“Isn’t it? That’s why I’ve sat on it all.”
“Tell me more, tell me more.”
She laughed at the way Cassidy was singing those words.
“I’m going to blend things now. I should add he’s a protector.”
“Obviously with the way he’s saving you.”
She hadn’t even told her friend about being cradled in Clay’s arms on Saturday. She’d keep that embarrassment to herself.
“He noticed the scratches and dent in my SUV weeks ago. He asked about it.”
Cassidy flinched. “And you told him about Fredrick?”
“I did. I was so embarrassed over my actions, but he did his version of a laugh. He said he gave me an A for creativity.”
“That’s good he wasn’t put off.”
“I don’t know if he’d show it if he was. But he agreed Fredrick was continuing it. I told him I didn’t think Fredrick did the damage to my car and why. Not sure if Clay believed that, but I found out he looked into Fredrick too.”
“What do you mean looked into him?”
“He was in the Navy. Did special missions or something. I didn’t ask a lot and I think that is part of why he’s home and so hard about life. But he pulled open his laptop and he was just typing in it to look up Lana on Sunday and said he’d done it to Fredrick.”
“Why Lana?”
“Because I got a nasty letter on Saturday. Not signed but calling me names, saying I’d get what was coming to me. I ruined their life. It wasn’t signed. I thought it was Fredrick since there was mention in there of a date he and I had. He swears it wasn’t him and is positive Lana sent it. Guess the two of them split.”
“I need to hear that and why Lana is blaming you,” Cassidy said.
She explained it as quickly as she could. She’d rather talk more about Clay.
“So that’s part of it. I didn’t tell you why I was there on Sunday. I’d showered at his house before the wedding onSaturday. I’d gotten hot and sweaty setting up and he told me to go to his house to clean up. He lives on the property.”
“Okay. Odd, but not really if you’ve known each other.”
“It was odd,” she said. “But not horribly. In my rush I left my dirty clothes there and had to go back to get them.”
“Got it,” Cassidy said. “And you told him about the letter? Were you nervous about it?”
“Not really. It just came up. I’m over that. I want to talk about our kiss.”
“Yes!” Cassidy said, putting her fist in the air. “Now is the juicy stuff.”
“It wasn’t just one kiss, but several. At first he seemed to brush them off. As if it didn’t affect him the same as me. I know it did, but he’s much more controlled than I am.”
“Are you going to be okay with that? You’re used to saying and acting what comes to you. Not in a horrible way.”
“Fredrick would think otherwise with what I did to his stuff.”
“Who cares about him? I’m past it now. I want to know more about Clay.”
“There isn’t much more than what I said. We shared a few kisses. He let me pick some apples and I told him I’d give him muffins. He had errands in town on Sunday and stopped to get them. I thought it was to see me again, but he’s taking this dent in my car and that letter more seriously than me and walked around checking all my locks.”
“Yikes.”
“I know. I’m not terrified. Should I be? It’s just a letter. And I’m positive my car wasn’t them and just kids. Karl told me he’d asked around and a few people had things stolen out of their cars recently in the complex. There was nothing in my car. I bet it’s kids.”
