Fighting the Flames Read Online Free PDF

ready to move on and join the living again. Is it because of Ryan?”
    That was another Lisa characteristic; she was a tad dramatic at times, not to mention highly intuitive. Jessie tossed a throw pillow at her sister and laughed. “You read too many romance novels.”
    “I’m serious, Jessie. Shithead did a real number on you, and you’ve never been the same. Even the guys you dated after shithead never seemed to make you happy.”
    Lisa’s probing gaze was uncomfortable. Jessie avoided it by unpacking more boxes. “Can we please drop this?” Jessie carried a pile of towels into the bathroom and stacked them in the closet. She returned and said, “How are things going with you and Mark?”
    Lisa’s face grew sad. “Our divorce is final. We barely speak to each other unless it’s about the kids.” Lisa sighed. “I don’t get it. We were happy. At least I thought we were. Mom thinks he’s having a mid-life crisis and will wake up in a month or two and come crawling back.”
    Jessie gave a sympathetic nod. She really didn’t know what to say or how to comfort her sister. Lisa and Mark were high school sweethearts who’d gone to college together and then gotten married right after. Less than a year later, they’d bought a house and had a baby. Jessie viewed their happiness as a sign that relationships could stand the test of time. When it fizzled, it reminded her once again of her need to embrace her independence and never become dependent on another man.
    Jessie put down the stack of plates she’d been holding and hugged her sister. “Men suck.”
    Lisa laughed. “Yeah, but I’ll admit part of me wants to wait and see if Mom’s right. But what if he starts dating? What if he has sex with another woman? I’m not sure I could get past that.”
    “It’s not easy, trust me.” Jessie knew firsthand how hard it is to forgive and forget an affair.
    “Yeah, I know.” Lisa wiped her eyes. “Hey, I’m starved. What do you say we take a break and go get some food?”
    Jessie scrunched up her face. “I don’t feel like going out. Can we order takeout? Mom gave me a couple bottles of wine as a housewarming gift. We can pop ‘em open and bitch about how rotten men are.”
    Lisa nodded her head and laughed. “Now that sounds like a fun evening.”
    There was a phone book and a stack of menus from local restaurants on the kitchen table, thanks to Jim. Jessie flipped through them in search of a restaurant with delivery. She called and placed an order for way more fried food than the two of them could possibly eat, and then cranked up the radio. She and Lisa continued to unpack as they waited for their food. Jessie was glad her sister had shown up. It was nice having her around. It had been a long time since the two of them had just hung out and talked. Forty minutes and one full bottle of wine later, their food arrived.
    Lisa plucked a mozzarella stick from the Styrofoam container and took a bite, a trail of cheese oozing from her mouth to the stick. “Omigod, this is so good,” she said around a mouthful of food.
    Jessie laughed and opened the container with the chili cheese fries. They looked sinful but smelled heavenly. She chewed and swallowed a few fries before asking, “Want me to open another bottle of wine?”
    “Might as well. It’s not like either of us is going anywhere tonight.”
    Nodding, Jessie went to the kitchen and grabbed the bottle. She brought it into the living room and refilled their glasses. “It’s a good thing I don’t have to get up and go to work tomorrow.”
    “Yeah, no kidding. I’ll probably be hung over for a week.” Lisa laughed.
    “Me too.” Jessie wasn’t much of a drinker anymore. She’d learned the hard way that she made poor decisions when she was drunk, so she’d been conscious of how much she drank and with whom.
    “Oh!” Lisa said, her eyes widening and a smile pulling at her mouth. “I got it!”
    “Got what?”
    “I don’t know why I didn’t see