Eternal Heat (Firework Girls #3) Read Online Free Page B

“but we can’t afford it.” What the hell? I’ve already bared my soul by playing in front of him, I might as well show him the rest too.
    “Oh,” he says awkwardly. “Sorry.”
    We stop by the gate. For the first time, I’m aware of the differences not just between our homes but between, probably, us. Here’s this boy in his prep school uniform (which I’d managed to kind of forget about until now) and I’m in my ratty-but-oh-so-comfortable cut-offs and he’s had years of private lessons while my parents can’t even afford one.
    “You don’t need to be sorry,” I say. “It is what it is. But they’re really supportive and helped get the school to agree to let me use their piano before and after school.”
    He smiles and nods. “That’s cool.” I examine him for signs of pity, but find none.
    “Well,” he says shrugging, “you could always come here too.”
    I blink at him. He grins at me nervously.
    “If you want,” he says.
    The appeal of his invitation swells inside me like a bloom opening on a rose. Yes, I would like that very much, and not just because of the piano. But could I really? I don’t even know this boy. Does he really mean it, or is he just being polite?
    I absently pull one of my braids in front of me and play with the end, a nervous habit my mom likes to correct me about. “I don’t want to intrude,” I say.
    “Nah, it’d be cool.”
    I smile tentatively.
    “It’d be nice,” he adds.
    I grin. “Well, okay. Maybe.”
    He smiles and my heart really lets loose this time. He’s cute and sweet and can play the piano like the devil. Oh yeah. I could crush on this boy hard.
    “Good,” he says, smiling. I turn to let myself through the gate. Rather than closing it between us, he steps out onto the green. “Tomorrow?”
    I smile. I hesitate. Finally I say, “Okay.”
    “Cool,” he says. “See you tomorrow, Ashley.”
    My heart hasn’t slowed one bit. “Okay. Bye, Erik.”
    We give each other shy waves goodbye and I head back for the Greenbelt. Halfway there I look back. He’s gone, but still, I wait until I’m back on the path and truly out of sight before I give a little skip and clasp my hands to my chest. I can’t wait for tomorrow.

Chapter 3
     
    Friday of that week, Erik and I are sitting cross-legged on the floor of his living room, sheet music from the bookcase in haphazard stacks around us. I did go back on Tuesday, and have been back every day this week. I already feel like we’ve been friends for months instead of just a few days.
    I still haven’t met his parents, since I have to be home well before they tend to walk in the door. His dad is a high-end lawyer and his mom is the CFO of a cosmetics company with locations in five different states. Erik told me half the time they’re not even home for dinner.
    I did finally tell my parents about my new friend, mainly so I could stay longer without arousing suspicion, but I didn’t mention that we’re here alone. Even though Erik and I haven’t so much as kissed, my dad would go ballistic if he knew I was alone with a boy like this. (That’s the reason my mom and I decided not to tell my dad when Bernie Shepherd kissed me after Prom last year. Bernie and I never really turned into much, so there was no reason to freak my dad out about anything.)
    Besides, me being here is kinda sorta innocent, if you don’t count the way Erik makes my heart flutter when I’m with him or the fantasizing I do about him when I’m not.
    Every day I’ve returned, he’s already been changed out of his school uniform. Today, he’s wearing jeans and a plain, black tee that makes him look extra hot. I’m wearing my favorite stonewashed jeans and a flowy peasant top. “This is a good one,” Erik says, holding up the little booklet of sheet music so I can see the title.
    It’s a classical piece by Chopin, but I’m not familiar with it. I take it from him and open it up so I can look over the measures. As I go, I can hear