Page 137 of Dancing in the Rain

“Yes.”

“I’m Rebecca Schinkel. Your daughter was caught shoplifting.”

Chapter 31

Drew’s head whipped around to stare at Chloe. Then he turned back to Ms. Schinkel. “What? Really?”

“Yes.”

He pinned Chloe with a disbelieving stare. “Did you steal something, Chloe?”

“N-no.”

Another woman rushed in at that moment. “Taylor! What is going on here?”

Taylor’s mom was apprised of the situation. “Impossible,” she stated. “Taylor would never do that.”

“We have video evidence of it, Mrs. Percy,” Ms. Schinkel said. “Would you like to see it?”

Drew turned a sharp gaze onto Chloe. Guilt was all over her small features. She pressed her lips together, he guessed to stop them from trembling because she looked like she was about to cry.

“Are you going to have her arrested?” Mrs. Percy demanded.

“She’s twelve,” Ms. Schinkel said, frowning. “No. We called you so you’re aware of this and can deal with your children.” She spoke to both Taylor’s mom and Drew.

Drew lifted his eyebrows. “I want to see the video.”

“I’m not staying for this.” Mrs. Percy reached for Taylor’s hand and pulled her up. “I have never been so insulted in my life. We’re leaving.”

She dragged her daughter out the door and into the store.

“The video,” Drew grated out.

Ms. Schinkel clicked a mouse on the computer on her desk and he watched grainy images of Taylor and Chloe giggling over some cosmetics. They were talking and then Taylor glanced around and slipped something into her backpack. More talk and then Chloe did the same.

“That’s enough,” Drew said quietly. He looked back at Chloe. “Not only did you steal something, you lied about it.”

Her bottom lip quivered.

“Did you give it back? Whatever it was you took?”

Chloe reached for her backpack and pulled out a flat container with small squares of what looked like lip gloss. She handed it to Ms. Schinkel.

He turned to Ms. Schinkel. “Thank you for contacting me about this. We’ll definitely be dealing with it.”

She nodded.

“Let’s go, Chloe.”

He let her lead the way through the store, ignoring the shake of her little shoulders even though it made his heart fucking bleed. But she was in deep, deep shit.

“This way.” He stalked through the mall, dodging Christmas shoppers as Chloe nearly ran to keep up with him.

He opened the car door for her and relieved her of her backpack, which he tossed into the backseat. Then he started the car. Snowflakes were starting to drift down from the overcast sky.

“I’ll take you home,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Are you going to tell Peyton?”

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