Read Burning for You (Blackwater) for Free Online Page A

Literally.”
    Gabe nods.  “That explains it.  I
know everyone in Blackwater.”
    “Apparently not everyone,” I say. 
His words give me a slightly weird feeling, but he laughs at my comment. 
“Well, it was nice meeting you-“
    “Wait,” Gabe says.  “I’m sorry if
we got off to a rough start, but I must have bumped into you for a reason.”  What
kind of reason would that be?  My thoughts drift to my earlier conversation
with Isabel about catalysts, but I dismiss it as soon as it enters my mind. 
Gabe is attractive, but at least I can breathe.  Gabe clears his throat.  “Are
you free for dinner tonight?”
    “Wait, what?” I say.  “Um, I mean,
sure, yeah, I guess so.”  A less than gracious acceptance, but so far
everything about Gabe has caught me off guard.
    “Great,” Gabe says.  “I look forward
to it.  Can I pick you up at your house at seven?”
    “Six is better,” I say.  “I need to
find a job in the morning.”
    “Six it is,” Gabe says, grinning. 
He is really handsome when he smiles, and I wonder if I should tell him I’m
still married, but hell, I decide to take things slowly and live a little. 
Maybe it’s time for some fun.  Gabe gives my shoulder a small squeeze.  “See
you then,” he says, and takes off running past me.
    My heart is pounding by the time I
reach the house again.  I ran three miles and it’s been a while since I’ve run
through the woods and not on nicely paved, flat sidewalks and roads.  The hills
posed a challenge, and my entire body is going to feel it tomorrow.
    My mother is home, but I don’t see
her when I get back.  Her car is in the garage, which is the way I come back in
since I don’t have a key.  Isabel gave me the entrance code before she left.  I
go straight to the fridge and get a glass of water for myself and chug the
whole thing down while standing in the middle of the kitchen. 
    “Oh, there you are,” I hear my
mother’s voice say behind me, making me choke on my glass of water.  “Where did
you go?”
    “For a run,” I tell her, still
coughing.  “It was nice to run through the woods again.”  She nods, not saying
anything.  I’ve always been a runner since high school, when I was on the track
team.  I’ve never been interested in any other team sports and enjoy the
solitude and the ability to be inside of my own head while running.  Heidi runs
too, but her reasons are more like a race to burn off a meal consisting of four
frozen grapes and a slice of bread.  “How was your lunch with Renee?”
    My mother smiles at me.  “Renee is
doing well.  She’s excited to be a grandmother soon.”  Her own ice blue eyes
narrow in my direction.  “It must be nice to be preparing for grandchildren.”
    “Eleanor is pregnant?” I blurt out,
choking on my water again.  “Is she married?”
    Another smile and a nod.  “She’s
married to Andrew Laurent.  You remember Andrew, don’t you?”
    I freeze.  How could I forget
Drew?  The night before I left Blackwater I gave myself to him by climbing over
his lap in the front seat of Betsey and taking him by surprise.  Drew and I had
dated since I was fifteen and he was seventeen.  I left Blackwater still
technically his girlfriend, but didn’t really ever say goodbye, and now he’s
married to my former best friend.  How cliché, I think.
    “Eleanor is due in two weeks,” my
mother continues, keeping an eye on me, while I try not to show any emotion. 
“She’s as big as a house, expecting a little boy.  She and Andrew have been
married for almost six years now.  They’ve been close as two coats of paint
since you-”
    “Since I left?” I say, unable to
let her keep going on.  “It’s okay Mother, I understand.  You take extra pains
to make sure I feel as unwelcome here as I possibly can.”
    “Leah, I never tried to – “ I cut
her off by walking out of the room.  I need to shower and get ready for my
impromptu date.  “Leah!” I