Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series by Autumn Reed, Julia Clarke Read Free Book Online

problems. If I hadn’t
been so wrapped up in myself, I would have been making dinner when Dad got home
yesterday rather than daydreaming in the woods. I would have been there when
the fire started, and we never would have gotten separated. What if I never saw
him again? I felt a sharp pain in my chest, my anxiety mounting at the thought.
    Okay, Haley, you
need to focus. Even though you thought he was exaggerating, Dad did warn you
that something could happen to him. Considering the timing, there is no way
that the explosion at our house was a coincidence. He told you to run and to
take care of yourself first. You have to trust him. He knows how to handle himself,
which means he’s fine. So stop worrying about him for now and concentrate on
yourself.
    I thought through my
current situation logically, trying to make sense of what happened. I knew that
I passed out at the fire and was brought to a secluded cabin in the woods.
Ethan, a complete stranger, took me in and cared for my injuries. And, my dad
apparently got away from the fire but was chased by unidentified men. It wasn’t
a lot to go on, and my mind warred with whether or not I could trust Ethan.
    On one hand, he seemed
non-threatening and even concerned about my well-being. And he did allow me to
use his phone to attempt to call Dad. On the other hand, he could be working
with whoever was after Dad and using me for information or as bait.
    Whatever the answer, I
wasn’t going to find it by staying in the shower all day. I needed to eat
something and try to get more information from Ethan. Hopefully I could at
least get a better feel for his intentions.

 
    Tangled
     
    I dried off and took
inventory of the clothes that Ethan provided: a soft navy T-shirt and light
blue and orange plaid Polo boxers. Okay, someone definitely has a thing for
plaid . Unwilling to put my dirty panties and bra back on, I pulled on the
shirt and shorts and looked in the mirror. I couldn’t help but smile at how
ridiculous I looked in a shirt made for a man who was so much taller than me. I
knew I should be embarrassed that I was wearing a stranger’s boxers, but I was
so thankful for clean clothes that I couldn’t bring myself to care.
    Without a brush or hair
products to help me out, I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to work
through as many tangles as possible. Finally deciding it was a hopeless cause,
I left my waves alone to dry. I knew I wasn’t exactly looking my best, but at
least I was clean and smelling like apples instead of smoke and sweat.
    I hobbled into the
kitchen, taking in my surroundings as I went. The cabin was clean and somewhat
spartan. With low ceilings and rough wood floors, it was just as you would
expect. Exploring the rest of it, I realized there wasn’t much more to it than
the bedroom and bathroom I had already seen.
    On the far side of the
cozy living room was a wood door that I supposed was the front entrance. A
slightly worn-looking couch and chair sat facing pine shelves filled with
assorted books and games. Across from the living room, the kitchen flowed into
a dining area with a round wooden table and four chairs placed beneath a brass
chandelier. Beyond the table, a pair of sliding glass doors led to a large deck
outside.
    Apart from the
necessary essentials and a picture or two on the wall, the place seemed like it
was rarely used. The few pieces of furniture looked dated and the air felt
stale. Large windows let in natural light that filtered through the trees giving
the feeling of being part of the forest. Inside and outside met almost
seamlessly.
    I hadn’t realized how
hungry I was until I smelled breakfast. Ethan’s back was to me, and I took a
few moments to study him. Admiring the way his pale blue polo shirt hugged his
broad shoulders and obvious biceps, I wondered how often he found himself
cooking breakfast for a girl.
    When he turned around,
I saw his eyes quickly flick from the top of my head down to my bare toes and
back.