Page 94 of Phoenix

“She is pretty amazing. She may have you beat.”

Arya seems to know we are talking about her and she barks happily.

“Yeah, yeah, you little ham.” I rub her head then sit on the other side of the room in the large chair.

“I like being here,” she says. “I’m comfortable. It feels right.”

“I like you being here too.”

“But I’m scared of it. I’m scared of things being too easy, Case. Easy means something can and will come along to fuck it all up.”

“Have you always been this pessimistic?” I lean forward with my elbows on my knees. “Easy doesn’t mean temporary, Phoenix.”

“I like when you call me that.”

“That’s what you are. A phoenix: a stunning creature who came up from literal ashes and turned into an incredible woman,” I say, meaning every word.

“You’re the same, you know,” she says. “You had something horrible happen to you, and now you protect people and save lives every day. That’s an incredible thing.”

I shake my head. “I hide from my demons. I haven’t conquered them.”

She pushes to sit up then walks over to sit with me, across my lap. “Do you trust me, Case?”

I don’t even have to think before I answer. “With my life.”

“Then I want you to meet me at the pool at Savannah Heights. Tomorrow night at ten.” She cups my face so she can judge my reaction.

“Why?” A cold sweat breaks out over me at the thought.

“When I was little, I was terrified of fire after what happened to my parents. I couldn’t even be near a lighter. But then one day, Marco, my brother,” she clarifies, “told me I would never be able to escape what happened that day if I kept running. He made a bonfire for me on the beach, gave me sparklers to play with, we made smores. It seems silly, Case, but that night really made a difference. He showed me there was nothing to be so scared of.”

I slide my hand up to cup the side of her face. “You want to help me?”

“You deserve to have peace, Case. If anyone does, it’s you.”

“Careful, you’re starting to sound like you may like me a little.” I grin.

“Or a lot,” she says, as she closes the gap between us and kisses me.

Nora

We kissed on that chair for hours. It never built into something sexual. It never became more than just a kiss.

Even though, deep inside, I wanted him so badly—craved him so badly—and judging by what I felt underneath my ass, he wanted me too; it just never went further than the kiss.

That was fine by me. It was perfect.

I didn’t spend the night because I promised Cadence and Amelia I’d be at their house for movie night, so he walked me to the Uber, kissed me goodbye, and I left after hearing him promise he’d be at the pool.

So here I sit, after sweet-talking the country club owner into letting us be here alone, on the edge of the pool with my feet in, waiting for Case.

I gently kick my legs back and forth, watching the way the water moves and ripples back and forth. The fluid motion is calming. It helps temper my nerves just a bit.

I’m nervous I’m pushing him too far and he’s humoring me by coming.

I’m scared I’m going to take him further than he’s willing to go and he’ll explode again.

I’m worried I won’t be able to help him.

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