Up In Flames (Flirting with Fire Book 2)

by Jennifer Blackwood

  “Good. Just running a few errands.” He had to pick up some more dog food for Peaches and wanted to grab baking supplies so he could coax Sloane into making her peanut butter oatmeal cookies when she got back into town.

  “You seem happier today. Something happen?”

  “Same shit, different day.” Though that wasn’t the truth. He hadn’t felt like this since high school. The hope that love was still real and fresh. That hope had been extinguished for years. And he was fine with that. He’d resigned himself to the fact that he probably would never find the one. That the thought of that was an illusion only fools dreamed up.

  “Is that why you have so much pep in your step?”

  Reece shook his head. Nope. Not even his mother’s needling would get to him today.

  “If you must know, I met someone.”

  “Sloane.” His mom shrugged, like this was old news. He hadn’t told anyone about last night. How was this even possible?

  “What? How did you know that?”

  “First, do you expect anyone in this family to keep their mouth shut when it comes to someone’s love life? Second, because the last time you were together in a room, you wanted to murder each other. And Erin claimed that you asked her for date ideas.” She smacked Reece on the arm. “I may be getting older, but my eyes work just fine. Plus, this makes for great fodder online.”

  “Don’t you dare post anything. And remind me to never tell Erin anything anymore.”

  “Fine. You’re no fun.” She playfully tugged at the shell of his ear, something she’d been doing since before he could walk. “But it brings me so much joy that you’re so happy.”

  He shrugged, trying to play it off cool. If anything, he was about as cool as his middle-school self when he’d decided bleached tips were a good idea. “It might not be anything.”

  “Is that what you really think?”

  He took a moment to consider his mom’s question. “I don’t know.” And he didn’t. It was so new that he didn’t even want to breathe a word about it because it seemed like such a fragile thing. Something that might crumble in his hands if he mentioned it.

  “I know I asked you to help with the barbecue, but will you help me with this light bulb? It went out in the mudroom.”

  He went to the pantry, grabbed a light bulb, and headed toward the mudroom in the back of the house.

  “Maybe you should invite her over for dinner. Maybe we could all go out as a family.”

  “Mom.” He loved her. Fiercely. But the way she meddled made him almost regret that he’d said anything at all.

  She held up her hands. “Just saying. Sloane comes over anyway. It wouldn’t be a big deal.”

  “I’ll think about it.” That seemed to appease his mother because she smiled and started back into the kitchen. “And you should start thinking about a Christmas gift. Not that she’s your girlfriend or anything,” she called over her shoulder.

  His fingers fumbled with the light bulb, and he caught it before it could crash to the floor. Damn it. Christmas was in a week. He hadn’t even thought about that. Did people who didn’t classify their relationship need to get gifts for each other? Then again, this wasn’t a normal person he’d just met on a dating site. This was Sloane. He’d known her his whole life.

  “I don’t think it’s gotten to that stage yet. Don’t you think that’s a bit sudden?” he called after her.

  His mom poked her head back into the room and gave him a perfectly arched brow.

  Well, okay, then. What did he know, anyway? He hadn’t dated seriously for more than a decade, which meant that he was probably a little rusty.

  “Fine. I’ll look into it.”

  Maybe.

  He didn’t like all these expectations that came from a relationship. Which was why he’d kept things casual for years. Was it really worth all the hassle if he had to deal with stuff like this?

  For Sloane, he didn’t even have to think about the answer. It was a resounding yes.

  Before he made his way out of the house, he peeked into Andie’s room. She was lying on her bed, earbuds in, probably listening to more terrible music. He knocked on the doorframe, and she bolted upright, tearing out an earbud.

  “I just got back from the shelter. Mark says hi.”

  Reece smiled. He’d never had a doubt his sister could get back into college, but this was a big step toward. He liked to see her initiative. “Did you hear anything back from”—he peered over his shoulder to make sure his mom wasn’t listening—“you know?”

