Page 30 of Burn (Crash & Burn Duet 2)

And while it rang, I worried. Why would his dad go through all the trouble to get Teague to work with him and then do something to Teague? This was so, so confusing.

A click from the other end of the line caused me to straighten. “Teague?”

Lincoln stepped closer. For a second, I thought he was going to snatch the phone out of my hand.

“You know what to do. Unless it’s Cher. Then call right back.”

His playful voice came through, but it was just a recording.

I lowered the phone and shook my head.

“He didn’t answer.”

Chapter Thirteen

Teague

Chasingmy father wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do.

Yet there I was, tracking him down at the next possible place I thought he’d be.

And it wasn’t a church.

I avoided this part of the city at all costs. There were too many reminders of the past. Reminders of a life that seemed as if it never existed before the pain that followed.

I parked my truck and sat behind the wheel.

Lights were on inside. Then again, they always were.

After I’d joined the fire academy, I’d never come back.

As I sat in front of my childhood home, I could picture Lincoln, Beau, and me dressed for Halloween, headed down the front walk in our costumes. And then we were older, sneaking out of this tomb that had once been so full of life. Then there was my mother.

“Come on, Samuel.”Mom reached for both of Dad’s hands and pulled him into the front yard. “Are you worried about what the neighbors think?”

She grinned.

He followed her. Because he always followed her. I did too.

“Baby Don’t Go” blared from the portable boom box in the grass. She sang at the top of her lungs and danced even though Dad stood still.

I flung my arms in the air and spun around in the grass. Lincoln rolled his eyes from where he sat next to Beau’s carrier. I danced over to him and kicked his foot.

“Get up!” I shrieked.

He glanced at Beau, then at Mom, who twirled. Her white dress swished. She laughed when Dad caught her by the waist.

He dipped her, and his deep laugh echoed as he pulled her back up.

I dragged Lincoln to his feet. He stood there awkwardly while I moved around like a wild man.

“Let go, sweetie. Have fun,” Mom coaxed as she and Dad danced.

He looked back down at our sister.

“She’s fine,” Mom promised.

I grabbed Lincoln’s hand and tugged him toward our parents.

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