Breathless: A Firelight Novella (HarperTeen Impulse) by Sophie Jordan Page B

permanence to our relationship. I’m not going to see him after I return home. That’s impossible. If the pride knew …
    A door creaks open from somewhere in the back of the house and slams shut, the sound vibrating on the air.
    “Hey!” a feminine voice calls out. Footsteps ring out a moment before Hailey appears in the living room. She stops there, her expression clouding over as she takes in the three of us curled up on the big couch.
    “What are you doing here?” She nods at me and crosses her arms.
    The earlier warmth in my cheeks is a scalding burn now.
    Tate tenses beside me, but Anna smiles like nothing is wrong, reminding me that this is her best friend. “Hey, Hailey. Tate brought Az over so I could properly thank her for saving my life.”
    “Az.” Her lip curls back faintly from her teeth. “What kind of name is that anyway?”
    “I think I should go.” I hand the bowl of popcorn to Anna. She fumbles to keep it from spilling.
    “Oh, stay,” Anna insists as I rise to my feet.
    Tate’s hand falls on my arm. “You don’t have to go.”
    “She wants to go. Let her. Jeez.” Hailey shrugs. “What’s the big deal? You guys just met her.”
    “Hailey!” Anna looks at her like a disappointed parent. “She’s our guest.”
    “You mean she’s Tate’s guest, right?” Emotion glitters in her eyes.
    “That’s enough, Hailey,” he says softly, but his voice is no less commanding.
    “No, Tate. It’s not enough. How can you do this to me?”
    Tate slices a hand through the air. “I’m not doing anything to you , Hailey. When are you going to understand?”
    “How many times do I have to apologize for—”
    “This isn’t the right time, Hailey.” He flicks me a glance.
    I shake my head. Suddenly I feel like I’m trapped in a soap opera. Obviously Hailey feels like she has some sort of claim on Tate. Justified or not, I really should leave.
    I don’t look down at either Tate or Anna again—instead focus my gaze on the front door. “Thank you, but I really have to go.” I start moving.
    “Az, wait.”
    With one hand on the doorknob, I shoot a quick glimpse over my shoulder. Tate stands, but Hailey quickly blocks him. A roaring starts in my ears, preventing me from hearing her words. A relief. I already heard enough.
    I flee outside. Humiliation rides high in my chest. A deep, aching pressure. It isn’t until I’m halfway to the street that I realize I don’t have a ride home. But I won’t have any trouble finding my own way. Nothing will make me go back in that house.
    My feet pound the sidewalk, working quickly, hoping to put distance between me and Tate. Air saws hotly from lips. Emotion stings my eyes and I blink fiercely.
    It’s silly to feel this, to feel anything . I shouldn’t care about walking away from him. We should never have met to begin with.
    The traffic light blinks up ahead. My pace quickens. Once I reach it, I’ll turn and then be on the main street. That much closer to home.
    I’m caught in the bright glare of headlights. Sighing, expecting it to be Tate coming after me, I turn and hold a hand over my eyes, waiting, preparing myself to resist whatever apology he offers … and those eyes .
    The truck swerves dangerously close to the sidewalk and where I stand before jerking to a halt. Loud music spills from the double cab. I count the outline of three people inside the vehicle.
    The driver door swings open, nearly clipping me. I jump back a step as a boy unfolds his bulky frame out onto the sidewalk.
    “Hey, you again,” he slurs.
    In the light from the headlights, I recognize Brett from the pond last night.
    He staggers a step closer and I’m assailed by the fumes of alcohol. I recoil, pressing a hand to my nose.
    “What are you doing out here alone?” He glances around. “Tate lives around here. You coming from his place? What? He can’t drive you home like a gentleman?” He grasps my arm, his damp fingers slick on my skin. “Why don’t you come