Read Online Playing with Fire by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online

is supposed to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings three times a week. It's part of his recovery program. Also, he's supposed to meet with his mentor, a guy named Casey, who has called our house at least once a day during the past week, but as far as I know, they haven't gotten together once.
    “Why not?”
    “Well, at first Zach told us he just needed a break from all that. He said after three months and so many meetings and group counseling sessions and therapy and stuff, he was just tired of it.”
    “That's understandable.”
    “Maybe, but what if he doesn't go at all?”
    “So he's had his week off. Maybe your mom can put some pressure on him to get back into the routine now.”
    “Yeah…maybe…but she's kind of distracted with Steven too.”
    “They're still dating?”
    “Yeah. That's another part of the problem.”
    “What?”
    “Zach doesn't really like Steven.”
    “Oh.”
    “I mean, I have to give Zach some credit. He hasn't let my mom know how he feels. But he has told me that he thinks Steven is a fake.”
    “A fake?”
    “Yeah. That's what I said too.”
    “What does Zach mean?”
    “He thinks Steven is pretending to be something he's not. He thinks he's some kind of con man and that he's going to take advantage of Mom somehow.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Pretty weird, huh?”
    “So what do you think about Steven?”
    “Well, I told you how I was sort of suspicious of him at first. He's younger than Mom, and I wondered why a guy who has never been married, drives a cool car, makes good money…well, you know, why would he be interested in an older woman, especially one with two kids? Okay, nearly grown kids. But still I wondered…at least at first anyway.”
    “But your mom's a pretty cool lady,” says Olivia. “She'ssmart and good looking, especially after that makeover. Why wouldn't he like her?”
    “I know. And after getting to know Steven a little better, I've begun to like him. And I can see that he really is good for my mom. He treats her well, and she seems happier having him in her life.”
    “You'd think Zach would appreciate that.”
    “You'd think, but I'm starting to wonder if Zach is jealous.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Yeah, I think he might've gotten the idea that he would come home and be the man of the house and take care of things. And then he finds out Mom's already got a man. Or sort of. I mean, it's not like they're serious or anything. But you know. It's like Zach's role has been taken.”
    “So does Zach know what he wants to do now that he's back?”
    “Mom keeps encouraging him to register for classes at the community college. She thought he could still get in for spring term. But he keeps making excuses. He says he'd rather work for a while.”
    “Nothing wrong with that,” Olivia says as we get out of the car.
    “No, but it's not like he's been looking for a job either.”
    “Well, it's only been a week. Maybe he just needed some time to chill, you know, after getting out of the cooler.” She laugh at her joke, then looks sorry. “Not that he was in prison exactly. But after the way he described the place, I'm guessing it might've felt like that sometimes.”
    I nod as I sling the strap of my bag over my shoulder. “You're probably right.” And part of me really does believe that's it. Zach just needed a break. Now that he's had aweek off, he'll probably get back on track, and everything will be fine.
    Garrett and I have been in something of a standoff this week. I mean, we're still lab partners and everything, but our conversation has been a little stilted. At first I thought it was me chilling him out since I was irked that he refused to take that drug test. But then it seemed like he was the one giving me the cold shoulder.
    “So are you going to be mad at me forever?” he finally asks as we sit across the table staring blankly at each other before chem class starts.
    “I'm not mad.”
    He rolls his eyes.
    “Okay, I just don't know why you wouldn't