Maid for Me (21 page)

One day, I’ll turn this house into the Dream House Daddy had envisioned. I promise, Daddy.

It would take Mina years of practice to be as good as her dad, but she would never give up. Memories of her father would keep her strong for years and years to come.

She knew life wouldn’t get any better for them. In September, Mina would have to juggle schoolwork, practicing for the SATs, working to support the family, and running the house again. She was prepared and ready to face all these challenges, but there was one challenge she dreaded.

That was dealing with Kit, who would live next door until he went away for college. Since the charity ball, Mina had not spoken to her ex-best friend.

Speak of the Devil.

Kit exited his house, wearing a baseball cap, a blue shirt and jeans. He looked at Mina. Mina glanced down at her drawing and ignored him. Her heart did not go crazy. She continued her sketch.

Kit went back into his house and came out again three minutes later. He walked up to Mina and set down a painting next to her.

“I painted this for you.”

Mina blinked and looked at the oil painting. Kit had painted her. In the painting, Mina’s hair was all over the place. Black rivulets of melted mascara and eyeliner marred her cheeks. Her mouth was open in a scream almost audible.

“When your emotions overflow, you’re incredibly beautiful,” Kit said, smiling. “I’m sorry I had hurt you, Min.” He held out his hand. “Friends?”

Mina touched the oil painting. She had loved every one of Kit’s paintings in the past. This one was her new favorite. She nodded and took Kit’s hand and shook it. Kit made her stand and pulled her close to him.

“I don’t want to lose you again,” he said into her ear. “Alyssa was a mistake.”

Mina swallowed hard and a rush of sensations hit her like a tidal wave. Yet she wasn’t sure this was love anymore.

At the same moment, Bunion parked the silver-white limo in front of Mina’s house. He had a black Beatles-styled toupee atop his head (courtesy of Magic). In his pocket was a ring box holding a one-carat diamond ring from Tiffany. He would propose to Kaila for the next sixty days in a row until she would finally say yes on the last day (to everyone’s surprise, especially Mina’s, but that would be another story, possibly in the sequel.)

Sitting inside the limo, Jaiden stared out the window and saw Kit embracing Mina. Jaiden exited with an air of feigned calmness. His left arm was still in a sling. He walked up to the couple, pulled Mina away from Kit, cocked back his right arm and slammed his fist into the left side of Kit’s face.

Kit fell backward from the blow. Mina broke his fall and glowered at Jaiden. She had to prevent a fuming Kit from slugging Jaiden.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, glaring at Jaiden.

Jaiden flared his nostrils. “Why did you leave without saying goodbye?” Hurt filled his violet-blue eyes. “I didn’t even get to properly thank you for saving my life.”

Mina looked at her sneakers and her nose twitched. “I had things to take care of.”

“Like what?” Jaiden narrowed his eyes.

“You’re lucky you’re crippled. Otherwise you’d be sorry for touching me,” Kit said, spitting out blood. He had never engaged in any violence before, but at this moment, Kit’s fists itched to make contact with Jaiden’s pretty-boy face.

Jaiden ignored Kiterin. “Come with me,” he told Mina, grabbing her left wrist. Kit grabbed Mina’s right wrist. The boys pulled her, as if she were an object incapable of feeling or breaking apart.

“Let go of me! What do you guys think I am?” Mina freed herself and ran from the boys.

Who needs boys anyway?

Mina picked up her pace and turned around. Though she would never admit it, deep in her heart, she knew who she wanted to chase after her. She hoped he could catch up to her.

And he did…

~Fin~

(…though running after Mina was a bit harder with one arm in a sling.)

Stay tuned for a Maid for Me Sequel, Maid for You!

Here’s a sneak preview at the next Kat Lieu teen romantic comedy novel!

MY CUP OF TEA

ONE

Sara couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment her heart began to ache for Ian Forrests. He had the saddest, dimpled smile that made her sigh. Despite the jokes he liked to make (sometimes, they were corny), and despite his beautiful laughter, he always seem so melancholy. On New Year’s Eve, Sara made it her resolution to find out exactly why the boy of her dreams was secretly so unhappy. She closed her eyes and pressed her palms together, counting down to the New Year and made a wish.

Next year, I want to spend New Year’s Eve with Ian.
Blushing, she added one more wish.
I want to kiss him at midnight.

