Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(43)

With a shock of fear, Krista took the cowardly way out and looked at her clasped hands, her knuckles white with the force to staying still.

“Cassie! Hi! Join us!” Mary exclaimed for the whole theatre to hear.

The space next to Krista filled in with a butt and a pleasant perfume. Krista glanced up to face the music, right into the beautiful vivid blue eyes of Sean’s sister Cassie. A gorgeous guy was sitting down next to her, looking around the tiny theatre hall with a glum expression. Tall drink of water about summed it up with that guy. He was a panty dropper for sure. Aloof, though.

Cassie gave a radiant smile from her lovely face, which was apparently a family heirloom, and said, “Krista, right?” Thank God she was related to Sean because Krista would never be able to compete with the woman.

“Yes, it is. Sorry about the first time we met. I wasn’t really...myself.”

“I’ve been there, believe me. This is Keith,” she pointed to the man next to her.

Keith turned his face to Krista with a bored expression, flicked his eyes at Ray and Mary, and turned back to the empty stage. He might’ve been super-hot, but he was a Debbie Downer. Not worth the drama.

Krista couldn’t help but add up the score. Now it was invited friends and family sandwiching Krista, the uninvited stalker. She immediately began to think of a story as to why she was there, and no sooner did she come up with something believable that Cassie asked, “Is this the first time you’ve seen Sean act?”

“It is, yes. I didn’t actually know that Sean was in it until after you walked in. I thought it was just a coincidence with Ray and Mary.”

“You didn’t?” Ray asked, disbelieving.

“Uh, no, actually. He didn’t mention it.”

Ray and Mary’s eyebrows raised in surprise. Krista continued quickly so they didn’t start peppering her with questions. “I knew he acted, I just didn’t realize he was currently doing something.”

“You think he would’ve told you so you could come to watch.” Mary shook her head as if to say it was purely illogical.

Krista shrugged. Had she not had that mini-freak-out—one of the many, actually—then he might have. Or maybe not, since he wasn’t telling people they talked outside of work. It was still something they needed to talk about. Krista just hoped they got that chance.

Cassie asked, “So how did you end up here?”

Krista was ready for this one. “I was in the Mission to meet my friends for drinks before they went off to their dates. Since I’m single and seriously need to find more friends, I needed something to do. Here I am. I figured I would get caught going solo to a movie by someone I knew, so I chose a small, out–of-the-way theatre I didn’t think anyone knew about. And got caught by someone I knew. So now I look a little desperate...”

Mary threw up her objections as Ray laughed and patted her on the back. Keith seemed deaf, and Cassie was looking at her in that intense way her brother sometimes did. Krista pointed out that fact.

Cassie smiled serenely and shrugged, “I thought you had a man, though?”

“Me? No. Why? Who told you that?” Krista looked at Ray and received a head shake and a shrug.

Cassie shook her head confusedly. “Sean mentioned it. Maybe he was mistaken?”

“Maybe he was thinking about a man named Paul?”

“He didn’t give a name. Just said you found someone.”

“I don’t know about found someone. Maybe he was exaggerating. Paul wasn’t really...uh, that kind of thing. I haven’t seen him for a while, though...”

“Oh. Huh. He just said something earlier tonight, so that must not be your friend Paul.” She said friend as though she knew exactly what type of “friend” Krista was talking about.

“No, that wouldn’t be Paul. I have no idea, then. I haven’t had time to meet anyone. Your brother keeps me incredibly busy! I wanted to get out there tonight but my wingmen haven’t been doing the hours I have and are ahead of me.”

“Well, this can count as ‘out there’ then,” Cassie said sweetly. She was such a nice girl. You would think someone as pretty as her would be a snobby bitch. But then, you would think someone as attractive as Sean would be an egotistical, womanizing pig.

Which he was… not that long ago. Or maybe still. Verdict was still out.

“There is a shocking lack of single guys here, but it’ll do in a pinch,” Krista said jokingly, looking around the audience.

Cassie’s expression was lost as the lights went down.

Right away Krista knew the play would be weird. One raggedy dude was carrying a giant, seven-foot cross on his shoulder. He walked in next to some crazy broad who was tearing apart roses. There were swear words and screaming and Krista was lost immediately.

It wasn’t until the second scene that Sean made his entrance. He wore tattered clothes and had smears of dirt on his face. The second he made his appearance, though, Krista couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. It was like he glowed. Even when he didn’t speak she was looking to him for cues and expressions. When he did speak she was in rapture. He was probably not the most experienced, and if she was honest, not the best of the group on pure talent, but he had something that no one else could touch, and that was star power. He mattered. What he said mattered. His charisma filled the whole place and sucked everyone in.