Page 42 of Light My Fire Three Times
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but then…
I wake up, gasping for air like I’ve just sprinted a marathon. What the hell wasthat?
It felt so real… too real. I feel like I’m still stuck in that coffee shop, caught between Jesse and Karl, their hands on me, their words in my ears.Pick me. No, pick both of us.
And then, as if my brain isn’t already scrambling enough, I catch a faint smell in the air. A little burnt, a little smoky. My eyes snap wide open.
My heart skips a beat.
Smoke.
I sniff again, my pulse quickening. The scent is more pungent now. Panic sets in, and I jump out of bed.
Shit.
I left a candle on the nightstand, one of those damn scented ones, I swear, I only light it for ambiance.
Apparently, I fell asleep with it still going. The flame must have tipped over when I turned in for the night, catching the edge of my blankets. The small flame has grown into a full-on fire.
I don’t think. I just act.
I grab my phone, hands shaking, and dial 911. The operator’s calm voice barely registers as I try to speak through the panic rising in my throat.
“Fire… in my room. It’s spreading. I need help.”
I sound like I’m drowning.
“Stay calm, ma’am. We’re sending units out right now. Get out of the building immediately, do you hear me? Get out.”
I barely have time to acknowledge her before I hang up. I grab my purse and keys, stumbling to the door, then backtracking to grab my phone charger. If I’m gonna have to deal with this, I’m at least going to be able to reach someone. Anyone.
I throw the door open wide, the cool night air hitting me like a slap in the face. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the smoke is already creeping out into the hallway, and I know I need to get out now. The whole house smells like burnt paper and plastic. It’s so much worse than I imagined.
And then, I hear it.
Sirens. Distant, but unmistakable.
A tiny spark of relief flickers inside me. Help's on the way. I’m not alone.
I bolt out the door and onto the front porch, blinking against the night. The air is crisp, cool on my skin, but the urgency in my chest refuses to settle. I glance back at the house, watching the smoke curl into the sky. It’s almost mesmerizing, like the house is sighing in defeat.
I don’t have time to focus on the smoke. The fire trucks are close now, their sirens growing louder, and I take a shaky breath, trying to calm myself down. But just as I start to feel the tiniest bit of relief, the unmistakable sound of tires skidding on gravel cuts through the air.
My heart skips a beat as headlights appear in the distance, and before I can even process the situation, a car pulls up, screeching to a halt right in front of my house.
No way.
Jesse. Karl. Leo.
Two men I’ve hooked up with, and one whohatesme.
I mean, there are other guys, too, of course. But how can I look at anyone else?
All three of them step out of the car in a blur, their silhouettes sharp and urgent in the night.
Jesse’s in full gear, Karl’s wearing that stupid smirk of his even when it’s clear he’s concerned, and Leo… Leo looks like he’s been pulled from the shadows of a nightmare, his eyes wide and frantic, hair still a little messy like he didn’t bother to comb it before rushing over.
They all stop dead in their tracks when they see me standing there, hair messy, pajama pants, and bare feet, staring at the house as if it’s the end of the world.
