Read Online Playing with Fire by Emily Blake - Free Book Online

said, sounding kind of hollow.
    â€œRight,” Zoey agreed without getting up. “Catch you tomorrow?”
    Alison grabbed her bag off the counter and slung it over her shoulder. “I guess,” she said softly. She turned and left the kitchen, making her way through the living room on the way to the door. As Alison passed a shelf full of crystal collectibles, Zoey saw her pick up a small glass elephant figurine and slip it into her pocket.
    Zoey had all but forgotten about Alison’s little habit. She considered busting her on it but decided not to. She couldn’t care less about the trinket—probably left by some Debbie—and if Zoey was going to repay Alison in full, she needed her trust.
    As soon as the front door closed, Tom turned to Zoey.
    Here we go , Zoey thought. A lecture from Mister Good Guy. But before Tom could say anything, a voice called out from the den.
    â€œZoey, I need to see you for a minute,” DA Dad announced. Zoey blew her hair out of her eyes as she strolled casually into the den. What now?
    Sitting behind his giant mahogany desk, her dad looked kind of…small. Zoey was appreciating that little fact when he opened his mouth and told her another fact that she didn’t appreciate at all.
    â€œI’ve hired a tutor for you,” he said flatly, eyeing her over the top of his half-rim reading glasses. Zoey started to protest. He raised his hand to stop her.
    â€œObjection overruled,” he said before she’dsaid a word. “You will see a tutor twice a week until further notice. I will not allow my daughter’s delinquency to destroy my reputation. The media would have a field day if they knew what you did. I’m running for Congress—so you’d better shape up.”
    Zoey’s eyes narrowed as she watched her father flip through some papers on his desk. I’d like to shape you up , Zoey thought. But she knew there was no use in arguing. Her father was a criminal prosecutor who never lost. Ever. And he had just handed down his verdict. Case closed.

Chapter Sixteen
    Chad flipped open his geometry textbook. He stared at the figures and tried to ignore the sounds of his shouting parents downstairs. They were going at it…again. It seemed like all they did was fight.
    As he turned the page and tried to focus, a folded piece of pink paper slipped into his lap. Unfolding it, Chad got a whiff of Kelly’s perfume and smiled. She smelled almost as good as she looked.
Chad,
    Hope you’re having a great night. I miss you!
    xoxoxoxo,
    Kelly
    P.S. Wear your red collared shirt tomorrow. It’s so cute on you.
    Chad’s heart raced. He wondered if his red shirt—a gift from Alison, actually—was clean. He hated the word cute , but somehow when Kelly used it he didn’t mind. Chad refolded the paper, tossed it onto his desk, and wondered when Kelly had slipped it into his book. Between classes? In the car? There hadn’t been much time on the ride home, since Kelly had spent most of it arguing with her aunt. And then Chad had asked to be dropped off at the mall because he “forgot” something. What he forgot was that if Kelly got an eyeful of where he actually lived she’d drop him off permanently. What had he been thinking? He couldn’t get a ride home from Christine. Ever.
    Chad shuddered, considering the fallout he’d narrowly avoided. He had to be careful not to let his guard down. Kelly was not like Alison. She would ditch him in a second if she found out he wasn’t rich. Not that Alison knew Chad’s secret, either.
    A loud knock interrupted Chad’s thoughts and made him jump. A slightly darker, just as curly head appeared in the door frame. Then all of Dustin slouched in—unshaven, as usual, and looking kind of wired. “Hey, little bro’,” he said, scanning the top of Chad’s dresser. Chad sniffed. Dustin was looking for money. And he’d come to the wrong