Page 44 of Light My Fire Three Times
“Is it… is it safe?” I finally ask hoarsely.
Jesse looks back at me from where he’s directing the firemen. His gaze softens when it meets mine, and even though he’scovered in soot, sweat, and dirt, I can see the concern etched into his face.
“It’s contained,” he says gruffly. “But the house… it’s too damaged. You can’t stay here tonight.”
I nod again, my stomach twisting. “Where am I supposed to go?”
Karl steps up beside me, his expression no longer playful. It’s the first time I’ve seen him serious, and it takes me by surprise. His eyes search mine, full of that same genuine concern that I know the others have, but with a hint of warmth.
“You can crash at my place for the night,” he offers. “I’ve got a spare room, and it’s the least I can do after all this.”
I hesitate, my heart racing again. I want to say no, that I’ll figure it out myself, but I can barely think straight, let alone try to handle this mess on my own.
“I’d appreciate that,” I finally admit.
Karl gives me a slight nod, like he’s relieved I didn’t argue with him.
But as I’m about to turn, I feel Leo’s gaze on me. His hand is still on my shoulder, and when I meet his eyes, there’s something unspoken in them, and it makes me feel like I’ve somehow broken an unspoken rule by accepting Karl’s offer.
But I don’t have time for his negative energy right now.
I'm a mess.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Leo
NOVEMBER 21ST
I shouldn’t have been surprisedby what Karl did. But I was.
Karl, always the hero in his own eyes, decided to offer Olivia a place to stay, and of course, he didn’t bother to ask me first.
Why would he?
We’ve been living together long enough that he should know how I feel about this.
But no, Karl doesn’t do things by the book. He acts first, thinks later.
I watch them in disdain, Karl with that usual cocky smirk on his face, leading Olivia to his truck, grinning ear to ear. She’s got her head down, looking about as lost as I feel right now.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It does—more than I care to admit.
The thing is, it’s not even that I mind helping her out. The whole fire thing was bad. It was bad enough that I’m not even going to make jokes about it, not when she’s still wide-eyed with shock. She could fall apart at any second.
But Karl’s decision-making process?That’swhat’s got me on edge.
I throw on my jacket and head out, not bothering with pleasantries.
I’m pissed, and I need to get this off my chest before it festers into something worse. I catch up to them in the driveway, my boots crunching against the gravel, and I’m already half ready to tell Karl off.
“Hey!” I call out harshly. Maybe a littletooharshly.
They both stop, and Olivia looks at me fearfully. Yeah, I don’t intend to call her any names here, but Karl… well, he’s a different story.
“What’s going on?” I ask, the words leaving my mouth sharper than I intended.
Karl gives me that shit eating grin of his, totally unfazed. “What’s the problem, Leo? She needs a place to crash, and I’ve got the space.”
