
    “There’s just something about her I can’t explain,” Aric said. “I wouldn’t change anything about her. Well, that’s not entirely true. She’s a total pig. I wouldn’t mind if she cleaned up after herself occasionally.”
    “Did you put what I brought you in the safe, too?” James asked.
    That piqued my interest. They were talking about the “thing” again.
    “Yeah,” Aric said. “It’s safe in there. She can’t get at it.”
    “When are you going to deal with that situation?”
    “Soon,” Aric replied. I could read the tone of his voice. Whatever his father was pressing him on,