Slow Agony (Assassins, #2)(22)

She rolled her eyes. “Silas is a manwhore.”

He shrugged. “Chicks dig the piercings. What can I say?”

I took another drink of my beer. “I think it takes time for Griffin to open up. When I first met him, he was kind of an ass. He didn’t talk much. But after we spent some time together, I realized that he was a really good guy.”

“That’s so sweet,” said Sloane. She looked at Silas. “Do you think Griffin still has feelings for Leigh?”

“Why are you asking me that? I have no idea.”

“Because you’re a guy,” she said.

“And I just explained that I don’t do that ‘feelings’ shit,” he said. He got up from the table. “Maybe when I’m like thirty or something and there’s nothing left for me to do but have kids.”

“You said that he seems sad when he talks about me,” I said. “Do you think it’s because he misses me or because he hates me?”

“I don’t know.” He picked up his beer. “When’s the pizza coming?”

“Soon,” said Sloane.

Silas loped out of the room, pausing in the doorway to look back at Sloane and me. “I like you a hell of a lot better than that prissy Daisy chick. I think Griffin does too if he’s honest with himself.”

*

Sloane appeared in my doorway. “Come with me. Now.”

I got up off my bed, where I’d been sprawled out with a trashy romance novel. “What?” I’d been staying with Sloane and Silas for nearly a week at this point and I’d yet to see Sloane look so excited.

“Come on.”

I followed her down the steps, into the foyer and around the corner. I could hear voices coming from the kitchen. They were both male, and one belonged to Silas.

Sloane stopped me. She put a finger to her lips. “Listen,” she whispered.

“She’s fine,” Silas was saying. “And honestly, it’s probably better if you don’t see her. You know how chicks get. You say one nice thing to them, and they think that you’ve suddenly promised to buy them a ring. You talk to her, it’ll only make things worse.”

“So, but what’s she doing?” said the other voice.

My eyes widened. Griffin. What was he doing here?

Sloane was grinning and bouncing on her toes in excitement.

“Doing? She’s not doing anything. She’s on house arrest. That’s what you said. Keep her out of sight until this thing blows over.”

“So she’s like staring at the walls?”

“No, she’s hanging out with Sloane and watching movies and shit,” said Silas. “The point is she’s fine. You’re feeling guilty because you dumped her here and didn’t keep her at your place, but I’m telling you, don’t feel that way. You’re done with her. So just go home and call up Daisy and f*ck the 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.