Igniting the Flame (The Ignited Girl Series Book 2)

by EJ Everette

  “Hey,” I smile back before realizing just how horrible I must look. “Oh my god, don’t look at me,” I squeal, bringing my stiff arms up in an attempt to cover my entire being from view. “I haven’t had time to shower yet and I finally looked in the mirror earlier and oof! My hair is atrocious, I am for sure missing half of one of my eyebrows, and let’s not even start on my face. All the scarring and bandages are too much to handle. I probably look like Frankenstein’s monster right now and you’re over here being super sweet putting up with my messy self but probably terrified of the creature that used to be your girlfriend and…”

  In all my rambling I had missed a few things. One, Finn had slowly been moving my arms down away from my face. Two, Leanne and Tanner had started talking to each other quietly, looking away from our direction. And three, Finn’s face was now nanometers away from mine.

  “Gray. Gray,” his soft voice is overly tender. Loving. “Hey, a few days ago Leanne called me to tell me you were in the hospital, there had been a fire, and she didn’t know how bad things were. I blanked in that moment, barely remember making it to the hospital to tell you the truth. I must have driven so fast, Mom would have ripped me a new one if I hadn’t told her what happened to you. For the last nine days I have had to see you on a schedule, see your body but not hear you, not see your eyes, not even hold your hand and feel you squeeze mine back. You could be bald, you could be filthy, I literally give zero fucks about anything other than the fact that you are alive, awake, and right here with me. Right now.”

  I swallow hard, completely transfixed by his words. Before I can reply, he eases in to press his lips to mine. Instantly I am reminded of every other time we have kissed, fireworks exploding around me. He moves his mouth ever so gently against mine, his left hand coming to rest on the base of my neck, though the pressure is slight enough I barely feel it. I forget where I am. I forget we have an audience.I forget my wounds and all my pain. I forget to breathe. I just kiss Finn back, feeling whole in a way I didn’t realize I was missing since the fire. Despite my whimpers of protest, he pulls back from me, the world’s biggest grin on his face. Ah, there’s that dimple I remember so fondly.

  “God, I forgot just how amazing that was,” he lets out a small chuckle after those words, shaking his head and smiling.

  “So did I.”

  “Tanner!” My best friend laughs, though it sounds a little strained, in loud guffaws. Leanne is giggling beside him.

  “That’s supposed to be her line, bro,” Finn attempts to admonish him but he too, is carrying on in fits of laughter.

  “Can’t a girl just have a moment to kiss her boyfriend?” Tanner doesn’t look even the least bit ashamed. Any tension that may have existed in the room is long gone now. We all relax, Finn with his arm behind me on the back of the couch, his fingers playing casually with my messy hair. Every few moments he looks over at me, like he thinks I might not be real. A girl could get used to this kind of attention for sure.

  After updates from Leanne and I on everything I have learned so far from Petra, though I keep the box and its mysterious contents to myself for now, the guys tell us their news.

  “So Tanner’s family sucks,” Finn bites through clenched teeth, “like super sucks. Not a single one of them spent time with him in the hospital and when he was due to go home, no one came to get him.” I look over at my friend who tries not to meet my imploring eyes. He is in pain but doesn’t want me to see. Got it. I think he starts to say something, but Finn cuts him off.

  “No, T-man, I’ll explain. You save up that energy for PT later.” He reaches over to pat on Tanner’s knee and Tan nods his head in agreement.

  “Anyway, the Hale family is full of a bunch of assholes and I couldn’t let him go back there. The doctor said he had a shit ton of appointments scheduled already for physical therapy, speech, and follow-ups and his dad had already called to tell him it’s his own fault he got into this mess and they weren’t going to baby him because of it.” Finn’s hands are clenched in his lap having moved them away from both Tanner and I. Anger management is not his strong point. Something the majority of the new men in my life seem to have in common.

  “I talked with Mom and since she is basically gone all the time for work anyway, she said he could stay with us. The girls adore him and make him read them all sorts of weird shit so he gets more speech therapy than he bargained for,” with this he seems to relax some, the light returning to his eyes and Tanner’s. “Those girls are like mini-nurses. Mom has taught them far too much. They even get on to me if they think I am being too mean to their patient.” There is something so endearing about Finn when he talks about his three little sisters. Since his dad ran out on them years ago, he has been the man of the house. His Mom works at the hospital, she even stopped in to see me a few times, so he takes care of the girls, spoiling them to pieces.

