Page 42 of Wicked Ends
The most annoying thing about that manipulative comment was how true it was. I did want friends, and a real life, and I wouldn’t get one by hiding at the motel.
“Okay, sure. I’d love to come.”
Sally smiled and threaded an arm through mine, tugging me toward the bathrooms.
“We are going to get ready,” she called to Wade.
I hurried to keep up by her side. I wasn’t used to this casual female camaraderie. I had never had many friends. Growing up, I’d had a few, but over time, they’d been run off by Dale and his antics. He’d always make sure to have his buddies over when I did, and they were more than enough to put anyone off being my friend.
At age twenty-five, the closest friends I’d ever had were my grandma and my sister-in-law. Pain squeezed my chest tight at the thought of my sister-in-law and my little niece. My brother had never deserved those women. Never. He’d ruined everything. Their lives, my life… and now, they were gone.
I blinked at Sally, realizing she’d asked me something.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I asked if you’re married or dating.”
“I’m single.” For some reason, Marcus’ face jumped into my mind when I said it.
Sally nodded and raised her eyebrow at me. “And I heard you love hockey… You’re going to have fun in Hade Harbor.”
“How did you know I liked hockey?”
“I told you, we have our ways… and a friend of mine might have seen you watching the game at The Clutch last weekend.”
Dread hit my knees, and I gripped onto the edge of the sink. “A friend?”
“She’s a bartender there. Her name is Veronika. She’s studying part-time and working all kinds of hours. A couple of the hockey players on the Hellions work there, too.”
“Seems like kind of a rowdy place for students to work,” I muttered and avoided her eyes in the mirror.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a red lipstick, holding it out to me.
“They’re consenting adults, and besides, the trouble those boys get themselves into is definitely not PG-13. This shade would be great on you.”
I took the lipstick. It was brighter and bolder than anything I’d ever worn before. Opening the tube, I carefully dotted my lips with it.
“Still, they’re only students,” I started.
Sally laughed. “They’re only a few years younger than us. Honestly, it’s confusing. If there wasn’t such a strict no-fraternization policy between staff and students, there’d be a whole lot more public hookups, I’m sure. As it is, badly kept secrets aren’t fireable offenses.”
“Teachers hook up with students?”
“Professors hook up with college students. This isn’t high school. No one cares, except for the administration. Is this your first teaching position?”
I nodded, and she tilted her head to the side.
“Did you take time off after graduating?”
“A little. I had some family things to take care of,” I evaded.
She nodded. “And that strangely specific non-accent, what is it… California?”
I nodded again tightly, hoping she’d drop the subject now.
She was looking at me in the mirror and smiled with approval. “I knew that shade would suit you. Let’s go. We need to get dinner in that lot out there before things turn ugly. Bethie, the librarian, eats at four-thirty and not a minute later.”
A reluctant laugh tugged free from my chest. Sally was warm and chatty and made me feel included. It was a nice feeling. Really, really nice.
