Page 126 of Burning Embers
I haven’t checked the damn thing since I first left the theater, and there’s already a plethora of unread messages from Emery, Ethan, and Grayson.
But it’s the newest message that captures my attention.
Unknown
This is Ansel.
Unknown
I hope you don’t mind that I got your number.
Unknown
I just wanted to check in.
A myriad of butterflies bursts to life in my chest. The mysterious texter from this morning…is Ansel.
How did he even get my number?
I shake off the wayward thought and quickly type back a reply.
Izzy
I’m okay. Thank you for checking in on me.
I pause, considering, and then shoot him one final text.
Izzy
Good night, Ansel.
Ansel
Good night.
Forty-Three
IZZY
Something startles me awake.
At first, I think it’s Grayson sneaking into my room yet again. My muscles lock together as I think about all of the ways I can make him suffer. Heknowsthat I’m ignoring him. My blatant disregard of all his texts should be indication enough.
But then I hear a whisper of fabric and the sound of the window opening. Cold air blows through the room, causing the tiny hairs on my arms to stand at attention.
What the…?
I twist slightly on the bed, and my confusion only grows when I spot Lissa’s blankets strewn across the floor and the girl in question nowhere to be seen.
Huh?
I sit up and turn towards the window just in time to see a flurry of pink.
Lissa.
Where is she going at—I grab my phone and flick it on—two in the morning? Is she meeting someone? A guy?
I know I’m the last person who should be talking, let alone judging, but I don’t like the idea of Lissa wandering aroundoutside by herself late at night. And I hate the idea of her meeting up with some random guy even more.
