Read Online Slow Burn by Nicole Christie - Free Book Online Page A

four,” she finally answers me.  She pushes her dark hair away from her face, and stares down at the table.  “Guess what you forgot to do last night?”
    “Lock the door?  Feed the dog?”
    “We don’t have a dog.”  She smirks.  “The laundry…?”
    I stare at her blankly for a second.  Then...  “Oh, crap!  I forgot to move the clothes to the dryer!”
    Mom waves her hand dismissively.  “It’s okay, I took care of it.  I ran it through the wash again.  It’s drying right now.  When it’s done…”
    “I know.  I’ll put it away before I go,” I promise her.  “Hey, did you see what I left you in the fridge?”
    “The clam chowder?  Yes, I had some early this morning.  It was fantastic.”  She gives me a tired smile.  “Thank you.  I think I’ ll go have a shower now.”
    I watch her wearily climb to her feet, using the chair to brace herself.  “Okay, Mom.”
    “Oh, what are you going to do about Sleeping Beauty out there?” she asks before she goes.
    “Absolutely nothing.”
    When she’s gone, I let my head fall back onto the table.  It comes back up a second later when I suddenly remember something.  My gaze shoots to the wall Johnny’s fist left that big old dent in yesterday.
    It’s fixed!
    I jump up and rush over to inspect it.  He must’ve patched it, then painted that whole wall last night—you can tell, since it’s brighter and whiter than the other walls in the kitchen.  It still smells like paint in here—that’s what I was smelling!  How did Mom not notice?  When did he do this?  Last night, obviously.  He just broke in, and did a little home improvement while I cried myself to sleep.
    My heart tries to melt, just a little.  Then my brain reminds it of Johnny and that girl in the laundry room.  Way to go, Brain.
    Stupid spin cycle.
     
     
    ******
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    Once the laundry’s done, I fold it and put it away.  I can’t help but glance out the window to see if Johnny’s still there.  He’s not, and his truck is gone.  I’m relieved, and also slightly disappointed.  Shaking my head, I head upstairs to my room to get ready to spend the night at my dad’s. 
    I forgot to text Heather!  She’s going to be pissed.  While I pack my bag, I call her up and fill her in on all the drama she missed.
    Why did I wait so long to call her?  Her profanity-laced rant against Laundry Room Girl, Johnny—and guys in general—brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. 
    “Oh, my god, Jule,” Heather says, after she finally takes a breath.  “I never told you this before, but—I know people.  People who can make accidents happen.  Know what I mean?”
    “No, I don’t.”  I switch her to speaker phone, and start rifling through my drawers for a sleep shirt.  “ And how do you know these people?”
    “My uncle—Josiah?  I don’t know if you ’ve ever met him.  He works for these guys, and…anyway, I could call him.  Johnny can kiss his NFL career goodbye,” she says seriously.
    “What?  No.  Don’t call anybody.”  I let out an incredulous laugh.  “It’s done, we’re over.  I don’t want revenge, I just want to get over him.”
    “Mm-hmm,” Heather hums wisely.  “You know, they say the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody new.”
    “Yeah, I think that would be about the worst thing I could do,” I say wryly, pushing my hair back.  “I think I’m go ing to give up boys for a while—maybe forever.”
    “Aw!  I always knew you’d make a great lesbian!”
    “Thanks.  Look, I have to go.  Call you later, okay?”
    “Yeah, you’d better.”
    Shaking my head, I hang up with her.  I scoop up my backpack and a jacket and after a quick goodbye to Mom, I’m running out the front door.
    And tripping over something on the porch.   I land on my face, of course.
    “Ouch.”
    Rolling over painfully, I sit up to see what could have made me fall.  My eyes land on the huge