The Snow Garden by Unknown Author Read Free Book Online

didn’t get taken up into the fold. But everyone else here? They’re like Stepford Child freaks mainlining all that bullshit they tried to feed us during Orientation.”
         “April says I use Randall to avoid making new friends,” Kathryn said .carefully, reminding herself whom she was talking to. She left out April’s other point—that she used Randall to avoid finding a boyfriend as well. ,
         “I don’t know,” Jesse said, his tone nonchalant. “We’ve only been here, what? Two months? It’s like the two of you have taken vows or something.”
         She was reminded of Tim’s “finger-pricking, blood-sharing” comment.
         “So who’s he dating, anyway?” Jesse asked.
         “Randall? No one.”
         “That’s weird. What happened to the reporter guy?”
         “That’s over,” Kathryn said.
         Jesse’s eyes narrowed on her.
         “What?” she asked.
         “It’s just that he’s been staying out really late.”
         “No, he hasn’t.” Kathryn hated the hint of anger in her voice.
         “He comes back with you and then leaves again.”
         “Maybe he’s going to the bathroom.”
         “For three hours? That’s impressive. Even if he’s jerking off. And he knows I don’t have a problem with him jerking off in the room.”
         Kathryn’s mouth opened to protest, but suddenly the brunette had slid between them, perma-smile plastered on her face, pupils dilated. Kathryn was sure the girl was high, and she watched as the brunette leaned into Jesse and whispered into his ear, then withdrew, laughing slightly, but Jesse’s face had gone blank. Kathryn was startled to see him cup the girl’s chin in one hand and gently push her face back several inches, surveying her.
         “What?” the girl asked.
         Jesse reached up and swabbed at her nostrils with one finger.
         “What are you doing?” the girl cried.
         Jesse returned his attention to his 7 Up as the girl’s eyes moved from him to Kathryn. She surveyed Kathryn as if she were a beauty pageant contestant. Kathryn stared back, as if one of the girl’s breasts had squeezed its way out of her V-neck. “Asshole!” the girl barked over one shoulder, stalking to the front door. Jesse didn’t look up from his glass.
         “High as a kite,” Kathryn finally said.
         Jesse’s eyes shot to hers. “You have experience?”
         “Not me. I had friends in high school whose entire weekend was an eight ball,” she said flatly, praying he wouldn’t ask about them. Kerry, Michelle, Debbie, Jono. Somehow, thinking of all their names at once kept her memory from summoning a single face.
         “But you never touched the stuff?”
         “Never,” Kathryn answered, warning him off the subject with her tone.
         Randall sidled up between them to the bar. “Huh?” he asked as he looked from Jesse to her. He bent over the bar, summoning Teddy, his chosen bartender, who enjoyed Randall’s flirtatiousness because it meant big tips. “Can I get an apple martini?”
         “Randall,” Kathryn began. “Someday you’re going to introduce me to a homosexual who can drink something that doesn’t glow in candlelight.”
         “Wait!” Jesse piped up. He grabbed one of Randall’s shoulders and turned him, cupped his chin, and examined his eyes.
         “Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” Randall asked, his words clipped by Jesse’s grasp.
         “He’s clean," Jesse said to Kathryn with a broad grin.
         Teddy delivered Randall’s drink as Randall fished his money clip from one pocket and peeled off a twenty. Randall dangled the bill over the bar, Teddy puckered his lips and Randall extended the money in one hand. As Kathryn expected, Teddy didn’t ask for ID. Randall turned his back on Jesse and leaned in. “What was that about?” he asked Kathryn, voice low.
         “Inside joke. You’re on the