Page 23 of Burn

Caleb leans in again, chuckling, his voice barely heard over the music. “Then let’s eat.” And then he nods to the table we were just at.

I’m leaving with the firefighter.

Judah who?

Chimney Fire

Fast and intense fire in a chimney flue in which accumulated creosote, and other combustion byproducts ignite. These often extend fire into the roof or attic, especially with defective chimneys or when the mortar becomes hot enough to melt.

With his hand on mine, Caleb guides me back to the booth.

I love his hands. Mine fit inside of his perfectly. Judah had small hands. Caleb’s, they’re meant for rescuing people. I’m sure of it.

Oddly enough, I only just met this dude, but I feel completely safe with him. Like I’ve known him for years.

I guess in some ways a man giving you an orgasm by dancing warrants a certain closeness.

Scarlet and Owen are still at the booth, and she’s on his lap. Slamming a shot glass down on the table, she smiles at me.

“Girl, where’d you go?” she slurs, and it’s evident the ten or so shot glasses around them have taken a toll or her sobriety.

“Dancing.” My cheek presses to Caleb’s shoulder. I refuse to let go of him now.

Scarlet’s glossy eyes lift to mine. “Why are you all red faced?”

Caleb smirks, and I elbow his ribs. I half expect him to tell her what just happened, but he doesn’t.

“It’s hot in here.” To make my point, I fan myself.

Motioning to the bench across from them, Scarlet yells, “Sit down. We’re doing shots!”

Caleb twists his head and looks down at me over his shoulder. I realize just how tall he is now. I’m even wearing heels and he’s still got at least four inches on me.

Our eyes meet. There’s no smile. They’re hard and assessing, and they say he loves me. No, I’m kidding. They say he wants to fuck me and that’s totally okay. There’s nothing wrong with that because it’s what I want tonight.

He hasn’t said anything, so I’m the first to say, “We’re gonna take off, actually . . .” And my words hang there in the air.

Caleb winks and then nods to his friend. “See you at home?”

So they live together. Hmm. I wonder if they’re brothers or something. There’s no real resemblance though.

“Maybe not.” Owen licks a line of salt of Scarlet’s forearm and then reaches for a shot. “Might go home with this chick.”

Scarlet laughs. “Will you show me your fire pole?” she asks, nodding south.

“Fuck yeah.” Owen leaves the shot on the table and reaches for his belt, which considering Scarlet’s on his lap and they’re both incredibly drunk, is difficult. “I’ll show you right now, honey.”

After reaching for his jacket on the bench, Caleb grabs my hand and yanks me with him. “That’s my cue to leave.”

I wave to Scarlet, stumbling along behind him. “I’ll call you later.”

I follow Caleb through the club to the bar where he stops and knocks his knuckles against the bar. “Hey, I’m taking off. You good?”

He’s talking to a bartender, a girl with long jet-black hair that’s tied back in a ponytail and the wideset cornflower-blue eyes hidden behind black-framed glasses. She turns to him, pushing the glasses up her nose. “I’m good. I’ll walk home.”

Caleb laughs, once, as though that’s funny to him and adjust his black hat. “No, you won’t.”

The girl shrugs and nods to the end of the bar where a man is sitting with a glass half-filled with a clear liquid. “I’m good, Caleb.”

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