Inside the Fire Book One in the Warden's Series by Heather Glidewell Read Free Book Online Page A

nervous.
    “What do you mean?” He turned right as we
entered the square.
    “Well, you were accepting of me without
knowing me.” I looked out the window as he pulled into a parking
spot.
    “I accepted you because I was drawn to you.”
He winked at me and turned off the car.
    We got out and entered the establishment
taking a seat in a corner booth away from the eyes of other
students. He sat across from me and played with the fraying edges
of his menu. We didn’t speak for a few moments. In fact, we didn’t
speak to each other until the waitress had taken our order.
    “So why did you come here of all places?” He
asked me softly.
    “My mother needed a change.” I know I was
being vague but talking about what happened always made me feel
bad.
    “Care to elaborate?” He asked as the
waitress brought out drinks.
    “My step-father was in the Army. He was told
on my seventeenth birthday that they were sending him overseas.” I
felt my eyes getting heavy I would cry.
    “Oh, I am so sorry for your loss.” It was as
if he knew.
    “For the most part she’s done well with it.
She just decided it was time to move on. There was nothing holding
us in El Paso anymore.” I had to look away.
    “Sometimes we just have to move on.” He
reached across the table and took my hand in his. “Sometimes we
have to start a new life to make meaning of our last one.”
    “You sound as if you have been through
something similar.” I started at our hands. The pulse was calming
for the most part.
    “I have been around my fair share of death
mind you.” He wasn’t letting my hand go. In fact, he wasn’t even
acting like he wanted to.
    “You know it sucks. These men show up at
your door in uniform all solemn. In fact I had never seen the guy
before. Trust me I spent a lot of time on base with my
step-father.” I felt like I was rambling but it was nice to have
someone to talk to. “He just shook my mother’s hand, told her was
sorry, was it.”
    “I’ve seen it in movies just never had it
happen to me personally.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “I’m glad you
came here.”
    “I am too.” I glanced at our hands again. He
was tracing the outline of my thumb with his. It felt nice.
    He paid for our meal while I was in the
bathroom. When I came out he was already standing by the door
waiting for me.
    “Where to now?” He asked obviously wanting
to spend time with me.
    “I don’t know this town Wesley. What is
there to do?” I asked as I walked out the door.
    “There is always cow tipping.” He joked.
    “You know I heard that can actually kill
them.” I found no amusement in tormenting animals. Not unless they
were human.
    “I didn’t know that. Not that I do it.” He
laughed as he opened the passenger door of my car.
    “Sure you wouldn’t.” I gave him a wink as I
sat down. He shut the door and rushed around the front of the car
getting in and turning it on.
    “There is a park about a mile up the road.
We could go there and just talk.” He suggested.
    “Yeah that sounds like fun.” I admitted. I
was suddenly wishing I had brought sun block.
    ****
    We sat in the grass side by side picking at
the weeds.
    “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you
are?” He said suddenly and I was taken aback.
    “No I don’t think that they have.” I said my
throat dry.
    “Sorry, that was probably a pretty lame
line.” He laughed throwing his head back.
    “No, I think it was pretty good.” I teased
leaning into him.
    He wrapped his right arm around me and
pulled me close. It was awkward at first, but after a moment I felt
comfortable. He seemed content though with my response to his
touch.
    “How old are you?” He asked as I leaned my
head on his shoulder.
    “Eighteen.” I breathed in the fresh air.
“You?”
    “Same.” He said laughing.
    His body was cool which in turn made my body
cool. This was a great feeling to have when it was over ninety
outside.
    “What are you doing this Saturday?” He asked
me