Small Magics by Ilona Andrews Page A

and hollow in her perfect makeup and killer dress. So very stupid and pathetic.
    The Mallots were told in no uncertain terms that the insult to the family wouldn't be forgotten and that Dennis was no longer welcome. But now Chad Thurman had come to cash in on her misfortune, and the family was only too happy to push her out the door into his arms. And the problem was that if Chad did like her, nobody else would date her either. Chad had the kind of reputation that made rivals run for cover. Still, she would do it. The family needed the loan.
    Alena picked out a nice jean skirt, not too short, not too long, a white peasant blouse and new blue shoes that were only a hair shorter than that red pair. She put the outfit on and looked at herself in the mirror: favorite blouse, favorite skirt, brand new shoes. The date would suck enough. At least she could feel comfortable in her favorite clothes.
    * * *
    The door bell rang and then Mother's voice called, "Alena!"
    She sighed and emerged into the foyer. Chad had arrived with two dozen blood-red roses in one hand and a bottle of expensive vodka in another. The flowers went to her mother, while the vodka went to her father. Thurmans were an Old Town family, after all. They did things properly.
    "You have fun," Mother said pleasantly.
    A sinking feeling claimed Alena's stomach. She didn't get premonitions often but in that moment she realized with absolute certainty that this date wouldn't end well.
    Outside Chad paused for moment, his face deadly serious. She'd seen that look before, usually when he plotted some sort of battle strategy. "You look very nice," he said quietly, his gaze pausing on her breasts.
    "Thank you." Alena smiled. "You too."
    He did look nice in jeans and a black T-shirt.
    They stared awkwardly each other.
    "I thought we'd go and see a movie," he said.
    "That sounds great. What kind of a movie?"
    "It's fighting flick from Kitai Empire. Gonzo the Spear Carrier." Chad glanced at her as if expecting a hysterical fit.
    "I love historical dramas," she said.  At least the movie promised to be good.
    "Good." He offered her his elbow.
    Alena rested her hands on his forearm and realized that it was the first time she actually touched a guy on a date. The thought almost made her sigh in regret, but she killed the sigh before it had a chance to start.  She said she would go.  No use moaning about it now.
    They strode down the street heading toward the theater. Chad stared straight ahead, his jaw set.
    After about five minutes, the silence had become strained. "So what books have you read lately?" she asked to say something.
    "Don't read much," Chad said.
    "Movies?"
    "I liked Marauder III," he said. "Good movie."
    Like pulling teeth. "What did you like about it?"
    "Not sure," Chad said.
    Chad Thurman -- not a great talker.
    "Hold on a second." Chad stepped away from her and barked at the guy across the street, "Hey! Hey, who the hell are you?"
    The guy stopped. "I'm here to deliver a package to my uncle. Who the hell are you?"
    Chad strode across the street. "Who's your uncle?"
    It took them a good five minutes to straighten out who was who and who had a right to be where. For the first minute Alena had looked at her feet, then she looked at the sky, then she counted the fence posts on the long iron fence that guarded the slope of the hills. The whole city was one hill after another with River Street at the bottom of it all.
    Chad trotted up. "Don't worry," he said. "We won't be late."
    She just nodded. The sooner they got done, the better.
    They didn't speak on the way to the theater.
    Just before they reached the old theater building, they were stopped again, this time by skinny, dark-eyed Marky.  He and Chad spoke in hushed tones, until Chad cut him off. "Screw this shit, I'll do it myself." Marky paled and took off. Chad turned to her as if nothing happened and led her inside. He offered to buy her popcorn and soda, but she declined.
    The movie was awful. Long,