  “T-t-tell them about Darla,” Tanner stutters just slightly, mischievousness highlighting his face.

  Finn bowls over this time, howling so hard in glee I have to scoot away from him some to give him room. Tanner is cackling in his chair, water lining his eyes.

  “You know the twins are thirteen, right?” Finn barely gets out before he finally straightens back up and pulls me back to his side. He places his arm behind me again, this time dropping his hand to my shoulder. “Hey, no escaping just yet.” He emphasizes this by a gentle squeeze to my shoulder. “Anyway, Darla and Daisy are barely teenagers and yet Darla thought she could go out on a date. Ha! This kid shows up on my doorstep like he is tough as shit. Probably fifteen or sixteen years old trying to take my little sister out somewhere. Ha! Over my dead body. Right after this punk walks in the door, I pull up with Tanner from one of his appointments. I guess Darla thought she could get away before I got back.”

  “Well,” Leanne is on the edge of her seat, literally, waiting to find out what happened. “Then what? Did they go on the date?” She is a sucker for a story. I can already see the satisfaction gleaming in Finn’s eyes before he answers her pleas.

  “Not even kind of. I rolled Tanner up in his chair, right behind him through the front door. Mom was home but she was sleeping from her shift earlier that day. He turned around and looked at us in confusion. Darla came rushing down the hall but stopped dead when she saw me glaring at the damn kid. She opened her mouth to explain but Tanner started coughing hard and distracted her. I leaned down to help him but he just winked at me. Time to scare the shit out of the punk. I acted super dramatic like T-man was dying and the kid was backing up ready to run. Finally I turned and looked at him and asked who he was and why he was in my house. He just stared at us for a minute before he said he was there to take Darla out on a date. She shuffled in the background but she couldn’t get to us in time. I yelled out that he was about to make a huge mistake and better leave now before something happened. This damn kid straightened up and stepped at me and said “oh yeah, like what”. I just smirked and pointed over at Tanner telling him if he doesn’t leave now he could end up like him. The dumbass then asked who the hell T-man was and I shit you not this fool starts stuttering all over the place and says, “I-I-I-I am h-h-h-er last-t-t-t bo-boy-boyfriend-d-d-d” and then he pretended to pass the fuck out!”

  Leanne and I are now both in tears as well, my abdomen is hurting from all the laughter. Tanner looks so damn proud in the recliner. “What did he say then?” I ask.

  “Not a damn thing. Kid ran so fast out the door he almost left his shoes!”

  We all enjoy fits of laughter for the next little bit before Charlie wakes up and comes down to join us. He is still weary of Finn in some ways, but they at least seem to have talked some when I was in the hospital. Eventually Finn reminds Tanner that he has PT, and the guys get up to leave. I am beyond exhausted, desperately in need of a shower and some rest. Finn holds my hand while I walk with him to his side of the car after he gets Tan settled. He leans in to kiss me again, this time we both manage to keep our hormones in check and let it be
short and sweet. Before he climbs into the car he squeezes my hand.

  “I really am glad you’re okay, gorgeous. And I want you to know how much I care about you. I know it hasn’t been long, and that’s okay. But I am in this for the long haul. Try not to scare me like that again baby, okay?” He kisses me again, preventing me from answering.

  “Oh, and I want you to come over sometime and meet my sisters. They are already obsessed with you so you don’t have to try to make them like you. Besides, Darla isn’t really speaking to me right now and I could use a buffer. She even has Daisy giving Tanner and me the cold shoulder. Get some rest and we will plan something soon.”

  “I’d really love that.” Geez I kind of sound like a valley girl right now. Am I twirling my hair? Fuck I think I almost did. What is this boy doing to me? I’m tired, that’s going to be my excuse. Long morning. Yeah, that will do. I watch him climb into the car and wave from the porch after they pull away.