~*~

Six months ago…

Lazing on the sand with a book on her lap, Sara Biea Affen was as carefree as a seagull with a Cheez Doodle in its beak. Junior year was finally over and this was the official start of summertime fun.

Sometimes, the past three years seemed like a blur to her, but that was what high school life was like for a Shadow. Yes, Sara was a Shadow, a happy Shadow. Her owner was one of the most anti-popular girls in school, Jenna Moonlight (real name Jenna Zinsky).

Being a Shadow had its benefits, Sara would agree. She felt no pride in being a leader. Another face in the crowd? Why not? Jenna had what it took to own a Shadow, not vice versa.

Jenna was a Wiccan and the songwriter for the Flaming Llamas, a popular online band. Jenna had ink-black hair with red highlights and the prettiest green eyes. Even cats would die for them. Sara and Jenna were as different as night and day.

Behind the dark makeup and the hip clothes, Jenna was a blossoming young woman. Sara, on the other hand, still looked like a chubby kid. At sixteen, almost seventeen, she still had rolls of baby fat. What’s a good word to describe Sara? Unfashionable.

She had too many zits (pop pop pop!), unruly brown-black hair that didn’t look nice short or long (so she kept it in a messy ponytail), and her black-brown eyes were boring. Plus, she was always pale like a ghost because she was semi-allergic to the sun.

At least, her nose wasn’t crooked and she didn’t have a squashed face like Jerry, the Pancake Face, at school.

And so what if she was a semi-vampire? At least that made Sara look a bit like Jenna, who rocked the undead look.

Sara sighed, breathing in beach air and coughing when inhaled bits of sand. She wouldn’t want to spend this toasty summer day any other way. Soon, Jenna would go away with the Llamas, touring the nation. Leaving Sara alone.

Hiding beneath a giant, watermelon umbrella, Sara tried not to think about the lonely days ahead. She flipped through the pages of a book Jenna had lent her, The Bike Ride.

Chapter One:

Love is like a bike ride. There are bumps in the road. There are falls. One can ride alone. One can ride with another. Down a bumpy path that is both known and unknown…

Sara buried her nose in the book. Next to her, Jenna multi-tasked away, adding spells to her growing Tome of Shadows while jotting down ideas for the Flaming Llama’s next big song in her Ipad.

When Jenna was in her brainstorming mode, Sara would always keep quiet. Jenna allowed Sara to be her shadow because (as per Jenna’s own words) Sara never irked her like the all the other “
dimwits at school
”.

Sara knew how to be a good shadow, a quiet tag-along sidekick. Being Jenna’s shadow helped Sara fill a niche in Aegis High. Otherwise, she’d be the girl everybody ignored. Or the girl who sat alone in the cafeteria, pretending to be busy when in fact she was so alone that she would be happy if the janitor or the lunch ladies talked to her. (Insert flashbacks of Freshman year, Pre-Jenna Days, here).

“
How do you like the book so far?” Jenna asked, rubbing her temples. “It’s a little simple for me but it has a nice message.”

Sara froze, turning into a chubby, life-sized icicle for a second. Jenna finally broke their hour long silence. Sara frantically flipped through the pages. Jenna could finish reading a page in less than thirty seconds. Sara read a little faster than a third-grader. “Oh, it’s great. I’m on the third chapter where—”

“I don’t need you to give me a book report. Hey, give me some words that rhyme with adrenaline.”

Sara gulped.
Holy crock, what rhymes with adrenaline?

“Pendulum,” Sara said.

MA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kat Lieu is a Jackette-of-all-trades. By day, she’s a physical therapist who has bare-handedly lifted 200-pound people with her impressive 5’2” frame. By night, she runs a tween/teen empire, Nummyz Productions. Nummyz Productions creates original Flash games for girls and provides them with a safe community, love advice, free stories, and support. Nummyz Productions publishes books and ebooks. Kat’s company has also created websites for celebrities of The Young and the Restless and Flash games for multi-million dollar company LittleMissMatched.

For more information about Kat and her company, visit Nummyz.com. Follow Nummyz.com on Facebook and Twitter! Happy reading!

This book is dedicated to all my loved ones and the Maid for Me fans out there. Please make sure you leave me a review at Amazon.com! Send me a note! Poonpoonbom at gmail dot com. I can’t wait to hear from you!