Page 138 of Dancing in the Rain

His head whipped around to stare at her. “Of course I’m going to tell Peyton.”

The tension in the car was thick as he drove to the Watt home. Drew unlocked the front door with his key and let them in. The beep of the door alerted Peyton, who appeared from the kitchen holding a dish towel. “Hey, you’re…home.” She caught sight of Drew. He was agitated from what had just happened, but even so he caught the reaction to him on her face that she quickly hid.

She didn’t hate him.

“Yes, we are,” Drew said grimly. “Chloe has something to tell you.”

“You saidyouwere going to tell her!” Chloe glared at him, arms stiff at her sides.

“I was wrong. You’re going to tell her.”

“Tell me what? What is going on?”

Chloe’s eyes closed and her lips quivered again. Finally she said, “I got caught shoplifting.”

“What!” Peyton’s eyes damn near popped out of their sockets. “Shoplifting?” She turned wide eyes on Drew.

He nodded. “It appeared to be some lip gloss.”

Peyton’s eyebrows drew down. “I don’t understand. Why would you do that, Chloe?”

Tears slipped down Chloe’s cheeks but she said nothing.

Now Peyton looked like she was going to cry. “That is so not like you, Chloe. What’s going on?”

Chloe sniffed.

“Andshe tried to lie about it,” Drew added. “I asked her if she did it and she said no.”

“Oh, no.” Peyton shook her head. “How did you get involved?”

“Chloe called me.”

“Why?” She looked at Chloe. “Why did you call Drew?”

“I thought he would stick up for me!” Chloe cried. “I should have known.Nobodysticks up for me!” Sobbing, she ran upstairs.

Drew and Peyton faced each other. Sparks made his skin tingle.

“Come in,” she said quietly, leading the way to the living room. She sank into a chair, still clutching the dish towel.

Drew dropped his ass onto the couch facing her, elbows on his knees.

“What happened?” she asked.

He related what had transpired. Holding her gaze, he added, “Unlike Taylor’s mom, who refused to believe her precious girl could do something like that, I looked at the video. Fuck.” He dropped his head forward. “I wanted to believe Chloe when she said she didn’t do it. I wanted to say this was all bullshit, she’d never do that. But…”

“Oh, God. Drew.”

“She’s pissed at me.”

“Yes.”

“Fuck. I never wanted to let her down. I fucked up again.”

“No.” Her certain tone had his head lifting. His gaze met hers. “You did the right thing.”

He stared at her, his eyes burning. “She’s mad at me. And she’s hurting.”

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