Core Read Online Free Page B

suggested he go outside to burn off some anxiety with Rory, but it wasn’t long before he was back inside, pacing in the kitchen. “Am I too dirty?” he asked, his voice more strained than usual. “Should I go take a shower?”
    She motioned for him to wash his hands in the sink. “You’re presentable. Just go get the door before she leaves,” Karma said. 
    Cale hadn’t thought of the possibility of Ava leaving. He hurried past his mother, knocking the cutting board to the floor again. Karma sighed and rinsed the steaks off as Cale flung the door open.
    “You’re early,” he said. “My dad’s still in the shower. I haven’t even told him yet.”
    “Haven’t told him what?” Ava asked as she pulled at her shirt, willing it to be looser on her.
    Cale stammered before coming up with a suitable response. “I haven’t told him you’re having dinner with us,” he said. It wasn’t a lie. Cale never lied.
    Ava stood back a few feet from the door. Her hair was up in a ponytail, just like it had been at the gym. Nothing special. She couldn’t understand why Cale was beaming at her the way he was and after a few seconds, she entertained the idea of calling up T and running for it.
    “Look, I can’t stay long,” she said, about to take a step towards the driveway. “You have the money?”
    Cale’s smile dropped clean off his face. “Why can’t you stay?”
    She shrugged. “I just have stuff to do.”
    “Oh. You mean like staying and having dinner with us?”
    Out of curiosity alone, Ava peeked over Cale’s shoulder. The smell of grilled peppers filled the air and Ava had to put a hand over her stomach to keep it from sounding off. Karma appeared behind her son and held out a tray of the peppers, cooked to perfection, drizzled with butter and teriyaki. Ava studied the plate, then slowly picked one of the pepper cubes up and bit into it. It was filled with the kind of flavor that made a person drool on themselves. Ava wiped her chin with the back of her hand.
    “You must be Ava. Welcome.” She put on a smile. “I’m Karma.”
    The slim woman was pale skinned with coffee colored hair. Her eyes were the darkest, deepest blue Ava had ever seen and nothing like Cale’s. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come in. You’re early enough to help me in the kitchen.”
    Karma didn’t leave room for objections and Cale gave his mother a quick look of gratitude before she shooed him away. “Go play with your brother and let us ladies chat,” she said.
    Ava couldn’t help but notice that Karma was nothing like Miriam. And it wasn’t just because of the odd accent. Ava couldn’t place it. It was almost En glish, almost American, almost…something else.
    No, it was her nature . Miriam would have been sheepish about a hesitant guest at her front door and she would never chase anyone away, even if she desperately wanted them gone. Even Karma’s movements were unlike anything Ava had ever seen. Her steps were both mechanical and flawless. Like a ballerina with a physics degree.
    Karma set Ava up with a knife and a cutting board for dicing up onions and potatoes while she slid her own knife through more meaty strips of steak. They worked quietly for a few minutes, slicing and cubing without conversation, which Ava was grateful for. It was almost a respectful silence, as if Karma knew she’d rather not be forced into small talk, as if the woman wasn’t a fan of “chatting” herself.
    Part of Ava couldn’t believe Karma and Cale had been so welcoming. She was a complete stranger, yet there she was, helping with dinner and snacking on the appetizers Karma had left within her reach. But then again, Ava hadn’t yet met Cale’s father. She was sure he wouldn’t be as warm as the others.
    “So, is that bruise on your nose from boxing?” Karma asked, her voice as smooth as her eyes were sharp. “Cale tells me you’re very talented.”
    “Uh… yeah,” Ava said. “He’s not so bad himself.”
    Karma stole