“You
heard
what they said?” She broke down again, mortified that he’d heard Kim’s harsh words.
“Some of it
,” he fibbed. “Look, I wouldn’t worry what that girl thinks. She’s the one who acts like she’s got a stick up her ass all the time, right?”
Sarah laughed and slobbered all over his shirt.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
He rested his hand at the small of her back
. Sarah’s whole body stiffened when she realized
where
she was and
who
she was with. She was locked in a bathroom with a man. With Nathan. And he was touching her and embracing her and she was crying in front of him like a total idiot.
S
arah pulled back with every intention of leaving but gasped when she saw the front of Nathan’s shirt. It was soaking wet from her tears. “Oh no! Look what I’ve done. I’m so sorry!” She frantically dabbed at his shirt with the tissue but it only made it worse by leaving little white flecks behind.
Nathan
took her hands in his. “It’ll dry.”
She swallowed hard and stared at the wet splotches.
She focused on her breathing and the soothing sound of his voice.
He was holding her hand—when had
that
happened?
“Sara
h, look at me.”
S
arah raised her chin and met his gaze. His eyes didn’t reflect anger for the mess she made on his shirt. Just…concern.
“It’s okay, really,” he reassured her. “Look, it’s just a shirt.”
He pulled back, took hold of the hem of his shirt and ripped a five inch tear up the seam at the side.
She gasped and recoiled, bum
ping her back against the sink.
“
It’s okay.” He cupped her elbows and pulled her close again. “I’ve got a whole closet of ‘em. It’s no big deal.” He leaned over, ripped off a fresh strip of toilet paper and put it in her hand. “You’re going to be all right,” he told her and gave her hand a little squeeze. “Take a minute, splash some water on your face and go back out there and do what you’re good at. Everything’s going to be fine,” he said confidently. He flashed a bold smile, slipped out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Nathan stood outside the door and sighed. He took a second to listen and could hear the women chatting from the salon floor.
Good. They’d all gone back to work.
Sarah had looked positively frightened when he’d torn his shirt. He didn’t do it to scare her, just for a little comic relief. It completely backfired on him because now she thought he w
as some crazed incredible hulk.
TJ came down the hall and gave
Nathan a nod. “Dude, what happened to your shirt?”
Nathan looked down at the wet spot, but saw that TJ was gesturing to the rip. “Oh, I must have snagged it on a nail or something.”
* * *
That night at the motel
Sarah thought about what happened in the bathroom. She had finished out the rest of her workday and tried to pretend nothing had happened. Thanks to Nathan whisking her out of sight, her coworkers were none the wiser.
Nathan was right.
She had overreacted. Everyone but Kim had nice things to say about her. That wasn’t a big surprise. Kim had made it clear from the moment Sarah had first walked into the salon that she didn’t like her. Sarah would just have to forget about the hurtful things she’d said about her body and her clothes.
What Sarah couldn’t forget was how nice Nathan’s arms had felt wrapped around her. How warm his body was pressed against hers. How hot his breath was on her neck when he soothed her.
No
, oh no, she wouldn’t work herself up and make something out of nothing. Nathan just happened to be there for her when she was having a difficult time. There was nothing more to it than a shoulder to cry on. A nice, warm, manly shoulder to cry on.
Sarah’s cell phone rang and she
answered on the first ring, desperate to hear a friendly voice.
“
Sarah! How was your day?” Miri asked.
“It was okay.” Sarah tried to sound chipper but her acting fell flat.
“I talked to Peach and she says you’re doing well at the salon.”
“She did?”
Sarah must have sounded more shocked than she intended because Miri laughed. “Yes, of course she did. She also said you’re very talented and the hardest worker she’s ever had.”
“Oh.”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I just…I’m not sure I’m fitting in very well.”
“Oh honey, I think you’re doing better than you think.”
S
arah told Miri about Kim’s perpetual cold shoulder. “It’s like Dahlia all over again.”
“Dahlia was just jealous of your talent.
You’re doing fine, Sarah. Just give it some time.”
They talked for a while and Sarah felt better by the time she ended the call.
The couple in the room next door started arguing about something. Probably drugs or money or sex. A door slammed and Sarah jumped. It was an automatic reaction after living with Dwight for so many years. She sighed. Maybe someday she wouldn’t jump at every loud noise.
She sat in the middle of the chaos, turned up the TV and ate
a muffin.
Chapter Nine
Abigail Made Cupcakes!
After work on Friday, Sarah rushed home to the motel to freshen up before the party. She only had a few minutes to catch the last bus of the day to Kim’s house. She could have called a cab but they probably cost a fortune.
S
he ran a brush through her hair, smoothed her shirt and brushed the lint from her pants. The outfit she’d worn to work would just have to do. Hopefully, no one would notice she was wearing the same outfit to the party that she’d worn to work. This weekend when she explored Red Valley, she’d buy some more clothes.
Banging from the room next door interrupted her
apprehensions about the party. The couple next door alternated between World War III and an X-rated movie. This time they were sure making a lot of noise but they weren’t fighting.
The thin walls amplified the sounds
of their lovemaking. The woman loudly encouraged her partner with a few flattering words about his anatomy and Sarah blushed.
If she had to choose,
she didn’t know if she’d rather listen to them argue or have sex. Both were extremely uncomfortable.