  Exhaustion hits me hard and my knees buckle a little. I feel the strangest warmth move through me and suddenly feel like Dean is close by. I glance around, but then realize how crazy I sound right now. Yup. Definitely tired. Shower and then nap. Now.

  4

  Gray

  “I can’t find any. Are you sure they’d be in the pantry?”

  “There aren’t any in the cupboard by the fridge, either.”

  “I am sure they are in the pantry. I was with Mom when she grabbed a new box of them. Just move out of the way, bro.”

  That last voice is definitely Leanne, and it sounds like Reid and Mitch are also with her. Why are they here? What time is it? I stretch my very sore body out across the bed. Leanne and I will be sharing this space for the next few months. She and I both agreed her room is just too small to add an entire bed to it, so we are having permanent sleepover sessions until I am eighteen and can get my own place. Of course, she plans to move out with me and help take care of Charlie, but that future is too far ahead to dwell on right now. Her bed, a very comfy queen with a thick royal blue duvet cover perfect for snuggling, begs me to stay where I am. It feels like laying back into the slow lapping waves along the beach, cool to the touch and ever so serene. Yup, I could definitely stay here forever.

  “Gray! Gray, get up! You have company and I swear I am going to beat the ever lovin’ shit out of them if you don’t get down here and stop me!” Leanne’s voice travels up the stairs once more, interrupting my peaceful moment and pushing me up, away from my escape.

  “I’m coming!” I yell down, though my voice is still fairly rough from all the smoke inhalation. Stumbling over to the bedside dresser, I push through the sparse choice of clothing before me, selecting another pair of loose fitting pants and a baggy Bearclaw band tee. Leanne has her own ensuite bathroom, thank goodness, and I take a ridiculous amount of time struggling to get myself out of one set of clothes and into another. Once I finally manage to slip all the appropriate body parts through the designated arm holes (yes, I checked to make sure they were in the right places), I take to my hair. Oh is that a disaster. Well, here goes nothing. Brush in hand, I tear into the mess, hoping I can make myself at least slightly presentable.

  I must have been taking way too long, because a knock on the bedroom door startles me, forcing my messy bun to look more lopsided than I intended but, meh, so be it. Opening the bathroom door, I find Mitch standing just inside Le’s room, eyes roaming the space before him. Yes, Leanne can be a bit of a girly girl when she wants (which is basically always), and I imagine he is trying to figure out what to make of the seafoam-green walls with large turtle decals plastered on them. We put those decals up two years ago. Those dang things don’t budge for anything, that’s for sure. It takes him a few seconds before he realizes I am now standing in the doorway to the ensuite.

  Mitch looks amazing today. Ok, everyday, but still. His large muscles are trapped tight in a navy blue tee with some emblem on the chest I am unfamiliar with. His black hair is combed back from his face, though the slight curl to it means he pulls off an unruly yet perfect style. He is wearing dark jeans with his black motorcycle boots. I step toward him, suddenly hit with the scent of grease and his manly aftershave.

  “Hey there, doll. Miss me?” His smooth voice pulls my gaze away from his outfit and straight to his gorgeous obsidian eyes. Why does it feel like it’s been a lifetime since I have seen him instead of a few hours?

  “You bet,” my voice, though deeper than normal, sounds much more like it used to. I miss my voice. “Why are you here? Were you supposed to be here? Who is with you? I thought I heard Reid.”

  “Uh,” the secure man in front of me suddenly seems unsure of something. His left arm comes up to rub the back of his neck, a gesture I have observed from Reid a few times but rarely from Mitch. His eyes look around the room again, this time faster than before, as if he is searching for something but can’t seem to find it. He clears his throat, a deep rumble sending flurries of goosebumps across my skin. “Uh, well if you want us to leave, we can. It’s kinda all of us, doll. We just… we just wanted to check in on you. Chance cooked.”

  Oh! In my haste to make sense of just normal shit, I totally made him feel unwanted. Well, damn.

  “No!” I nearly shout at him. Breathe, Gray. “No, stay,” I manage, calmer this time. “Of course you are welcome. All of you. I just woke up and I’m a mess. I thought I had forgotten plans that were made and felt bad. Just ignore me and my jacked up self. It’s been a rough few weeks, obviously.” Sans makeup, I am far from concerned about smearing anything as I drag my hand, beautifully face-palmed, down in frustration. Mitch steps up and grasps my hand, gently, before tugging me toward the door.

