Page 47 of Ignite

“Says the guy who didn’t have car insurance?”

I scoffed, my anger rising. Ethan’s,no,wasn’t just rejecting my friends and the bushfire brigade, he was rejecting my family. If Ethan had cared enough about me to ask about my family, he would have known I would take his rejection personally.

My father had given his life, for and to the brigade. My father’s life had been dedicated to selflessly serving others. That’s why the team treated me with kid gloves and banished my ex, Darin, when he’d screwed around. Because my father had given his life, and I had dedicated my life—to the town and to the bushfire unit.

Small towns were family. And my Meringa family looked after its own. A tightness gripped my chest as I understood everything Ethan and I could have been was about to end. I couldn’t accept a man in my life who wouldn’t share my values.

“You don’t mean that,” I tried not to plead while stroking his muscular thigh and feeling how he was already coming to life. I wasn’t going to give up without a fight, but he had to give me hope that he would change his mind. “Just think about it, talk to Reece or the guys.”

“Rylee, no.” He pushed my hand away, his voice firm and not inviting discussion. “I don’t need to talk to Reece, and quite frankly, he’s gotta stop trying to talk me around. I’m not gonna sign up. I’m not gonna volunteer. I’m a footballer, not a fireman.”

“But …”

“As for Reece Sinclair, he needs to remember he’s the captain of the fire brigade, and when it comes to the football team, he’s just another player.

“But …” What could I say to change his mind?

This had been a mistake.

Yes, I’d been hurting and had purposely gone out last night to push self-destruct.

Today, of all days, I needed to feel close to daddy.

I couldn’t do this. Not even if last night had been the closest I’d ever felt to another person, even Darin. Darin and I had grown up together and our engagement had been almost preordained. I had been hurt and embarrassed at the way he ended things, but now I realized he had done me a favor.

Ethan. Ethan could have been the love of my life—if he wasn’t a stubborn, selfish mule of a man.

I spun out of bed and stripped off the borrowed t-shirt before tossing it back at Ethan. I’d have to do the walk of shame in my clothes from last night until I could buy something to get me back to Meringa. I splashed water on my face, grateful that my soft brown eyes showed no trace of last night’s drinking, and my long brown hair could pass with nothing more than finger brushing.

Damn my poor judgment in men, again. At least I could get Ethan out of my life as quickly as I could leave his bed. Fixing his ute would now be my priority with a minimum viable product delivered as soon as humanly possible. I didn’t bother looking at him as I raced out of his hotel room.

If he tried to stop me, I didn’t hear or heed.

Only when I got to the privacy of my work truck that I’d been using since writing off my car, did I check my phone for messages. I’d be better off reading and answering them now, rather than be ambushed when I got back to town.

Darin:Just checking in. Thinking of you today. Don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance but send cash.

Big Bad Brother:Today’s fucked. Wanna get all fucked up tonight?

Sonia:Sorry for bailing last night. See you at the pub?

Felicity:Dropped a casserole off at your place. Used your spare key. Thinking of you.

Felicity:If you need company, text or call.

Reece:The boys will be out in force. We’ll never forget him.

Korbin:Hang in there little sis.

Korbin:You’ll always be our little sis.

Brody:XOXO

Brody:You know we love you. Taking your brother out to get wasted but I’ll dump his ass if you need mine.

Korbin:Ignore Brody. He matched your brother bottle for bottle last night and is refusing coffee.

I could only imagine the two biggest man-whores drinking and comparing stories. It was a wonder the world hadn’t combusted but at least Korbin would keep them … what was I thinking? If I relied on Korbin to be the voice of morals and reason, the world had gone insane.

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