Free Into the Fire by Ashelyn Drake

temperature’s been under control today, but I can’t risk a scene at school. “Can you go to the falls later?”
    “Can’t. Doctor’s appointment. Maybe tomorrow, though. See ya.”
    I don’t feel like asking Nick and Rob to go if Rachel won’t be there. Looks like I’m going to have to cancel on Logan, and the only way I know to get ahold of him is through Linette. Yeah, if he has any feelings for me, they’re going to disappear when I blow him off for the third time via his housekeeper.
    The day passes in a blur, and I’m actually happy when the final bell rings and I get to go home. Jeremy’s been working so hard to remember things. I’m eager to see the progress he’s made.
    I drive home and pull up next to Linette’s car. She and Jeremy are shooting hoops in the driveway. “This looks like fun,” I say, stepping out of the car.
    “Linette thought I deserved a reward for remembering so much today.”
    I don’t get too excited, because I know he means remembering what he’s learned. He hasn’t actually recovered any memories. “That’s great, Jer, but what if people see you out here?”
    Linette nods toward the house. “She’s right. School’s out now. You should get back inside.”
    “Ugh, I can’t take being cooped up anymore.” He bangs the basketball against his head as he walks inside.
    Linette snatches the ball away as we follow him into the house. “You’re going to scramble your brain doing that.”
    “Good. Maybe I’ll jog a memory in the process.” He goes inside and flops on the couch in front of the TV. I’m tempted to tell him watching mindless shows isn’t going to help, but he probably needs a break. His head must be reeling with information by now.
    “So when do you think he’ll be ready to go out with other people?” I want him to meet Logan. That can’t be too risky. He’s never met him, so he doesn’t have to worry about remembering anything.
    Linette holds her hands up, not wanting to get in the middle of this. “That’s up to your mom.”
    “Thanks for your help today,” I say, giving her a hug.
    “No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jeremy,” she calls into the living room. He waves over his head without a word. Never seen him do that before. Linette grabs her purse and heads for the door. “Tomorrow’s your last day, right?”
    “Yeah, we should be okay on our own after that.” One more day of school, and then I’m free for the summer. My last summer in this lifetime.
    Linette pauses before she leaves. “You feeling okay? The beginning stages are the worst. They’ll get more manageable, though. The closer you get to your rebirth, the more you’ll be able to control the heat you give off.”
    Emotion wells up inside me. I can’t control it, can’t keep it down. “Linette, I burned Logan yesterday,” I blurt out. “I didn’t mean to. I dropped my phone, and we both reached for it.”
    “That explains why he was so hot-tempered when he got home. He called his father and said he wanted to spend the summer in New York with a friend.”
    “I have to get a hold on this heat thing. I don’t want Logan hating this place because of me, because I’m the freak who can’t touch people without causing them bodily harm.
    “I don’t think he dislikes Ashlan Falls because of you. Just the opposite, actually.”
    “What do you mean?”
    She leans closer and raises an eyebrow. “I heard him talking on his cell yesterday. He called some friend back in New York. They were talking like typical hormonal teenage boys.” She rolls her eyes. “Let me tell you, that’s one part of spying that I don’t like: overhearing things my ears shouldn’t hear at my age.”
    “What did he say?” She’s killing me here!
    “That boy has the hots for you.”
    “Nobody says ‘has the hots for you’ anymore.” I laugh, but inside I’m screaming, “Logan likes me!”
    Linette shrugs. “I can’t keep up with you kids. I’ve lived too many lives to even