Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
But somehow, I wasn’t disappointed that I had.
The barbecue was fun. Somehow, since I knew that there was that secret meeting later that night, I’d expected the men to be all mysterious and somber, maybe trading secret handshakes or wearing dark cloaks. But no, they looked like normal college guys hanging out on a patio and manning the grill.
I wasn’t the only woman there, either, even though the numbers were skewed. Matt’s girlfriend came, and one of the other officers had a woman with him. I enjoyed chatting briefly with Matt’s girl, but after that, they sat down at one of the patio tables, laughing, drinking, and talking, while I was put in charge of drinks.
And as I well knew, these guys could really drink.
They kept me busy, fetching beers from the fridge, popping the caps off, delivering them to guests and then whisking the empty bottles away.
When Grant, Bennett and a blond guy I hadn’t met deemed the grill hot enough to put the meat on, Ian joined me in the kitchen. It was time to make the signature drinks. “Do you remember how?” he asked.
“Yep.”
I had all the ingredients ready on the counter, but I’d forgotten the secret ingredient that was out by the bar. He went to get that while I laid out red plastic cups on the counter. “That’s too many,” he said, counting quickly.
“No, I think it’s right—”
“Only members get this drink, remember?”
“Oh yeah.”
He grinned at the expression on my face. “You might think it’s silly, but traditions are important in Greek life. And this is one of the tamer ones, so I’m happy to follow it.”
“All right.”
He poured the vodka in each cup, and I followed with the white grape juice. Then a splash of the secret ingredient—which could’ve been battery acid for all I knew. Then the tonic water. Then I loaded up a tray and took the first batch out.
I was worried that things might get a little awkward, but the other woman had evidently been told not to expect a cup. Once all the members had one, I backed away as Bennett got up to speak. I’d heard enough of his speeches.
I figured it was safe to come out once everyone had said cheers. Over by the grill, Grant caught my eye, and I figured he knew why I’d ducked into the kitchen. He lifted his glass, a little toast just for me, but then he brought it down too quickly, and it splashed on his shirt. “Crap,” he muttered. “Be right back.” Drink in hand, he went back inside.
I was able to relax and enjoy the evening air as people laughed and talked at the tables. Grant had returned, and the barbecue crew did their thing. Soon, the night air smelled amazing. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had steak.
The guys at the grill were in their element, and I remembered Theo’s caveman theory and I grinned. Then Grant waved me over. “Go get some platters for us to put the steaks on. Oh, and a towel, too.”
I complied, returning in a moment holding the three heavy platters with both hands, the towel slung over my arm.
Grant pointed to a rack on the side of the grill, but when I set the heavy platters down, I must’ve leaned too far forward. The top platter slid forward, right toward the grill. Shit. I tried to grab it, inconveniently forgetting that it wasn’t smart to reach into an open flame. As I jerked my hand back, the towel slid down my wrist, falling into the pit of the grill.
There must’ve been some grease on it or something, because it didn’t start smoldering, it burst into flames. I felt like I was watching it in slow motion. The towel turned black as the flames spread. Most of the battered cloth sank down into the depths of the grill, but part separated as the flames overtook it. I watched as it floated through the air like ash, the edge of it still burning. It flew a few feet and then fell gently onto a table, the people sitting there scrambling back.
It landed on a pile of paper napkins, and they went up in flames, too. As people began scrambling away, I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed the cup next to Grant, turned, and through the contents on the flame.
“Hailey, no, that’s alcohol!” Theo shouted, and Ian jumped to his feet, dashing over and pushing me out of the way. Shouts filled the air, and I braced for the alcohol to make the fire ten times worse, but nothing happened. The beverage had extinguished the flames leaving just a small stream of smoke rising from the burnt napkins.
Ian let go of me, and I started shaking, thinking about what could have happened. Everyone had grown quiet, and I was afraid to look up and see the accusatory eyes. But then I realized they weren’t looking at me. They were looking at Grant.