Page 100 of Kept in the Dark

Though Sara was still hurt by Genevieve’s choice to stay silent about David’s abuse, she couldn’t stay angry at the woman. Truthfully, she simply didn’t have the energy to hold on to that rage. So, she forgave the woman who had taken care of her as a little girl. Sara loved her too much to hate her.

The four of them finished their pedicures and headed to the pizzeria in town. Sara was hesitant to walk into the doors of the restaurant, uncomfortable knowing Nicole had been the one to rip her family apart, but the girls had wanted pizza. So, Sara pushed aside her angst, and Genevieve placed their order while Sara, Trinity, and Cecilia found a booth to sit at, Gavin following behind.

He held her hand under the table and this time, Sara didn’t pull away. It felt strange having feelings for someone after all this time. And it was laughable that it was her sister’s ex. Not to mention the fact that Sara hadn't much cared for him when they were teenagers.

“Sara,” Genevieve said as she nodded toward the front door, her brow raised.

Immediately, Sara tensed. Chase Renner stood in the doorway. The anger that had been there earlier had dissipated and was replaced with the calmness he had years ago.

He waved her over and walked out the front door.

Sara exchanged a curious glance with Gavin and excused herself, Gavin following suit.

She stopped just outside the front door and turned to Gavin, putting her hand on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. She motioned to her bruises and said, “You don’t need to follow me, I can take care of myself.”

He caressed the cut on her lip and her bruised cheek with his thumb. “I know, but I care about you too much to let anything happen to you again. I won’t eavesdrop, I just want to keep you safe. Plus, I have a better view of the front door if I’m standing next to it.”

She smiled and gently touched his hand that rested on her face. “No, you need to be in there watching Trinity. I guarantee if something happens to her, Trey will come after you. Go have Trinity’s eight or whatever it is you say.”

He laughed. “Six. We’ve got each other’s six.”

“Whatever.” Sara said dryly, but then smiled once she turned around.

Auburndale was quiet, despite it being lunch hour. Only a few people walked the street as everyone tried to stay indoors in order to escape the sweltering heat.

She made her way to Chase who was standing on the sidewalk, a few feet away from the building.

Sara steeled herself for what he might say. She awkwardly said, “Hey.”

Chase immediately hugged her, and she stiffened as he said, “I was walking to my car and saw you go into the restaurant. I wanted to make sure you were okay… I heard about what happened.”

News of the attack had spread like wildfire along with the fact that Sara Gallagher- murderer- was the victim of said attack. Many people thought she deserved it, something she wondered as well.

He let her go and she simply said, “I’m fine.”

The two stared at each other. Sara felt vulnerable and the familiar sensation of panic began to creep in. “Are we just going to stare at each other, or do you have something to say?”

Chase raised a brow. “I see the sarcasm and attitude is still intact.”

“Yeah, well, prison will do that to you.”

“Sara-”

“Look, someone just tried to kill me and my sister, so I don't really have time for whatever this is.”

Chase shook his head. “I honestly can't imagine what you've been through.”

She shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“So, Gavin O’Dell?” he said, nodding toward the door.

She understood the inflection of his voice. His audacity pissed her off. “That’s what you wanted to talk to me about?”

Sara was about to leave when Chase quickly said, “We didn’t exactly leave things on the best terms. I was really angry at you, but I shouldn’t have shut you out.”

Sara shifted. She was irked by his need to be her knight in shining armor, as if she needed saving now. She nearly scoffed at that thought. If anything, this was the first time in her life when she didn’t need saving. His timing was awful.

He hadn’t said a word to her since they broke up that summer, and now all of a sudden, he wanted to make amends? She was the one who had cheated on him. She was the one who had told him to stay in Auburndale while she went off to New York and L.A. to pursue her stardom dreams, even though he begged to come with her and build a life together. And she was the one who had always chosen drugs over him.

---