Page 120 of Burning Embers
“Yes. I’m…here?” Desiree gives me a“what the fuck?”look.
“I’m just going to, um…” Jake jabs a finger over his shoulder as he begins to walk backwards, never taking his gaze off the two of us.
“There’s a wall!” I call a split second before he runs into it.
He stealthily shifts a few feet to the side. Then, once he’s out the door, he breaks into a run.
I wait until his footsteps disappear completely before I break into laughter. After a few moments, Desiree joins in as well.
I know I’m going to pay for this later, but right now, I just allow myself to enjoy the moment—teasing someone I’ve come to think of as a brother and hanging out with a girl who could become a close friend. All thoughts of stupid, idiotic men leave my mind.
Maybe I should just swear off boys and live a life of chastity…
Or maybe I’ll feel better once I beat the fuck out of someone in the fight ring.
I think I prefer option number two.
Forty-One
ETHAN
Ijiggle my knee as I wait for this meeting to begin.
Ashton called us over an hour earlier, yet the idiot has yet to arrive himself.
I don’t want to be here.
What I want is to be with Izzy.
Maybe I can convince Jake to invite me over to play more video games…
Emery sits on the couch opposite me, purposely pretending that I don’t exist. He stares intently at his phone as he plays some stupid game that most definitely doesnotrequire as much attention as he’s giving it.
I try to ignore the strange pang in my chest—this tightening of muscles that threatens to make me physically ill.
I hate this silence between me and my brother. And more than that, I hate the animosity. If he just ignored my existence, I could deal with that. Yes, it would hurt like a bitch, but it wouldn’t flay me open.
But Emery always stares at me as if he hates the ground I walk on. As if he doesn’t want to even breathe the same air asme. Every time I speak, his upper lip curls away from his teeth and his eyes narrow into slits.
If he could, I have no doubt he would leave this pack and find a new one. He would willingly give up me, Reid, and Ashton.
Maybe even Izzy.
How could things have gone so wrong?
Because you fucked up,a bitter voice reminds me.Because your decision nearly cost us everything.
I scrub a hand through my hair.
No apologies will ever fix what I did, but maybe?—
My thoughts cut off as Ashton and Reid storm into the room.
“About damn time,” Emery mutters, scowling. He flicks his phone off and crosses his arms over his chest.
Ashton doesn’t speak immediately. Instead, he moves towards the fridge, grabs a bottle of beer, and returns to the living room.
Ashton? Drinking? What the fuck is happening?