Page 12 of Through the Flames
He hesitated, and Knox rubbed the back of his neck. I could see them trying to make sense of it.
“I mean … are you sure you’re comfortable with that?” Jax finally asked.
Their probing probably came from a place of concern, but it was misplaced and only fueled my irritation. I wanted this done. “I would hardly have offered it otherwise. Yes or no?”
Knox perked up a little, like he was finally getting excited. “Um … sure? Probably better than any other place.”
I blinked once. Then I looked at Dom.
“You should bring your sister.”
His eyes narrowed immediately. “What do you want with my sister?”
Ha. If you knew what I actually wanted with your sister, you’d likely keep her far, far away from me.
I sighed. Not because I was annoyed, but because pretending to be annoyed kept people from asking more questions.
“If your sister comes, she’ll bring Sierra. Hailey’s gone, and she won’t want to show up alone. Ergo, she’ll bring Sierra. It’s not that hard.”
My brilliance genuinely knew no bounds. Inwardly, I patted myself on the shoulder for coming up with this little scheme on the fly.
Knox raised a hand. “Wait, wait, wait. The girl you’re trying to get isSierra? That mean-girl-looking volleyball player?”
Dom snorted. “Correct.” Then his attention locked back on me, suspicion radiating off him. “But more importantly, how do you know about Sierra and me?”
My lip twitched. Not a smile. Barely even a movement, just enough to make it perceptible.
“You’ll come to find out, I knoweverything.” Though he probably wouldn’t likehowI knew what I knew.
That shut them up.
I gave them a last glance, then turned away. My feet moved soundlessly on the turf as I headed toward the locker room.
“Yo, Hunter. When—”
I didn’t look back.
“Anytime after 8.” The words left my mouth with the same flat tone as everything else.
But inside, I was already cataloguing it all. Timing. Music. Lighting. What kind of drink she liked. Where she usually sat when she didn’t want to be noticed.
If Sierra brought her, I’d make sure she stayed longer than she meant to.
All I needed was one night to feed the dangerous darkness lurking deep inside my chest. Just one night to show my Blaze where she should’ve been all along.
By the time I got home after practice, the drinks and snacks I’d ordered had already been delivered to my house. As I walked through each room, I straightened anything that was even slightly out of place, making sure that everything was absolutely immaculate.
If Ella was coming here, it could benothingless. Standing at the upstairs window and watching the front walk, I imagined her climbing the steps.
What a shame thatthis timeshe’d leave again.
Four
Ella
The ball smacked off my racket and shot back over the net. Small victory.Coach could shove the whistle up his ass.
My sneakers squeaked on the sun-warmed hard court as I sprinted to the baseline, pivoted, and sent the ball flying back.
