Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(45)

He honed in on her immediately, giving another secret smile. He always could tell when she was telling him a bunch of bull. And seriously, that play was freaking weird.

He addressed the group, “I know it’s late, but after party at my house? Food and wine are already there.”

Everyone agreed and started moving toward the door, herding Krista along like cattle. When they got outside, they formed a circle, discussing rides and clarifying directions from that side of town.

Krista, carless and uninvited, stood on the outskirts of the group like the last kid picked in dodge ball. She shifted from foot to foot, waiting for the cool kids to figure out what to do with her, knowing that it would only amount to a big red ball hitting her right in the face later on. She definitely didn’t have high hopes.

Suddenly all eyes turned to her.

“What?” she asked.

It was Mary who said, “Are you going to Sean’s?”

“Oh.” Krista looked around the faces and landed on Sean, who was not smiling. “Well, uh... I don’t want to intrude or anything. I wasn’t originally part of the pack, so...”

Sean turned back to everyone, which unfortunately meant he turned his back on her. “I’ll take her with me, then.”

As if by silent dog whistle, the crowd scattered, everyone heading a different direction. Krista hustled to catch up with Sean. She was trailing around like a floppy, lost puppy. Good news was that she would at least get a ride home. The bus truly did suck at that time of night

He was parked in some lot a couple blocks away. After he opened the door for her, she clambered in as he gracefully folded himself into the driver’s seat.

As they started driving he said, “You don’t have to go, you know.” He sounded guarded and not all that pleased.

“Yeah, I honestly didn’t know about all that. I don’t want to crash the party or anything, so no big deal, you know?”

“You are of course invited, Krista. But don’t feel obligated to go. If you have other plans...”

“No, uh, actually I have nothing to do. But I am totally fine if you have a quiet evening with family planned or whatever.”

“So you want to go?”

“Christ, I feel like I’m in high school again. Look, I’ll break it down, I want to go if the offer is good. Or I am also totally fine with heading home for a glass of vino and a bath. Either way life is good. No hurt feelings.”

“Settled. You’re going.”

She sighed in relief. She talked a big game, but if he’d sent her packing it would have sucked more than a little.

“So...how did you find out about the play? Did Ray tell you?” Sean asked hesitantly.

This was a fork. She could lie like she lied to the others, or she could tell the truth. The thing was, the relationship she had with Sean that she loved was based on truth, not omission. She hadn’t lied yet, and she didn’t want to start now.

Then again, so far she hadn’t had to admit to stalking. It was a tough call.

“Well...it, uh, is a bit...embarrassing. I, uh...kind of stalked you a little. I always said Pandora ain’t got nothin’ on me.”

“What do you mean, you stalked me?” his voice sounded dark.

“Okay, well, uh, a couple times at the office I was pissed you weren’t giving me your full attention, so I glanced at your email and saw a logo. I saw the same logo today when I was shopping, and it was attached to a flyer for a play. I figured I would just see if you were in it. I had nothing else to do anyway. So I went.”

“A logo on an email was enough to make you assume I was in the play?”

He was too clever by half.

“I figured from your email it was a play, I just didn’t know you were in it. I was hopeful that was the case… or-rr that you were possibly going to watch a girlfriend in the play. So, I guess, truth be told, I was either stalking or spying. Either way, I was up to no good.”

“You believed the rumors, then?” Sean sounded hurt and disappointed.

“No, actually. The other night I was running along the path, as I do, and I thought I would pop by to kind of...uh...clear things up, I guess. Or get on the same page again. Like we once were, you know? And I saw you were home because your light was on, so I stopped and crossed the street, and I saw you in the window. A second later I saw a girl behind you, then you kissed her, so I walked away instead of knocking. So...it was either you or her in the play. Stalking or spying. No good.”

“I didn’t take you for either a stalker or a spy,” his voice was still disappointed.

There it was, the proverbial big red ball right in the face.

“Well, as you can tell by my current predicament, I’m not very good at it.”

“Coming to my house is a predicament?”

Krista groaned. He was taking her to the cleaners. Well, hell, she’d already dug herself a hole, she might as well make herself useful and bury herself as well.

“Look, here it is. I did think you were seeing someone because you were so content with life. You were elated, but tired. What else would do that besides a new love? I didn’t think of acting because it had only been two weeks. I didn’t realize shows went up that fast.

“So after I saw the girl in your window that answered that question. And yes, it hurt that you found someone else, okay? It stung. But I want you to be happy. So I thought I would stop being such a tool bag and just get back what we had. Which was easy trust, strong friendship, and no drama.