The Hidden (Heartfire) Read Online Free

clutched my phone, willing her to answer it. We'd been exchanging texts all day. It had all started this morning when I got her text.
    'You win'
    I knew what it meant. I knew she was going to be mine, fully and completely. I knew, but I had to make sure. I needed to hear it. I'd written back immediately, sleep still heavy in my eyes.
    'Does that mean what I think it means? You'll be my girlfriend for real? Don't tease me Kaylia'
    She'd written back one word.
    'Yes'
    The heavy chains of the dream fell away. I felt free. Kaylia was mine.
    My face felt warm as I thought of all the things that entailed. Touching her. Kissing her. Sex.
    Lots and lots of sex.
    Lord knows I was pent up enough.
    Oh yeah, I had ideas. I was going to treat her so good, I'd make her forget all about the rough stuff she'd been through. Losing her mom. The hardships of growing up poor. I'd make it all go away.
    I'd keep her safe.
    But most of all, I'd keep her close.
    That created a problem though. I couldn't bring her here, and she had a roommate. I wasn't sure Kaylia would go with me to a hotel or not. She might feel uncomfortable doing that, or worry about the money.
    Then inspiration struck.
    We didn't have a game this weekend.
    That meant I could take her away somewhere. Just the two of us. To cement our relationship.
    I closed my eyes, imagining a whole weekend to be with her. It wasn't just the sex I was looking forward to. I just wanted to be near her. To pamper her.
    To wake up with her in my arms.
    I texted her back.
    'I need to see you tonight. Meet me after your shift.'
    'Okay. I get off at 9.'
    'Good. I cant wait to kiss you Kaylia.'
    Her reply made me laugh.
    'I hope you like the smell of french fries.'
    I hadn't missed a beat. I was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning when I wrote back.
    'I love french fries.'
    And I love you.
    I didn't say it. But it was there, in everything I did. I loved her.
    I would tell her this weekend.
    I went online and started looking for places to go.
    The day flew by. I was spaced out in classes. The first time I wasn't thinking about my plans for the weekend was on the field at practice, and that's because I was slamming into things.
    After, in the showers, I realized what had been different last night in the dream. It was in the back of my mind all day, but I'd been distracted by more pleasant thoughts.
    I'd been chained to the table again, the metal somehow tearing into me as I changed. The other had laughed at me, hiding in the shadows. It was hell, torture, until I saw her.  
    Kaylia had been there.

Kaylia
    ≣

    I tossed my apron into the basket by the kitchen door. It had been a long shift and I was hot and sweaty. I wasn't psyched about how I looked but there wasn't much I could do about it.
    I shook my head and thought about it. Maybe I should make an effort to be less grungy. Tonight was kind of a big deal. And Dylan had mentioned something about kissing...
    That did it.
    I grabbed my bag and ducked into the tiny employee bathroom with the flickering light.
    I splashed cold water on my face and applied a thin layer on lipgloss. I combed my hair and spritzed myself with vanilla body spray- a new gift from Charise. I looked at myself in the dingy mirror and shrugged.
    That was the best I could do.
    Dylan was outside, waiting. I knew it without a doubt. Techincally he'd already been waiting. For almost three hours at this point. He hadn't come until the second half of meal time. He'd gotten his tray and gone straight to my station. Then he'd just sat in the back, watching me.
    It was a little disconcerting.
    But also kinda sweet.
    I stepped outside and blinked in the darkness. There was a bright light over the trash and recycling but there were shadows everywhere else. It was after 9 pm and most of the staff were still inside eating their free meal that came with the shift. I had skipped it, though usually it was one of the best meals I had all week.
    Almost as good as Gran's home cooking.
    I didn't