  “Not yet. Although I heard of one person posting online that they’ve already heard back from colleges, and they submitted at the same time.” She frowned.

  “It’ll happen. Keep a little faith.”

  Andie’s eyes bugged. “Was that in your fortune cookie or something?”

  He shrugged. “I’m trying out the whole optimism thing.”

  “Oh, not you too.” She groaned and flopped back down on her bed.

  If this was what being with the right person felt like, then he never wanted it to end.

  Sloane pulled up her social media app and scrolled through the noise of people shouting into the void. As a rule, she often took breaks from all her accounts because she tended to get worn out by all the horrible news each day. She dealt with enough sadness at the hospital. She even saw recently that there was a term for this. Normally people had a fear of missing out, or FOMO, but now with all the shitstorms in the media, people were retreating into their safe havens and enjoying some much needed JOMO—joy of missing out.

  She noticed a new post from Erin and Reece’s mom @hotmamajenkins:

  Just want to say that my son has been acting WEIRD lately. I don’t know what’s up with him, but I think there is a new lady in his life.

  It all started last night. He was humming while helping set the dinner table. HUMMING, people. I don’t think I’ve heard him sing a song since he was in high school.

  And then, this morning, he swung by before his shift and brought me doughnuts from my favorite bakery. Something is up with him, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.

  This thread was from last week. There was another one from today.

  @hotmamajenkins:

  Found out what’s going on with my son. GUYS. He has a girlfriend (title unconfirmed, but I am making it official), and he is like something out of a “Walking on Sunshine” music video.

  Sloane’s lips twitched. Oh, Mama Jenkins, you have no clue. Then again, neither did Sloane. It was one thing to throw barbs at each other. It was another to want to spend time with him. For him to make her smile. Which was happening with alarming frequency. A day away from Reece and she was already feeling the withdrawal symptoms.

  She made her way to the bathroom, finished straightening her hair, and pulled her sweater over her head. After checking her suitcase two more times, she zipped it up, wheeled it to the door, and grabbed her keys. Figuring out whatever this was would have to wait because it was officially girls’ weekend.

  “Am I going to have to drag you away from Portland?” Erin looked up at Sloane like she was ready to tear her suitcase out of her hands and chuck it in the back of her car.

  “I’m ready.” What was this voodoo magic? She was reluctant to go on a girls’ weekend retreat because she wanted to spend another night with Reece? Yeah, her pathetic meter was in the red.

  “I have handcuffs if you need them,” Madison offered, chucking her bag in the back of Erin’s Prius.

  Erin did a double take at Madison. “Do I even want to know why you have handcuffs on hand?”

  Madison shrugged. “Just had a cop-themed photo shoot.”

  “Right.” Sloane shook her head. “Let’s stick to that.”

  Sloane slid into the front seat while Madison took the back, right behind her. “Did anyone check the traffic?” Madison asked.

  “Already on it,” Erin said. She pulled the GPS up on her phone, which was already set to their cabin destination. Sloane hi
d her smile, because of course her friend had checked ahead of time. “I’m ready for some beach time,” she said.

  “I’m surprised you’re actually going to brave the water this time of year, California girl,” said Sloane.

  Erin held up a hand. “No one said anything about stepping foot into the water. I’m going to admire the majestic beauty from the comfort of my window.” She pulled out onto the coastal highway.

  Sloane was missing her parents right before the holidays, and a couple of days of hearing the ocean’s waves would do her heart some good. As a kid, her parents had taken her to Newport every summer. They’d load up on saltwater taffy, walk down the main street, and splash around in the water. After a bowl of clam chowder, they’d head home, and Sloane would fall asleep in the car before they even got out of the city.

  Sloane slid her phone out of her purse and texted Reece that they were on their way, and she’d see him on Monday. It was an odd feeling. Knowing that just a month ago she couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him. Now all she wanted was to be in his arms.

  Reece: Drive safe. Have a good weekend.

  She smiled. Damn it, she had that goofy grin on her face again.