Sarah
hurried out the door before they could reach the grand finale.
The bus stop was near Kim’s street so Sarah only had to walk a short distance to the condo. Kim’s riverfront condo was like nothing Sarah had ever seen. It was the Biltmore Estate and Dwight’s house was a Cracker Jack Box at the county landfill.
Kim greeted, well
,
answered
Sarah at the door. “Sarah.” She looked her up and down and frowned. “You’re
early
.”
S
arah was too embarrassed to tell Kim she’d taken the bus.
Everyone
in California had their own car. It was a part of their identity. Public transportation was so totally uncool.
“Yeah, I, uh, found the place easier than I thought I would
,” Sarah explained.
Kim
shrugged and waved her inside.
The inside was modern with floor to ceiling windows and lots of glass and metal. The decor wasn’t warm or cozy, but then again, neither was Kim.
And everything was so clean! The wood floors gleamed, the furniture was polished and the beveled mirror above the sofa sparkled.
And then there was the balcony! The view overlooking the river was amazing. Just a few feet away, the river rushed by and snaked its way through the trees.
Kim grabbed her purse and keys from the kitchen counter. “I was just on my way out to buy ice,” she told Sarah.
“O
h. I can wait outside for you to come back.” The bistro style table and chair next to the front door would be the perfect place to wait.
Kim scrunched up her face at the idea.
“Don’t be silly. You can wait
in
side.”
“Okay
, if that’s okay with you.”
“
Of course it is. Listen, if anyone comes to the door for the party while I’m gone just let them in.” Kim paused and looked like she didn’t trust Sarah to leave her alone. “Here,” she said. She turned on the TV and handed Sarah the remote control. She went to the door and looked back like she’d changed her mind but abruptly snapped her head back and slipped out the door.
Although the TV had
an incredibly high quality picture, Sarah ignored it and took the opportunity to look around the living area. She made her way around the room admiring the photos and nicknacks. There were dozens of framed photos of Kim and her friends. On the beach, at the club, a restaurant holding up cocktails... Either Kim was unusually happy in the photos or she was just smiling for the camera’s benefit.
Against one wall, a
black leather sofa with zebra print pillows sat on a bright fuchsia rug. It was very stylish and sophisticated. The entire condo was much more than what Sarah hoped for herself one day. She’d settle for a little windowless apartment on the wrong side of the tracks if it meant she never had to see Dwight again.
As much as she was curious to see
what Kim’s bedroom looked like, the balcony with the view of the river was beckoning her. When she put her hand to the handle on the sliding glass door, there was a knock at the front door. Sarah turned and went to look through the peephole to see who it was. She immediately let out a sigh of relief. “Destiny!” she exclaimed and swung open the door.
Destiny’s makeup was heavier than normal, if that was even possible
, and she’d changed into a skimpy little black dress. The stilettos she’d worn to the salon that day were replaced with glittery strappy high heels.
“Sarah, you’re already here?
” Destiny burst through the door with plastic grocery bags weighing down both arms. “And I thought
I
was early!”
“Here, let me help.” Sarah took two bags and fol
lowed Destiny’s wake of perfume into the kitchen.
“Where’s Kim?”
“She went to get ice.”
Destiny nodded and eyed the bottles on the counter in the corner.
“Oh, good, Kim didn’t forget the alcohol. I need a big ole drink.”
Sarah helped unload the bags of chips and party snacks.
“It’s really nice of Kim to open up her house for the party,” she said.
“Yeah.
She’s always looking for an excuse to show off her fancy condo. She’s got loads of money, so don’t feel like we’re putting her out or anything. She has a trust fund and a rich Dad who is
so
wrapped around her finger she can afford to throw as many parties as she wants.”
Wow, Sarah didn’t need to hear
that
. “Oh,” was all she said. She’d found that the less she said, the more information people seemed to share on their own. “I’m still a bit surprised she offered.”
“Why’s that?”
“It just seems like she doesn’t care for me too much.” Sarah worded it as nicely as she could.
“Oh,
sweetie, Kim acts like she hates
everyone
. That’s just the way she is. Don’t take it personally. She’ll warm up to you eventually.”
“
So, why does she work if she already has money?” Sarah could definitely see herself staying home and eating bonbons if she were the one in Kim’s shoes with a trust fund.
“It’s her Dad’s stipulation that she has to work at least so many hours a week.”
Destiny pulled a chocolate cake from one bag and set it on the counter. “I bought this so we don’t have to depend on Abigail for dessert. Let’s hope she forgot to bake something for the party.”
A little while after they finished setting out the food and Kim returned with the ice, the other guests started to arrive. By the time the party was in full swing, Sarah was overwhelmed. Destiny had introduced her to so many people, her head was spinning with names she’d never remember and faces she’d already forgotten.
Kim’s friends, or more like her entourage, Bianca and
Kenzie, followed Kim around like two yapping Pomeranians. They were a little bit snooty and a lot like Kim. They looked like they took full advantage of having a stylist for a friend. They all had highlights and lowlights and everything in between.
Sarah wasn’t ready to socialize the way Destiny and Kimberly did. She was just starting to ease her way into
a normal society where drugs and liquor weren’t the focus of conversation and crime didn’t run rampant.
Sarah
was
glad to see Maeve, Peach’s sister at the party. Maeve was even wearing her hair straight just like Sarah had styled it for her.