Read Online TIED (A Fire Born Novel) by Laney McMann - Free Book Online

I did shoot daggers at Benny, though.
    She shrugged. “Sorry, Lay. I had to tell him.”
    “Dr. Jessup said she needs to rest, but she’s fine otherwise,” Max said and extended his hand toward Devon. “I’m Max.”
    “Benny told me. I’ve seen you at the shop. You’re Layla’s long lost friend, or something?” He shook Max’s hand and let go.
    A mocking smile spread across Max’s face. “Something like that.”
    I frowned at Devon. “Max and I were best friends when we were younger.” Max glanced at me, eyebrows raised. “We’re still best friends.” He followed that with a smirk toward Devon, who shot him a cold stare.
    “Weird that you never mentioned him.”
    “Well, thank goodness you’re okay, Layla,” Benny said, breaking the growing tension. “You’re overdoing it. You need to stay off your feet. Take a while off from rehearsal …” She drifted into an endless ranting lecture of do’s and don’ts, and I ignored her, heading back outside to the parking lot.
    Devon and Max took position on either side of me, Devon wrapping our fingers together while Max walked ahead a few steps. Benny’s rambles continued behind me, the cry of crickets overwhelming her words, as the warm humid evening enveloped us.
    Max stopped and swung out his arm. Before I could stop, I bumped into it, and Devon’s hand slipped from mine.
    A harsh chill overtook the night. Black ice spread over the pavement like clawed fingers beneath my feet. Spider-webbed crystals grew across my bare skin, covering everything in a dense frozen veil of bitter burning frost. Cold air seeped into my chest, freezing my breath, and shadowed silhouettes of abnormal shapes moved in the darkness, weaving through the parked cars, their forms coming in and out of focus under the yellowed streetlights.
    My labored, rasping breath sucked in air and terror spread through my chest, securing me like glue into the frozen pavement.
    As Max’s arm slipped away, my only touchtone to reality, the veil of cold lifted and hot air flooded through the parking lot like a river overflowing its banks. Heat coursed through my body in quick steady pulses, replacing the aching frost.
    Heaves of uneven breaths brushed my cheek, arms crushed around my waist, a beating heart pounded against the back of my shoulder, and the spiciness of gardenias swept in.
    The moon shone above, and I stood alone.
    “What was that?” My voice trembled.
    “What was what? Why are you just standing there?” Benny called over her shoulder.
    Max tugged my elbow. “Let’s go.”
    “Layla? Aren’t you riding with me?” Devon stood in the parking lot, hands held out, seeming exasperated.
    What the hell? “Um …” The words dying in my throat, I gestured toward my destroyed car.
    “Right.” He walked forward, posture stiff, jaw set. “Benny told me about your car. You probably shouldn’t be driving it. We’ll get it later, or your mom can call a tow truck and have it hauled to the junkyard.” He reached for me.
    “Her house is on my way,” Max said, interrupting Devon. “I’ll drive her home.”
    “How do you get home then?” Devon glared.
    Max grinned, tilting his head to the side. “I’ll walk.”
    “Enough.f” I yelled at no one in particular, feeling like the rope in the middle of a game of tug of war. “Max can drive me to his house, and I’ll drive myself from there.”
    Devon turned and stomped off without another word.
    Great.
    “Call me in the morning, Lay.” Benny drove by, shouting out her window. “Get some sleep!”
    Max sat in the driver’s seat waiting as I climbed in my car. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re dating that guy?”
    “Are you seriously asking me that? After what just happened? What in the hell is going on, Max?” I shut my eyes, too scared to say another word, worried if I opened my mouth again, a flood of questions would come pouring out like a faucet.
    He touched my shoulder. “Look at me.”
    I didn’t. My