Free Into the Fire by Ashelyn Drake Page B

swim there every morning.”
    “Mom said sometimes you’re more like a fish than a bird.”
    I nod. “She might be right about that.” I pull up and see Logan sitting on the ledge by the lagoon. That gives me a little time to fill Jeremy in. “Okay, so there’s a new guy in town. Logan. You’ve never met, so you don’t need to worry about being around him.”
    “Whoa, wait a second.” Jeremy reaches for my arm. “Did you bring me here so you could go on a date?”
    “I’m not dating Logan.” I can’t keep this in. I have to tell someone. If Jeremy was his old self, I would’ve told him by now. “Jer, do you still know about imprinting?”
    “Yeah, I remember.”
    “Okay, well, you have to swear you won’t repeat this.”
    “Who am I going to tell?”
    I park the car and cut the engine. “Mom. She can’t know. Not yet, maybe not ever.”
    “I don’t think I want to—” His eyes rise, finding Logan. “You imprinted on the new guy?”
    “Yes. It’s not as bad as it sounds though.” Who am I kidding? It’s awful. I can’t stay away from him.
    “You know you won’t remember him, right? I can’t even remember you and Mom.”
    My throat closes, and I can’t talk. Every time he says that, it hurts as much as when he looked at me with no recognition in his eyes right after his rebirth. “You never imprinted on anyone before your rebirth. We don’t know that a bond like this isn’t strong enough to stand up to—”
    He takes my hand in his and holds it up between us. “ This wasn’t strong enough. You break down when I don’t remember things we shared. We have the same blood, Cara. You and this new guy have… what?”
    “I imprinted on him. That has to mean something. The pull I feel toward him is so strong.”
    “But it’s one-sided.”
    “I thought so too, at first, but now I’m not sure. Linette said she overheard Logan talking to a friend. He likes me, Jer. He barely knows me, yet he’s already told me things I doubt he’s told his friends.”
    “You’re putting a lot of faith in guesses.” He shakes his head. “My whole life feels like one big guess right now, and it’s not fun.” He sighs. “I may not remember how close we used to be, but I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. And I can tell you that losing your memories like this, seeing the disappointment and heartbreak on the faces of the people who you know love you… it’s the worst kind of bad.”
    “Believe me, I want to end this. I want to break the imprint, but I don’t know how. I don’t even know if it’s possible.” I grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. “I tell myself I’m not going to see him anymore. I’m going to fight this pull, but then his face pops into my head.” I release the steering wheel and gaze out the window. Logan is standing on the ledge now, shrugging at me and smiling. It’s such a weird combination, but that’s him. He’s a walking contradiction, and I love it. “I can’t shake him. He’s in my head, and for better or worse, he’s in my heart now, too.”

Chapter Ten
     
    Logan
     
    Why won’t she get out of the car? And who’s the guy with her? Boyfriend? It would explain her weird behavior around me, but what about the way she looks at me? I swim to the shore. Even if she’s got a guy already, it’s not like she’s married. Fair game in my mind.
    She gets out and so does he. He’s tall—taller than me. Damn. He’s got reddish-blond hair, almost like Cara’s. Please be her brother. “Hey.” I grab my towel and walk over to her.
    “Hey, Logan.” She turns to the other guy. “This is my brother, Jeremy. Jeremy, this is Logan.”
    I can’t stop the goofy grin spreading across my face. “Hey, Jeremy. Nice to meet you.” I reach for his hand.
    He looks at Cara, who nods, and he gives my hand a quick shake. Strange. “Hey” is all he says.
    “So, I take it you’re feeling better? Mono can be a bitch. I had it about two years ago.