Free Slow Agony by V. J. Chambers Page B

shit out of her.”
    Griffin laughed. “That’s what you’d do.”
    “Hell, yeah.”
    “Look, all I want to do is say hello for a minute. Make sure she’s okay. And then I’m gone.”
    “Why are you pushing this?” said Silas. “Did you break up with your girlfriend or something?”
    Griffin didn’t answer.
    “Oh my God,” said Silas. “You broke up with your girlfriend?”
    “It was sort of mutual,” said Griffin. “She wasn’t much of a girlfriend anyway.”
    “Well, yeah,” said Silas. “That’s true. I’m glad you said it and not me. But she was really, uh, you know, not the kind of girl I see you with.”
    “What kind of girl do you see me with?”
    “Actually,” said Silas, “you know what your problem is, Griffin? You limit yourself too much. You don’t have to be with any one kind of girl. You can be with every kind of girl. Why don’t you come out with me tonight and find some stupid, sexy coed to take home and treat like crap? That’ll make you feel better.”
    Sloane’s eyes got big. She charged into the kitchen. “Don’t you dare do any such thing, Silas.”
    “What, are you eavesdropping on my conversations?” said Silas. “What’s your problem?”
    “Griffin should not be out taking home random sluts,” said Sloane. “He obviously wants Leigh back.”
    “Um,” said Griffin, “I only came over to check on her. I didn’t say anything like that.”
    “But it’s obvious,” said Sloane.
    “No,” he said. “I only want to make sure she’s okay.”
    I walked into the kitchen. “I’m fine.”
    Griffin raised his eyebrows. “Leigh. You were eavesdropping too?”
    I avoided his eyes.
    “Don’t be mad at her,” said Sloane. “I made her do it.”
    “So, you’re okay?” Griffin said to me.
    “Yeah,” I said.
    “Well, that was the only reason I was here.” He shuffled out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you in a week when this is all over.”
    We heard the door shut after him.
    Sloane punched Silas in the arm. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
    “Ouch,” he said. “Don’t hit me. You’re a lot stronger than you think you are.” He rubbed his arm.
    “You tried to get Griffin to go out and hook up with random girls? Why would you do that?”
    “I was only trying to get him to have fun,” said Silas.
    “What about Leigh?” asked Sloane.
    Silas looked at me. “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay,” I said. “Griffin wouldn’t do that anyway.”
    “If Griffin wants to make up with Leigh, he will,” Silas told Sloane. “It doesn’t matter what I do. I can’t control him.” He started out of the room, but he stopped in front of me. “I just want you to know that what I said was nothing personal. I happen to think you’re great.” Then he left the kitchen.
    Sloane took a deep breath. “Well, it could have gone better, I guess.”
    “Nothing happened,” I said.
    “Are you kidding? First we found out that Griffin’s thinking about you and worried about you enough to come check on you. Then we found out he broke up with his girlfriend. These are all very good signs, Leigh.”
    I had to smile. “You’re right. They are good signs.”
    “He wants you back. That’s all there is to it.”
    “I don’t know,” I said. “What Silas said is true. If he wanted me back, he’d do something about it. And he isn’t doing anything.”
    “Sure he is,” she said. “Be patient.”
    “I don’t know how patient I can be,” I said. “After the two weeks is up, I don’t know what happens. That could be the end. Griffin thinks the guy will give up after that.”
    Sloane raised her eyebrows. “Give up? That’s his plan? To sit here and wait and hope that the guy gives up?”
    “Um, as far as I know,” I said.
    “That’s the worst plan ever.” She tore out of the kitchen. I heard the front door open and her voice as she called after Griffin.
    * * *
    “He gave you a meeting place?” said Silas. We were all in the kitchen, sitting around the table