Firebug

Firebug by Lish McBride Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Firebug by Lish McBride Read Free Book Online
Authors: Lish McBride
house in place. Since the rest of my team was occupied, that left me to do the fun part. Venus didn’t want a crispy fried-chicken house, so I couldn’t burn it down, and Mr. Monticello was clearly not coming out. I buried my exasperation—before I accidentally started a forest fire—and got ready to climb. Lock took my jacket and handed me my warded gloves. I slipped them on and began my ascent.
    Mr. Monticello decided to take the express elevator down before I made it to the top. I can’t say I blame him. The wet sound he made when he landed will show up in my nightmares for a long time.
    I had to burn the clothes when we were done. The smell of charcoal and the eye-watering, acrid reek of chicken poop was never going to come out. I kept the warded gloves. They were too expensive to toss. Lock called Venus, and we had to wait until a recovery team came for the house. It was a long hike back to the car and a longer drive to the fence where Ez had left his clothes. Since he was the least exhausted, Ezra drove while Lock curled up in the back and I napped in the passenger seat. I was really looking forward to a hot shower.
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    THE BOYS dropped me off at home, and I took the longest shower in the history of long showers. Once I was clean and dressed, I sat down for dinner and asked Cade about Ryan’s proposed road trip. Cade was less than enthused. Not for the reasons that most people raising a teenage girl would have—Cade trusted me and had no delusions in that arena. We’d always been honest with each other. Lock and Ezra stayed over all the time, and though Cade knew we were just friends, a lot of other parents would have said no. I’d brought that up once, and he’d laughed.
    â€œMy parents had that rule, and I’ve always thought that was funny,” he’d said. “Like teenagers can only have sex at night in someone’s house. If you were really dead set on it, I couldn’t stop you. It certainly didn’t stop me.”
    â€œEw.” I pretended to gag.
    â€œYour face could freeze like that, you know.”
    â€œTotally worth it.”
    He rested his chin in his hand, an amused twist to his lips. “Despite current evidence to the contrary, I prefer to believe that I’ve raised you right and know where you are at night.” He’d earned a hug for that.
    So it wasn’t illicit behavior that Cade was worried about. And he certainly wasn’t worried about Ryan doing anything harmful toward my person. When your little princess can scorch an entire city block with her mind, you just don’t have those kinds of fears. No, Cade had the same worries I’d had.
    â€œIsn’t that tempting fate?” he asked. “Might as well strap pork chops to your body and run into the lion’s den.” We were eating dinner at home. Cade had cooked, so my steak was tender and well-marinated and sitting next to some tasty roasted root veggies.
    I can cook, since I’d been on my own with my mom for years and it wasn’t a skill I could live without, but unlike Cade I tended to cook in a very utilitarian fashion. I eat so I don’t die, and I can’t seem to get beyond that. I created fuel. Cade created a meal. I went for quantity, while he stressed quality. No one would starve in my presence, but I’m not a chef. Cade, though, was a foodie. He liked smelly cheeses and fresh herbs and shuddered at my idea of cooking.
    Firebugs have to be careful about two things: calories and potassium levels. We burn through both like mad when we light fires. Both are easy to maintain—eat a lot of bananas and make sure to keep electrolyte supplements handy. But I was seriously getting tired of bananas. There’s really only so much you can do with them. When Cade’s not around, I eat them plain and bitch a lot . When he is around, he bakes them into things, slices them into oatmeal, and sneaks them into desserts. I

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