Fever by Melissa Pearl Read Free Book Online Page A

had been so incredibly cool singing with him this morning. I hadn't felt that kind of exhilarating joy since before my parents had passed. The all-too-familiar sadness settled on me as the professor’s words turned to fuzz, and I was exported back to 2009. Although this time the memory started a little earlier in the day. As if bursting from its hiding place, it flooded my mind with color and music.

    Mom laughed, throwing her head back as Dad spun her around the living room. Their dance classes were paying off, and I smiled as I stretched my voice over the long note and then clipped it off so the music could take the lead. I shuffled from one foot to the other, clicking my fingers to the beat of “Come Fly With Me.” My parents were squeezing in one more practice before they left for class, and I happily volunteered to sing for them.
    “You're next, sugar,” Dad called over Mom's shoulder, winking at me.
    I laughed, excited about my turn. Dad was teaching me all the moves and I was loving it. None of my friends knew that I could dance like a dame from the 40s, but I could and I had to admit, I was getting kind of good.
    I finished the song with a flourish, lifting my arm and sticking out my chin. My parents laughed, out of breath as they clapped me down from my perch on the sofa.
    Mom kissed my forehead and rubbed my back. “I knew I named you after Ella for a reason. You have the voice of an angel, and you're my own little songbird.” She grinned, moving out of the way so I could step into Dad's arms.
    He straightened me up, reminding me to keep my frame strong while Mom scrolled through her laptop, choosing an upbeat version of “Anything Goes.” Cole Porter was a genius.
    I giggled as Dad swung me around, lifting my tiny body up so I could swing around past him. Following his lead, we skimmed across the floor as if it were made of glass. I felt like I could fly, lost in a perfect moment.
    An hour later, I stood at the door waving them off, promising that I would finish my homework and get to bed on time. I closed the door as they started pulling out of the driveway and did my little alone dance before prancing into the kitchen. Pulling out the gummy bears, I snitched a handful and danced up the stairs, popping them into my mouth as I hummed “Puttin’ On The Ritz.”
    I rushed through my homework, wanting to get it done so I could watch Friday Night Lights before bed. It was sitting on the hard drive, patiently waiting for me to catch up with the latest episode.
    It was awesome and I walked up to bed a-buzz, brushing my teeth and swooning over Taylor Kitsch. Man, he was a hottie! I dreamed of him running off the football field and kissing my lips after a game as I spun my way to the bedroom and stripped off my clothes. I glanced at my clock as I snuggled under my sheets and reached for my book. My parents would be home soon, and I wanted to stay awake to hear how their class went. They loved it so much and always came home on a high.
    A banging on the door jolted me awake. The book fell out of my hands and thumped on the floor. I squinted around my room, a little disoriented, and then heard the knocking again.
    The door.
    Who the hell was at my door?
    I reached for my watch and checked the time as I shuffled down the stairs. Why wasn't Dad answering the door already? It was nearly midnight.
    I fumbled down the stairs and with a sigh, shifted the curtain covering the glass so I could peek outside. My heart stopped beating. I'm sure it did, because everything in my body went numb as I breathlessly wrapped my fingers around the door handle and pulled it open.
    Two officers dressed in blue towered over me, their faces grim.
    “Ella Simmons?”
    I nodded.
    “I'm really sorry, but you're gonna need to come with us.”

    “So make sure you've finished the first three readings by the time you come back here.” Professor Williams's voice jolted me out of my nightmare. I swallowed, looking at the person next to me and