  “What’s got you so happy?” Erin asked, glancing over as she shifted gears.

  “Er—it’s nothing.” She clicked her phone so the screen turned off.

  “Did the date go well with that dude? You never texted us about it. In fact, you’ve been MIA for almost a week, missy,” said Madison.

  “It went horrible. Worst date I think I’ve ever been on,” she admitted. The date after that had been one for the record books, though.

  “Then who’s putting that smile on your face?”

  Sloane didn’t even hesitate. “Reece.”

  Erin let out a cackle, and Madison doubled over in the back seat.

  “What’s so funny?” Sloane looked at the two of them.

  “We had a bet going for how long it’d take you two to get together. Better pay up, Madison.” Erin reached her hand back toward her friend.

  Madison sighed in the back and then scrounged up a ten and smacked it in Erin’s palm.

  She looked from Erin to Madison. “You bet actual money on me?”

  “Of course. And I said a month from the firefighter auction. Madison said two.”

  “But—” Sloane started.

  “How did we know? Because you two are more alike than you’d like to think.”

  She thought about Reece, his dedication to his job, the kindness he showed to patients, and the volunteering he did.

  “Yeah, I guess things changed.” She stared out the window at the flat farmland, the wineries and hops trellises, the pastures with cows and horses. Soon the terrain would change to the mountain range and then give way to the salt and brine of the coast.

  “What changed?” Madison asked.

  She toyed with her phone in her lap. “I realized he wasn’t completely worthy of the wrath.” Sure, he still drove her nuts, but that was Reece. That part of him was just one of the many things she was starting to find endearing.

  Erin clutched the steering wheel and cackled. “Madison, hold me. The I-told-you-so is coming in strong.”

  Madison scoffed. “If you’re not going to say it, I will. Told. You. So.”

  Sloane shook her head but smiled. “Yeah, you’re both jerks.”

  By early afternoon, they’d made it to Cannon Beach. It was one of those unicorn days at the coast, where the wind was nonexistent and the salt air was warm. The sun was out, shining on Sloane’s face as Erin parked her car in front of their rental cabin. It was a tiny blue cottage with wind-distressed white shutters. A gravel path led from the driveway to the cheery yellow front door. From the picture on the site, it had beach access, which was always a plus.

  Sloane stepped out of the car and let the salt air tangle in her senses. She breathed deeply, enjoying the scent of the ocean. A group of seagulls flew overhead, cawing, and even though she couldn’t currently see it, the waves rolling over the shore played like a loop in the background. Her parents had traded the Oregon coast for warm sandy beaches on the East Coast, but she didn’t think anything beat a sunny day here.

  Sloane opened the trunk and extracted her suitcase. “Ready to get set up?”

  “Heck yes. I’m starving,” Madison said.

  “Dude. Didn’t you just eat before we came?” Erin asked.

  She’d seen the remnants of this morning’s granola on Madison’s shirt. She was the type to eat a bunch of small meals throughout the day. She said it helped with her metabolism.

  “Would you rather have Madison hangry?” Sloane asked. Their best friend was one of the sweetest people Sloane had ever known. A bleeding heart. Until she got hungry. Then she turned into one of those Snickers commercials. And it was a toss-up between being pathetically whiny or slipping into Hulk-smash mode.

  “Good point,” Erin said.

  They each grabbed grocery bags filled with snacks from the back seat, and Sloane retrieved the key that the owner had left in a potted plant next to the doormat.

  Sloane pushed the door open with her foot and grabbed her bag at her feet. She smiled when she took in the cute tiled entryway. The main room had two couches, a TV, and a large wooden coffee table made out of driftwood. Their shoes slapped against the floor as they wheeled their luggage deeper into the house.

  There were three bedrooms in this cabin, each one with its own theme. They scanned the rooms—one nautical, one with seashells, and one that reminded her of a forest. The walls were hunter green and adorned with wood carvings and frames made out of twigs, pine cones, and acorns.

