Page 62 of Totally Off Limits

“Mama!”

“Whatcha doin’, baby girl?”

“Playing with blocks.”

“Wow. You said that perfectly.”

“Do you recognize those?” Rebecca asked.

“No. Should I?”

“Those are the blocks we bought for your sisters when they were born.” Oh, yes. How could she have forgotten? When the triplets had gotten old enough to play, they inherited both Sierra and Layne’s toys—and then some.

Anything for the girls.

But she pretended like she hardly remembered. “Oh, yeah.”

Nothing escaped her mother, though. “Who’s the friend?”

Mia was already in her arms, so Sierra could avoid eye contact with her mother. “No one you’d remember.”

But that was a huge lie. And there was no way would she ever,evertell her the friend was Mickey Morton.

Not ever.

* * *

That Friday,as Sierra got ready for the show, she kept repeating the same several sentences in her head.

I don’t love Mickey.

I’m just going to see his show.

Nothing else is going to happen tonight.

So why did she wear a tiny hot pink tank top that hugged her every curve? And why did she make sure she wore a subtle spicy fragrance on her pulse points? If all her protests were true, why was she doing everything a woman in love would do?

Stop that.

She was going as a friend only. Besides, she promised Mickey. The last thing she wanted was to be a jerk.

Well…a bigger jerk than she’d already been.

As she pulled into the gravel parking lot on the corner near the end of Main Street, she took a deep breath, checking her face in the visor mirror. Silly though it seemed, she felt a little nervous. She’d avoided this bar her entire adult life after hearing stories about bar fights and arrests and seeing the evidence on occasion. Although the establishment didn’t have much glass in terms of windows, from the outside, it seemed a little worse for wear—and, in the summer during various festivals and parades, the number of bikes in the parking lot increased.

Just because it had a stage and featured rock bands year-round wasn’t enough for Sierra to brave entering the place.

Until now.

Mickey had told her to text him when she got there, so she sent him a quick message and then slid a ten-dollar bill inside her phone case. After sliding her purse under her seat, she got out of the car and locked it, tucking the keys in the pocket of her shorts. Then she sucked down another deep breath, looking at the side of the dingy building. Several groups of people walked through the parking lot toward the bar entrance, making Sierra realize just how lonely she felt. Most of her friends had moved away or moved on, and Sierra had found it hard enough being a mother and the best daughter she could be. Besides, she’d always had a hard time maintaining friendships.

There wasoneperson, though. Cami. Now that she was thinking of her, it was the perfect time to text her.How’s the new job, Cam?

Staring at her phone, she realized her lack of close friends nearby was probably why she’d latched onto Mickey.

Yeah. That had to be it.

As if he’d sensed her thoughts, a text from him popped up on her screen.Where are you?

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