She waved her pink weapon to prove her innocence and hoped Lucas had made it to the parking lot without anyone seeing. She thought she’d noticed Erin looking in that direction.
Had she seen something? Could she smell beer onSarah’s clothes? Sarah hadn’t been the only one to bring a six-pack to the Friday night outdoor dance.
“You ready to head back to the B and B?” her dad asked, focused only on her.
And for the moment, she had to appreciate how oblivious he could be even if it meant he didn’t always pay much attention to her.
“Sure, Daddy.” That was half the reason she’d come to this little town after all. Lucas had been a fun side benefit. It wasn’t all about running away from Brandon’s letters. She wanted to hang out with her dad. “I’ve got my car parked over there.”
She pointed behind the playground to the spots along the street.
“I’m this way.” He gestured in the opposite direction. “You’re leaving now though, right?”
“Yes,” she lied, hoping she’d have time for a real good night with Lucas first. She wanted to go to sleep with a fantastic memory in her head. Or maybe she would ask him if he could sneak out later in case she had trouble sleeping.
“I’m parked where Sarah is, too,” Erin chimed in, stepping away from her father. “I’ll walk with you.”
Sarah hoped her disappointment didn’t show. It took her a second to think how to respond. “Sure!” she finally replied way too brightly. She sounded like a giant doofus. “That’d be great. See you, Dad!”
Turning, she headed for her. She wished she hadn’t been so hasty, though, because she heard their low voices behind her, and realized Erin was saying something to her father for his ears only. And it looked really…private. Something squeezed in Sarah’s chest. She’d been bitching at him to move on with life, right?
Why the hell did it hurt to see the way he looked at a consignment shop owner they’d never see again after the Tennessee episodes were filmed? Folding her arms, she stared at Erin as the woman walked toward her. She’d had Goth hair just a few days ago. How old did that make her? Young.
“Are you okay, Sarah?” Erin reached her and looked her up and down. Even in the dark, her pale eyes seemed to see everything. “You’ve got wood chips in your hair.” She pulled out a few and paused as she pushed Sarah’s hair behind her shoulder. “And a love bite on your neck.”
“What?” Sarah’s hand went to the spot, recalling how good it had felt when Lucas had kissed her there. “What are you talking about?”
Her face burned. But she hadn’t done a damn thing wrong!
Erin’s eyes narrowed. “I think I’m talking about the boy who I saw sneaking out from under the slide a minute after you came out of there.”
Sarah prepped her defense—wounded innocence was a good one—except Erin was no longer there to see her expression of shocked disbelief. She was already heading for the row of cars where they’d both parked. Hurrying to catch up, Sarah waved goodbye to a few new friends from earlier that evening. She couldn’t remember their names.
“We were just fooling around. Nothing major,” Sarah explained when she reached Erin’s side, matching her stride for stride. Now that they stood so close, she realized she was actually a little taller than Erin. Which was funny because Erin seemed bigger. “But that doesn’t mean I want to throw it in my dad’s face that I’m making out with some dude I only just met.”
“Perfectly understandable.” Erin reached the street andturned to face her as they stood under a big iron lamppost. “But I thought I’d heard something about that kid not having the best reputation. Have you been drinking?”
Resentment flared. Where did she get off asking her that?
“No,” Sarah lied, hoping she didn’t sound as pissed off as she felt. “We were kissing, not drinking.”
Erin nodded slowly. “Fine. Just making sure you’re okay to drive.”
She wasn’t sure if she was grateful to be let off the hook or disappointed that she’d fooled yet another grown-up into thinking she was fine. Capable. Strong.
“Perfectly.” She pulled her car key out of her skirt pocket. “And I’ll be careful around Lucas. People can change, you know. Maybe he’s grown out of his bad stage.”
Erin’s smile lifted one side of her mouth and not the other. “Some guys never do. But for his sake and yours, I hope you’re right about him.”
The kind words touched her and some of the resentment she’d felt early melted away as they stood in the rapidly cooling spring night.
“Me, too. Let me know if you need any more help with the clothing drive.” She didn’t know why she offered. Hanging out with Erin was bound to be a bad idea. Except that she’d at least be able to monitor the developing situation between this woman and her father. “My dad isn’t putting me to work as much I would have liked.”
Or maybe she just wanted to stay on Erin’s good side. Keep your friends close and enemies closer, and all that. Though she wasn’t sure what category to put Erin in yet.
“Are you free next Wednesday?” Erin reached down to her boot and unzipped a side compartment in the leather.She pulled out a key. “I’m doing a drive in The Strand salon just down the street from my store. Customers get a free basic manicure if they donate three items.”
Sarah turned on her phone. “Did you put it on Instagram?”