  “I’ll take this room if that’s okay with you guys,” Sloane said, pointing to the forest-themed room.

  Erin and Madison shrugged, and each took one of the other rooms.

  Once they set their bags down, they unpacked chargers and Kindles. A few minutes later, they made their way down the road to the local brewery that they’d seen on their way to the cabin. When they opened the door to Peg Leg Jim’s, rock music that could easily be the score to a Pirates of the Caribbean movie blasted through the speakers.

  Once they were seated, Erin started in. She pulled out a sparkly green planner from her purse and flipped to an earmarked page. “I figured we’d first start with a walk down the beach. Then I saw online there was a wine shop less than a mile from our house. Maybe we can find something for tonight’s dinner.”

  They went through this every. Single. Trip. No fail. Erin just needed a little nudge in the right direction. “Slow down there, Speed Racer. We are on vacation, right?” Sloane said. She liked doing things at her own pace on a trip.

  Erin tapped her pen to her planner and worried her lip. “Well, yeah.”

  “How about we figure out what we want to do after the food gets here,” Sloane suggested. She expected Madison to pipe in, but she was uncharacteristically quiet.

  There was nothing she loved more than spending time with her girls. They’d been there for her through everything.

  Erin closed her notebook and put it back in her purse. “Fine. Madison, what are you ordering?”

  Madison was staring at the menu. Or more accurately, she was staring through the menu. Sloane worried that Madison had passed into what they’d deemed the no-coming-back zone.

  “Is she too far gone?” Erin said.

  “I think we can salvage this.” Sloane grabbed a packet of saltine crackers from the container in the corner of the booth. “Here, eat these.”

  Madison grumbled, but she grabbed the package and inhaled the crackers. Ten more packages and Madison was starting to look human again. They even managed to get her to order when the server appeared.

  Sloane rubbed Madison’s back. “Welcome back to the living.”

  “Sorry. I obviously have not been getting enough to eat lately. Work has been so erratic, and I’ve been eating way too many of those protein bars.”

  The waitress came over and ref
illed their drinks and brought their meals. Sloane dug into her clam chowder and sighed. It was perfect, like usual.

  The three of them lazed about the cabin for the remainder of the day. They’d made their way to the deck overlooking the Pacific. Erin had picked up a merlot from the wine shop and poured them each a glass.

  Erin took a sip of wine. “It’s weird not going to Shasta.”

  “No need to travel that far since you’re home now.”

  “It feels good to be home,” Erin said. “Even if Jake and I are still ships passing in the night lately.”

  Sloane kicked off her shoes and propped her feet on the balcony. “Maybe things will settle down after the holidays.”

  “Yeah. Plus, he’s up to something. Twice now I’ve come into the kitchen, and he and Bailey stopped talking.”

  “Maybe it’s a surprise,” said Sloane.

  Madison drained the rest of her glass and set it down on the weathered table. “Agreed. It has to be something good if he has Bailey involved. Maybe . . . something shiny and small that fits on a certain finger?”

  Sloane would put money on it happening before the end of the year.

  “It’s possible, I guess. Or maybe they’re both planning on the best way to dump me.”

  “He’s not going to dump you,” Sloane and Madison said in unison.

  Busy schedules or not, there was no way Jake would be having second thoughts. They were gaga for each other. “You know what this calls for? Some extra wine. A preemptive celebration for when Madison and I can claim we told you so.” Sloane grabbed the bottle and filled the three glasses back to an appropriate level for girls’ weekend. “To nobody leaving town for years at a time. That includes you too, Madison.”

  Madison grabbed her full glass and cradled it in her palms. “Not a chance. You know I could never leave.”

  “To being stuck in Portland for the rest of our lives,” Sloane said.

  They all clinked their glasses together and said cheers. Each of them settled into their Adirondack chairs, enjoying the heat of the outdoor fireplace. The sun had set over the Pacific, and they were now left with a patchwork of stars blanketing the sky.