  “Well, sounds like you need some food in your system and I know the guys are all desperate to see you. To see you are okay, I mean.” His lips turn up into the sweetest smile, causing a similar reflection in my own.

  “You know, for such a tough guy, you sure are a cuddly teddy bear. You know that?” My smile grows wider but my steps falter as Mitch stops us before reaching the stairs, turning to face me, our faces inches apart.

  “Cuddly teddy bear? Is that what you think I am?” Mitch has dropped his voice down another octave so low that even his slight accent is hard to hear. Swallowing, hard, I just stare at him. Mitch is never like this with me. Come to think of it, all of the guys have had these close moments where I thought just maybe there was something more between us, but Mitch has kept his distance. He is always around to help me, but nothing more, really.

  “Oh Gray. What do you know about bears?” Eyes locked on my face, his right eyebrow peaks up in question. Damn, wish I could do that without looking like an idiot. Of course Mitch makes it look hot.

  “Umm, they live in the woods?” Yeah, educated as fuck right here. Ugh. I’m an idiot.

  Mitch laughs a bit, still keeping his eyes locked with mine. “And tell me, doll, if you were to see a bear in the woods, where they live as you say, what would you do? Would you run up to the terrifying creature, ignoring the ferociousness in his stature and hunger in his eyes. Ignoring the sheer power in his grip, the drool from his sharp teeth. Would you bypass all of the signs that show you just how vicious he is... and cuddle the fucker?”

  Wait. What? Fuck. How do I respond to that? And why is he still staring at me like I am supposed to? Think, Gray. Say something. You’re just standing there like an idiot. Anything!

  “Well, umm… no?” It’s official. I’m still the same bumbling dumbass I have always been. There goes hoping surviving a fire really did activate some sort of magical awesomeness in me. It was a fluke. Obviously.

  “Teddy bears, they make no sense,” he breathes out. He scoots toward me another inch, forcing me to strain to look up to see his eyes at this proximity. “A real bear? He will rip anything that threatens the ones he loves to shreds. Nothing will be left in the aftermath. A real bear? He is a protector. He might look cuddly from afar, but when shit gets real and his family is in danger, he is the pre
dator every other creature fears. Remember that. Now, let’s get down to the guys and see what Reid is doing to piss Leanne off this time. I can hear slapping which means she is no longer putting up with his shit.”

  Mitch pulls back from me, pausing for one more intense gaze, before slowly pulling me behind him and descending the stairs. I am beyond confused. Did Mitch just warn me away from him? Warn me away from his family, the guys? Maybe all of this has shown him that I am too much of a hassle for them to be around. But… something inside of me is still so confused about what happened that night, and I know he knows something about it. They all do. And I need them to tell me, even if they plan to run away from me afterwards.

  He gives me no additional time to decipher what the hell just happened upstairs and soon I find myself standing at the bottom of the steps, alone, the guys all gathered around me. Wow, this feels so familiar. Didn’t Finn and Tanner greet me here just a few hours ago? Was it really the same day? God, I was just released this morning! Why is everyone standing around like it’s been ages? I have already had too much of this. I smile at each of the guys but make my way past them to flop down in a chair in the dining room. Everyone stays quiet, but they all walk in and take chairs around me once I am settled.

  “These he-men just barged in here with boxes of shit and demanded I wake you up. I told them you were resting and to fuck off because you were tired after visiting with your boyfriend and Tan earlier, but they just got pushier. Sorry, babe. I tried.” Leanne looks half annoyed, half ready to pull me right back up to the room to gossip her heart out. Oh no. Something must have happened before I got down here. Well, whatever it is will keep us up tonight, I’m sure. Right now, I am more focused on the most important piece of information Mitch shared with me upstairs. No, not the part about bears… Chance cooked!

  “You didn’t seem so bothered by us once Chance started pulling out all the food we brought,” Dean bites in her direction. Though it isn’t meant to be cruel, I can sense he isn’t angry, he looks like he still hasn’t slept a wink so it definitely comes out harsher than expected.