Page 2 of Secondhand Secrets

“Ooo, look!” Emilia nudged Ally’s arm. “He’s talking to Sarah.”

Of course he was.

Ally did her best to maintain her new vow of maturity and not roll her eyes, especially as Sarah Overton jumped from her seat and hugged the new guy—a peculiar gesture given the woman’s general stoicism.

What was her connection to the dreamy newcomer? Definitely not romantic. Not since Dean Holloway stood beside her, a man who’d flatly rejected Ally not all that long ago.

Think positive. The connection with Sarah only puts Mr. Dreamy even more off my radar.

Though she averted her gaze, Mr. Dreamy’s warm laugh sailed the distance to her ears, and an unwanted heat flooded her body, her heart giving a taut pang as a hush washed over the crowd.

“I think Dean’s proposing.” Emilia’s voice barely filtered through. Ally’s senses disrupted as her heart kicked again, all eyes turned to Sarah.

Or more so, Sarah and Dean.

Dean knelt on one knee.

“But they’ve only known each other three months”—the hard lump in her throat turned her voice into an incredulous rasp, and her head did a slow and unintended shake—“and he spent half that time lying about his sketchy past.”

Which he’d spent time in jail for, after the truth came out…

Emilia’s reply wasn’t forthcoming, so Ally turned to her friend, the woman’s sidelong glare fixed on her—narrowed eyes and tight lipped. Oh, that’s right!

Emilia had been with Blaine just a month when he’d proposed.

“Oh, you and Blaine don’t count.” Ally swatted a hand and refocused on Sarah’s gape-mouthed expression. “You two had history long before you got back together.”

Emilia gave a reluctant growl, prodding at Ally’s guilt. “Yeah, well. Just like the rest of us, Dean didn’t have much say on his past. So, maybe it’s time to cut him a little slack?”

Ally didn’t reply, the tension in her throat drawing tighter. Emilia’s comment pointed at the fact that Ally had lived a sheltered life and had only just come to learn she had a problem with relating to others.

Yet another reason to stay chained to this little town.

That said, she wasn’t low enough to outright discount a man like Dean—raised in a dysfunctional home, then abandoned to foster care—a life of crime and misfortune unfolding thereafter.

Heck, she didn’t even care so much that he’d picked Sarah, either. Those two made more sense together. What she didn’t love was that Sarah had been her best friend. A best friend who’d hidden her relationship with Dean while allowing Ally to make a fool of herself.

Silly girl, too bright-eyed and immature for the truth…

As if Sarah—and everyone else, for that matter—figured they knew what went through her head.

The crowd burst into cheers again, awakening her to her wandering thoughts and the inevitable fact that Sarah had said, “Yes.”

The Harlow High School Marching Band flooded the field—trumpets blaring, drums like thunder—followed by a small troupe of cheerleaders.

“Just perfect.” Ally pressed her fingertips to her eyes, giving them a short break from the Sarah and Dean show, only to then lower her hands and lock stares with Mr. Dreamy.

Of course. Of course that would happen. The lousy timing fit, just as his easy smile did, as well as the thrill of recognition shooting up her spine.

Why did he even smile at her? And why did he seem so suddenly familiar?

That’s not familiarity. It’s hot-blooded attraction.

Jeez Louise, girl. Run. Just run.

Oh no, don’t start that again.

Art. Dreams. Travel. Financial freedom…

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