Inflame (Explosive) Read Free Page B

that. What kind of guy did do that.
    “I saw him earlier today. He misses you and he’s worried. You need to stop avoiding him.”
    Looking up, I can see her watching me intently, waiting for my reaction. “You saw him? What’d he say? Was he fine? Did he mention me?” My cheeks flush when I realize I’m asking way too many questions, and I reel myself back in. I’ve hidden my feelings for Kale for too long to let them surface now, and of all people, I don’t need so-newly-in-love-the-sun-shines-out-of-her-ass Charlie to figure them out.
    “Slow down, killer. I saw him at the gym, and he was distracted as hell when we were sparring. He may have mentioned that you’ve been avoiding him, and I put two and two together. Lucy, what are you thinking?”
    “I have no idea. I’m thinking that I don’t know what to think. I know I can’t avoid him much longer, but I’m still just trying to wrap my head around it.” I simply shrug, because it’s the truth.
    I know I’m going to keep the baby, and Kale’s going to want to be a father. I’ve seen the way he is with kids, especially with Lily, his goddaughter whom he adores. He’s a natural, and the thought of when we first met brings a smile to my face.
    “What’s that grin about?” Charlie asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
    “Nothing. Just thinking.”
    She looks at me disbelievingly but doesn’t push it. “Have you told your mom?” she asks, knowing that Mom and I have a pretty close relationship.
    Shaking my head, I look at Charlie. “What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, Mom. Just calling to check in. Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant. No, I’m not dating the father. We were just engaged in some weird casual-fling type relationship, but for what it’s worth, he’s one of my best friends. That makes it okay, right? No? Yeah, I didn’t think so.’ Seriously, Charlie, you know about my family. She’s going to freak out.” I know that I’m right.
    I’m that girl with the overdone sob story. I was an ‘oops’ baby and my daddy never wanted me. But being as stupid as he was, he married my mom, thinking that was the best thing to do. He was miserable, and he blamed her for having me and never let me forget it. So my having an ‘oops’ baby? Yeah, she’s going to flip her shit.
    “Well, when you put it that way, I can see why you haven’t told her. I’m sure it’ll be fine. She loves you, and Kale’s nothing like your dad. She’ll love him.” She pauses, wrinkling her forehead. “Wait a minute. I thought Kale came to visit you when you were back home this summer?”
    I can feel the blush creep over my face as I remember the Fourth of July weekend we spent on the beach. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks, and looking back, I know I was missing the hell out of him. I think he felt the same, because we’d barely gotten in that hotel door before he pressed me up against the wall, slid his hands under my dress, and ripped my panties off.
    Charlie snaps, and I look at her, knowing my blush has to be deepening. “How the hell do you know about that?” I ask, going on the defensive rather than giving her the down and dirty details.
    “Jace mentioned it a while back at the gym, but Kale wouldn’t elaborate on it. I figured it was a secret between you two, so I never brought it up. But, Jesus, Luce. Think about it. That guy driving down to Florida to spend the weekend with you screams a little bit more than casual to me.”
    I shrug it off, not really wanting to talk about the emotional side of my relationship with Kale. “It was no big deal. Really. He had some time off and I had the weekend away from the restaurant. It was just good timing,” I tell her, knowing I sound less than convincing.
    “What about your mom? How’d you go an entire weekend not introducing them?” she asks, being pushy as ever.
    “He got a hotel for the weekend so we didn’t have to deal with the questions, and well, there’s no way Mom would’ve let us stay in the same