Page 18 of Rival
Looking toward the door before meeting his eyes, I ask, “Is he… Are you staying?”
“If you’ll have me.” He’s grinning as he pulls out a beer from the fridge, then makes himself comfortable at the kitchen table. Cracking the can open, he tilts his head toward the living room. “Don’t think he’s gonna be awake for dinner. He’s already half in the bag.”
I’m not sure what face I make, but Griffin’s smile melts away and his mouth turns down. I turn my back on him and focus on the pan in front of me. “I don’t mind at all if you stay. Did, uhh, did he say anything else?”
Griffin is quiet, so I glance at him to see if he heard me. He’s watching me curiously, and I force a smile before breaking eye contact. “Your dad. He normally like this during the week? Iknow we get a bit toasty on Sundays for the games, but he sorta seems like he’s been hittin’ it for a while today.”
Waving my wooden spoon at him, I shrug him off. It’s not my place to gossip about my father’s habits and he’d be furious if I said anything that might give someone a negative opinion of him.
“I don’t pay much attention to him having a drink now and then.” In an attempt to change the subject, I push toward a new topic. I need to establish now that I prefer spaghetti without sauce, so he doesn’t think anything of it. “You like spaghetti? My father loves the sauce part of it. It’s not anything special but tastes good enough. I tend to just do my pasta up with butter, garlic, and some parmesan cheese if we’ve got it lying around. Not that I don’t like the sauce, but I just like it better plain.”
Griffin is hesitant to fall into the new subject, then I hear the creak of his chair as he relaxes. “Who doesn’t like it? One of those comfort meals you can’t mess up. Want me to go set some food out for the cat while you’re workin’?”
Shoot.I need to go run over there tonight before it gets too dark.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’ll head out there before I go to bed. He’ll be fine for a bit. Would you like some garlic bread with this? I can pop some in the toaster just before this is done and mix up some garlic butter. It’s nothing fancy, but it’ll do the trick.” I know I’m rambling; it’s just I’ve never had anyone sitting in here while I cook unless it’s my father when he’s in a mood and feels the need to supervise.
“If you all are gonna have some, sure. Need a hand?” His voice comes from just behind me, and I can’t hide the way I jump again. I never heard him stand from his chair, but I’m not surprised. My heart is pounding from nerves of messing this up. “Sorry. Seems I keep startlin’ you.”
He moves to my side and leans his hip against the counter to watch me. I can’t look at him because he’ll see how anxious I’m feeling. Since the water is boiling now, I dump the pasta in and stir it for a moment while I get myself under control. Finally, I’m able to plaster on another smile and pick up the pan with the cooked meat. “I need to sneak past you to drain this.”
Griffin takes a step back, only so far to allow me space in front of the sink, but I can feel the heat of his body close. Carefully pouring the meat into a bowl in the sink so the grease doesn’t clog the drain, I will away goosebumps popping up on the back of my neck. I can feel his eyes on me, watching my every move.
“All done,” I whisper, then slide back to the stove and set the pan down, quickly pouring in the sauce and a few herbs to season. “If, uhh, if you want to sit back down, this’ll be ready in a few minutes. I can make up a plate for you and my father.”
“And you.”
My face heats again with how much conviction he laces his response with. “And me. Go on, sit.”
Griffin obeys without another word, and as I move around to drain the pasta and plate the meals, I catch him watching me closely from the corner of my eye. It’s unnerving, but I also feel a sense of pride for performing without incident, like I know exactly what I’m doing.
I set a full plate in front of him before grabbing a second plate with the garlic toast along with my doctored pasta. Poking my head into the living room, I see my father is fast asleep with his mouth hanging open. The only light comes from the TV, so I quietly shut the door and place a cover over his meal, then set it in the fridge. I’m sure he’ll find it when he eventually wakes and stumbles to his bedroom.
Grabbing a napkin from the table, I sit in the chair next to Griffin, then pick up my fork. “I hope it’s alright.”
He hasn’t said a word since I urged him to sit, but he nods toward me to show I should eat first. With his eyes on me, I spin my fork in my pasta, then take a small bite, aware that he’s watching my every move.
I blow out a soft gust of air when he finally picks up his fork to dig in.
Chapter Nine
Griffin
Walking into the darkened living room, I roll my eyes at Clayborn, snoring his ass off in his recliner. As I get closer, I can smell the stench of alcohol seeping from his skin and my nose wrinkles.
Originally, I planned on waking him nicely, but considering he’s drunk off his ass before it’s even dark out, I choose to kick his foot instead. “Hey fucker!”
Between the kick and my loud voice, he comes awake fast and swinging, spittle flying as he snarls, “What thefuckare you doin’, girl?”
I jerk my head back, moving out of the way of his fist. Holding my hands up, I attempt to ward him off. Before I even have a chance to say another word, he’s bellowing at me, his eyes completely unfocused.
“The fuck I tell you about the goddamn noise in here?” His words are slurred, barely coherent rumblings from both sleep and drink.
“Calm down, buddy. Jesus.” I take another few steps back, giving him room to put his feet down. Realizing it’s just me, he leans forward to rub his palms over his eyes, mumblingsomething, but again, it’s unintelligible. I look around for Corbin’s wallet, asking, “Can’t understand your drunk ass. I’m here for Corb’s wallet.”
“I said I thought you were Edith. His wallet is over there.” Clay lifts his chin to the entertainment table where the TV is set up.
I scoop it up, then cock my head at him. “You talk to your daughter like that? Come up swingin’ in your sleep?”
