The Complete Burn for Burn Trilogy: Burn for Burn; Fire With Fire; Ashes to Ashes Read Free Page B

hopping down from the counter. “Besides, this is winter white.” I swat at her butt with my hairbrush. “Hurry up and get in the shower.”
    “Do I have time to curl my hair before Rennie gets here?” she asks me.
    “No,” I say, closing the door behind me. “Five minutes.”
    Back in my room I start filling my brown saddlebag with my school things, like I’m on autopilot. My new pen and the leather planner my mom got me as a back-to-school gift. Lollies. Cherry ChapStick. I try to think if I’m forgetting something,but nothing comes to mind, so I grab my white espadrilles and head down the stairs.
    My mom is in the kitchen, wearing her robe and drinking an espresso. My dad bought her one of those fancy espresso machines for Christmas, and she makes a point of using it at least once a week, even though she prefers tea, and even though my dad is hardly ever at home to see her use it. He’s a doctor, the kind who does research. For as long as I can remember, he’s been working on some new drug to cure cancer. He spends part of the month working at a lab in Boston, and he gets sent all over the world to present his findings. He was on the cover of some science journal this summer. I forget the name of it.
    Gesturing to the plate of muffins, my mom says, “Sit down and eat before you go, Lilli. I got those sugary ones you love.”
    “Rennie will be here any minute,” I say. When I see the disappointed look on my mom’s face, I take a muffin and wrap it in a napkin. “I’ll eat it in the car.”
    Touching my hair, she says, “I can’t believe you’re a senior in high school. One more year and you’ll be away at college. My pretty girl is grown-up.”
    I look away. I guess I am grown-up now.
    “At least I still have my baby. Is Nadi getting ready?”
    I nod.
    “You have to look out for Nadi now that you’re at the same school. You know how she looks up to you, Lilli.” My mom squeezes my arm, and I swallow hard. I do have to look out for Nadia better. Not like how I did on Saturday night, when I left her at Alex’s party. She was with her friends, but still.
    I should have stayed.
    Rennie’s horn honks outside, and I stand up. “Nadia!” I yell. “Rennie’s here!”
    “Just one more minute!” Nadia shrieks back.
    I hug my mom and head for the garage door.
    “Take a muffin for Rennie,” she calls out as I close the door behind me. Rennie wouldn’t eat it anyway. She goes off carbs at the start of every cheerleading season. She only lasts about a month before she gives in, though.
    In the garage I slip on my espadrilles, and then I walk down the driveway to Rennie’s Jeep.
    “Nadia’s right behind me,” I say, climbing inside.
    Rennie leans over and hugs me good morning. Hug her back, I tell myself. And I do.
    “Your skin looks awesome against the white,” she says, eyeing me up and down. “I wish I could get as tan as you.”
    Rennie’s wearing tight jeans and an even tighter lacy scoop neck top, with a nude cami underneath. She’s so tiny, I can see her rib cage. I don’t think she’s wearing a bra. She doesn’t have to. She’s got a gymnast’s body.
    “You’re pretty tan too,” I say, clicking my seat belt.
    “Bronzer, baby.” She puts on her sunglasses and starts talking a mile a minute. “So here’s what I’m thinking for the next party. It came to me in a dream last night. The theme will be . . . Are you ready for this? The roaring twenties! The girls could wear flapper costumes with, like, a feather headpiece, and long beaded necklaces, and then the boys could wear zoot suits and fedoras. Hot, right?”
    “I don’t know,” I say, looking out the window. Rennie’s talking so fast and so much, it’s making my head pound. “The guys might not be into it. Where are they supposed to find that stuff on the island?”
    “Hello, it’s called the Internet!” Rennie taps her fingers on the steering wheel. “What’s taking Nadia so long? I want to get there before