Read Online Rising from the Ashes by Jessica Prince - Free Book Online

to help me off the ground, but I batted his hand away and pushed myself up. I tried really hard not to flinch in pain when I put pressure on my right ankle.
    “I heard the radio and figured you were singing. I didn’t want to interrupt. I was really enjoying the show.”
    Okay, maybe I forgave him just a little for that comment. It was kind of sweet after all. But I was stubborn and didn’t want to let go of all my anger right away. “Yeah, well, knock next time,” I replied grumpily. I was totally embarrassed that he had caught me in all my glory.
    “Will you stop being so damn stubborn?” he harrumphed when I brushed off another attempt from him to help me up. “You’re clearly in pain. Just let me help you up already.”
    “Fine.”
    He reached for my elbow and gently pulled me all the way onto my feet. Then he carefully led me back to the couch. Once I was seated comfortably, he lifted my right foot, placed it on his lap, and started inspecting my ankle. For what, I had no clue.
    All I knew was that his fingers on my bare flesh made my entire body break out in goose bumps. The skin-on-skin contact felt so familiar, yet so painful at the same time. I wanted nothing more than to grab hold of his copper colored hair and kiss the breath out of both of us, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. He wasn’t mine anymore, and that thought caused me physical pain.
    “What are you even doing here? I told you that we were done talking.” I was trying to sound mad, but I knew I was coming off sounding more mournful than anything else.
    “Charlotte and I are done.”

Charlotte and I are done.
    I couldn’t have possibly heard that right. “Say what now?”
    “I broke up with Charlotte.”
    I had so many questions running through my head, but the one that was at the forefront was, “When?”
    “Just before I came over here.”
    Everything skidded to a halt. I went from wanting to throw myself at him to wanting to pummel him into the ground.
    “So you dumped your girlfriend and thought…what? That you could just drive by my house for a late-night booty call or something?”
    Jeremy’s head shot back like I’d just slapped him and he looked at me with confusion. “What? No!”
    “Well then, why else are you here, Jeremy? You think you can just end your current relationship and then jump into bed with me a minute later? There’s no reason for you to be here at ten o’clock at night unless it’s for sex!”
    “I never said that! You’re putting words in my mouth.”
    He tried to say more, but I was on a roll. “Well, let’s see, you accused me of banging my coworker earlier today, and then you turn up at my place in the middle of the night, informing me that you broke up with Charlotte. That’s all pretty convenient, don’t you think? What conclusion would you like me to come to? It’s obvious you think I’m a slut or else you wouldn’t be here!”
    “I don’t think you’re a slut, Savannah. Stop saying that.”
    His face was getting red with anger, but I was heated, and once that happened, there was no stopping me. “Well, let me tell you something, Jeremy Matthews. If you think you’re getting in my panties, you got another thing comin’.”
    “Woman, would you just shut the hell up for a second?” he hollered.
    Oh no, he didn’t!
    Commence the dramatic female neck rolling and hand waving in three, two, one…
    “You did not just tell me to shut the hell up! And just who the fuck do you think you are, calling me woman ? Talk to me like that one more time, and I’ll beat the ever-loving shit outta—”
    I didn’t get the chance to finish my statement before he shot up to stand. He bent at the waist, leaning in so that we were practically eye to eye. He was so close that he forced me farther back into the couch. I could smell the intoxicating scent that I’d grown to associate fully with Jeremy. It was a combination of fresh air and clean laundry with just the slightest hint of motor oil