Page 115 of Doubts & Fears

My face fell. “Never mind, then. He won’t let me go. I’ll go back and join everyone. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have put you in that position,” I whispered, embarrassment seeping into every syllable. The evening had become a series of mistakes.

“It’s going to be fine. Trust me on this one. Go and enjoy your evening. You’re all dressed up, and I believe there’s dancing after dinner. I know how much you love dancing.”

He guided me toward the door. I nodded and brushed away the tears that rained down my cheeks, leaving him. Regaining my composure wasn’t something I’d be able to do. Staying was no longer an option.

With determined steps, I checked to make sure he wasn’t watching me and then beelined for the front door. I slipped out of the house, dialing Sarah, praying she could come to pick me up. I was in luck; she wasn’t far away.

Feeling bolder than I had in weeks, I ended the call and put my phone on the limo’s front windshield where Marcus would see it and walked down the long driveway.

Chapter 36

Kinsley

Such A Needy Girl

Ihad never been so happy to see Sarah’s beat-up Honda as I was when she rounded the corner. Yanking the door open, I collapsed into the passenger seat. In between sobs, I poured my heart out to her, recounting every detail of the last few weeks.

“Come stay with me tonight. I moved in with Roger two weeks ago.”

This was a recent development. Had it really been two and a half weeks? I suddenly realized I had been so out of touch with life that I hadn’t bothered to check in with her.

What a good friend you are.

“You were right about Ivan, by the way. He is into some kinky stuff, not that I would have minded, but he didn’t want to take on someone new.”

“I’m sorry, Sarah.”

“It’s okay, honestly. Roger and I are doing so great this time,” she said with a smile.

Roger was Sarah’s high school sweetheart. They had an on-again, off-again type of relationship. He lived in the Seattle area, so it wasn’t too far of a drive.

“I left you several messages, you know? Why didn’t you call me?” she asked, sounding hurt.

“I’m still trying to process things. I’m a horrible friend.” The tears fell again.

“I forgive you.”

I nodded, feeling wretched when I should have been ecstatic. I’d been given the opportunity to get away from them. Now I could put my plans into motion and get my go bag. Alek’s words to his father played in a loop in my head.

Sarah started filling me in on everything I had missed. I listened as she talked, but the closer we got to Roger’s, the more I regretted my decision to agree to staywith her. But it was too late to ask her to take me to my house, and she’d have too many questions. She parked the car, and I had no choice but to follow her.

“Babe, I’m home,” she called out, putting her stuff on the counter.

“Cool. Goddamn it, Josh,” Roger yelled.

“Suck my infected left nut!” a man’s voice said in response.

“Wonderful. Josh and Hudson must be here,” she said sarcastically as I stood there awkwardly. “Want some wine?”

I followed her into the kitchen. “Sure, why not?”

“Babe, grab the guys and me some beers,” Roger yelled. Sarah rolled her eyes as she finished pouring us our wine.

“Oh, so it’s gonna be like that, huh? Motherfucker,” someone shouted.

“I swear, you’d think they were all still in high school.” She handed me my glass and a beer, then grabbed two more, and I followed her into the living room.

“Thanks,” he said without looking up.

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