Slow Burn by V. J. Chambers Read Free Book Online Page A

he said. “If you didn’t in prison, the other guys would assume you didn’t want your food and take it.”
    I made a face. I kept forgetting everything he’d been through.
    He misinterpreted my face. “I’m teasing, doll. It’s delicious. But I do eat fast.”
    Maybe he did. I hadn’t watched him eat all that often. I’d been ordering take out and nibbling while I did my reading for class. I had noted that we never seemed to have leftovers.
    “You do like it?”
    “Yes,” he said.
    “So, you’re in a good mood?”
    He set down his fork on his plate. “I knew you had some ulterior motive for making this for me.”
    “No, it’s not like that,” I said. “Not exactly.”
    “So, what’s it like?”
    “I was just thinking that I might throw a little party tonight.”
    He set down the plate. “Party? Tonight? No way.”
    “Not a crazy, raging party,” I said. “A civilized party. I’m only inviting people I know from class. None of my friends from town. There will be wine and beer. No drugs.”
    He sighed. “You just don’t get it. Your life is in danger—”
    “No, I do,” I said. “I get it. That’s why this is different. For one thing, it’s here, in this apartment, and you can keep your eye on everyone who comes through the door. No surprises. And for another, it will be totally chill. It’s a celebration of me changing my ways and becoming a good girl.”
    He groaned. “I’m sorry, doll. You can’t do it.”
    “But I’ve already invited everyone.”
    “Then call them and tell them it’s off.”
    “I’m not doing that,” I said. I took a big bite of hash browns and chewed.
    “You have to.”
    I kept chewing.
    “I’m not budging on this,” he said.
    I swallowed. “Jesus, Griffin, don’t you ever have any fun? I mean, like a normal person?”
    He flinched. He looked away from me.
    Sensing I’d scored a point, I kept pushing. “I mean, have you ever even
been
to a party? How do you even know what they’re like?”
    He picked his plate back up. He took a bite of scrambled eggs.
    “Someday, you’re going to wake up,” I said. “And you’re going to be thirty years old. And someone’s going to ask you how you spend your twenties. And you’ll say—”
    “Okay,” he said. “Fine.”
    “Really?” I said.
    “Yeah,” he said. “You can have the party here. But no drugs. And if I decide that it’s over, at any point, I’m kicking people out. You got that?”
    I nodded. “Absolutely. You’ll see, Griffin. It’ll be really low key. I promise.”
    He glowered at his plate. “I’m kind of out of bacon here.”
    “I’ll get you more,” I said, leaping to my feet. “How many pieces do you want?”
    “How many are left?” he asked.
    I brought over the skillet. He took them all.
    “I really appreciate this,” I said to him.
    “Yeah, yeah.” He seemed very interested in his bacon.
    I threw my arms around him. “Thanks.”
    He stiffened. “Um, doll...” He turned his head. Our faces were inches from each other. “You’re welcome.” His voice was different. Deeper. Scratchier.
    * * *
    My art appreciation classmates encircled Griffin, hanging on every word he said. He kept trying to get away from them, but they followed him everywhere.
    He managed to shake them long enough to pull me aside. “How am I supposed to watch the door with those girls in my way?”
    I shrugged. “They think you’re interesting.”
    He rolled his eyes. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You’re trying to distract me.”
    “No!” I said. I turned away from him and raised my voice. “Let’s play some drinking games, everyone.”
    There were only about five guests at the party. We could easily play something all together in a group.
    “That will keep them occupied and off your back,” I said. “And I’ll be doing something with you, so you won’t be distracted.”
    He gave me his suspicious look, but he let it slide.
    Everyone gathered and squeezed onto my couch and