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

my leg, almost sending me spilling onto the floor from my bed. Same unknown number. I chucked the phone onto my night table. It vibrated again. I snatched it back and pressed connect. “Hello?”
    “Layla?”
    “Yes!” A second later, the caller’s voice registered in my mind.
    “Why are you yelling at me?” Max asked. “And why didn’t you answer the phone before?”
    “Um … because I didn’t know it was your number? And I was asleep.”
    “You don’t sleep.”
    That used to be true. “I dozed off then. People generally don’t call me at …” I checked my clock. “Three-thirty in the morning.”
    “Right. Well, I’m out front. In front of your house.” He spoke in a rush.
    What? I peered out my window.
    “Are you still there?” He sounded anxious.
    “Yes, I’ll, um, come let you in … give me a minute.”
    I scrambled around, yanked my hair up, and ran to the front door and opened it, realizing too late that my old raggedy tank top and shorts were not the most appropriate thing for me to be wearing.
    Max stood under the white porch light, hair gently blowing across his face, his eyes bright as he grinned, his gaze roving up and down my body.
    I really wished he wouldn’t look at me that way.
    “Hey.”
    I tried very hard to picture him through my eleven-year-old eyes, a best friend’s eyes, but at eleven I’d thought he was the prettiest boy I’d ever seen. “Hey, uh … come in.” I stepped to the side and let him pass.
    He hesitated before walking by me, his head going every which way, as if surveying the living room.
    The light scent of gardenias hit my nose. I closed the door, breathing it in, realizing he hadn’t been to my house in years, and even then, if my memory served me right, it had been in secret.
    “Do you want to sit, or …” I motioned towards the couch.
    “Listen, Lay. What happened earlier … I don’t really know how to explain, but you’re safe …” He sounded like he was talking to himself. “Nothing else matters …” He ran his fingers through his hair.
    What’s he rambling on about? That made zero sense. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
    “I can’t. I wanted to make sure you were okay, which you are.” He turned back toward the front door.
    “It’s three-thirty in the morning.”
    He stopped.
    “Well, close to four now, and you’re standing in my living room. If you didn’t want to explain then, why are you here?”
    He turned back to me. “I told you. I came because I wanted to make sure you were okay. I was worried, all right?”
    “So, I’m not crazy. Did you check on Devon and Benny?”
    “No. And no.”
    “Why not? We were all in the parking lot. I mean, whatever that was …”
    He didn’t say anything for a few beats. “Layla—because the others weren’t in any danger. They weren’t affected like you were.” He stopped abruptly and put his hands up. “I can’t say anymore.”
    “Something came after me. Us. Me.” Again.
    “Yes.” He wouldn’t meet my gaze.
    “Yes? That’s it? All I get is, yes ?”
    “I can’t—I’m not supposed—you’ve forgotten who you are!”
    My shoulders tensed. “What are you talking about?” I shouted a little too loudly. If we woke my mom, that would have been the end of our conversation. “Who I am?”
    “Just trust me. That’s all I’m asking.”
    “I do trust you, Max, but this isn’t normal. It’s been almost six years! I’ve been slowly losing my mind in a very real way since you left.” The reality of what it meant to have him arguing with me was hard to let sink in. I forced myself to take a deep breath. “Tell me the truth.”
    “I’m trying to protect you. That’s it. It would be great if you’d let me.”
    “From what?” Chills ran up my spine.
    He exhaled, gazed into my eyes, and said, “I’m here for you,” in a low whisper. He leaned back against the front door as if all his energy had drained out and stared up toward the ceiling. “I’m back for