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“I know.” He turned his head toward me and I realized at that moment how close we were. I went to move away but it was too late. Josh was kissing me, holding me so close it was hard to breath. His lips were thin and strange against mine, foreign, an affront to my sense.
“Josh, no,” I gasped, managing to push him away. “What are you doing?”
“I just thought… you said no one wanted you.” His gaze moved from my face, traveling south. “I want you.”
No. No. this couldn’t be happening.
Dale was right.
“I’m going to…” I swallowed, feeling dizzy, but I stood anyway. “Go. I need to go.”
That was, of course, when Dale showed up in John’s car. I recognized the Taurus as it pulled into the lot and saw Dale behind the wheel. His eyes darkened when he saw who I was with. Josh was on his feet, next to me, standing too close.
“Thanks for letting me cry on you.”
“Any time.” Josh pulled me into a hug, his arms lingering around me even as I tried to free myself. “Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Dale was already out of the car. He hadn’t even put a shirt on. He was still barefoot, wearing just a pair of jeans. And his belt. He’d stopped to put on his belt.
“I’ve been driving all over looking for you.” Dale glared at Josh but I’d met him halfway to the car and guided him back toward it. He looked back over his shoulder at Josh. “What the hell is he doing here?”
“He works here, remember?” I looked over and saw Josh going back into the store.
“Right.” Dale’s gaze didn’t leave the store front. “And I’m sure he jumped at the chance to ‘comfort’ you, didn’t he? Did he come on to you?”
Then he looked at me. I think it was the first time he really saw me since he’d blazed into the parking lot. His eyes softened and his brow knitted.
“Did I do that?” He touched my cheek. I winced and so did he. “Oh Sara. I’m so sorry.”
“I know.” I let him pull me into his arms. The comfort I found there was like nothing else. Josh’s arms around me had been nice, but not like this. Dale’s arms around me felt like something clicked into place. We fit together like two puzzle pieces. In so many ways, good and bad, we fit together.
“I wasn’t crying about that.” I touched my cheek and laughed. “I told Josh, that was the highlight of my day so far.”
“You told him?” Dale groaned, gathering me closer. “What do you mean it was the highlight of your day?”
“I’ll tell you in the car.” I didn’t want to be anywhere near this place when I told him. “Come on.”
“What about yours?” Dale asked as he opened the passenger door for me, nodding to my Dodge Dart.
“We’ll come get it later.” I got in, waiting for him to get in too. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?” He put the key in the ignition.
“Just drive.” I leaned back in the seat, closing my eyes. My face was hot and swollen from crying. My heart was shattered into a million pieces, but it was still beating in my chest.
I felt Dale’s hand slipping into mine and opened my eyes, turning my head to look at him.
“You didn’t hit her, did you?”
“My sister?” Dale snorted. “No. I wanted to. But no. Not after you…”
“Good.” I gave a satisfied nod. “It’s what she wants.”
“I know.” Dale squeezed my hand. “You know… the things she said…”
I winced again, and this time it wasn’t because my face hurt. Thinking about what Chrissy had said made me nauseous.
