“Listen, it’s okay. I just don’t feel like driving back to Lincoln. You can go out. I’ll make myself at home—”
“I don’t have a date, Lauren.”
“But that fellow Joe—”
“Asked me out and I refused. He wanted to go camping. Overnight. I didn’t have equipment, and I’m not keen on camping, and I’m even less keen on Joe.”
“How do you know? You’ve just met the guy.”
“Exactly. Have you ever heard of camping overnight for a first date?”
Lauren shrugged. “Might have been interesting.”
“Maybe for you and Matt. No, chalk that.” Beth grunted. “Matt might have left you stranded in the woods while he raced off to scale some nearby peak. How could he simply abandon you this way, Lauren? I still can’t believe it.”
Lauren kept her voice calm. “He has his own life.”
“But he’s barged his way into yours—”
“He didn’t barge his way in anywhere.”
“Okay, then he wormed his way in. He’s made himself nearly indispensable—”
“He hasnot.I can do just fine without him.”
“Mmm. That’s why you can’t bear the thought of going home.”
Lauren’s gaze lowered to the scrap of fabric she was fraying. “It’s not that. But after last night I feel … uncomfortable.” She’d told Beth earlier about the episode near the garage. “It’s still too fresh in my mind.”
“Matt wasn’t around then, either. Why do men do this, Lauren? Why aren’t they around when you need them?”
“It’s not a question of need,” Lauren rationalized. “I’m independent. I can take care of myself.”
“You should go to the police. I think what you’re facing is more than even Matt can handle. Why is he so vehement against it?”
“He has good reasons. He may be right.”
“Maybe his reasons aren’t so noble.”
Lauren tensed. “What do you mean?”
“It’s occurred to me that much of what’s happened to you has been since Matt showed up.”
“That’s not true! Three of those incidents happened before he ever got here!”
“No,” Beth returned, determined to make her point. “If my memory’s correct, three of those incidents happened within mere days of his first introducing himself to you. He said he was here in Boston on business. For all you know, he was here in the city that very first time, when the car just missed you on Newbury Street.”
“I’m not sure I like what you’re implying.”
“I’m not sure I do, either, but it may be worth considering.”
“Absolutely not! What could Matt possibly have to do with those incidents? What reason could he have to wish me harm?”
“Maybe something to do with Brad?”
“That’s impossible. Don’t even think it, Beth. It’s out of the question.”
No more was said about it, but Beth had accomplished her objective. Lauren fought it. She told herself that Beth was either playing the game she played so well or simply jealous. Lauren closed her mind to it while she and Beth walked over Beacon Hill to Beth’s apartment, where they shared a congenial dinner and evening. Later that night, though, while Lauren lay quietly on the sofa bed trying to fall asleep, unwanted thoughts flitted in fragments through her mind.
