Protecting Her(32)

“Why are you picking up Shelby?”

“She was on a date and got in an argument with the guy and he left her on the side of the street. Can you believe that?”

“Since when is she dating?”

“I didn’t ask. I’ll ask when I see her.”

“Where is she?”

“In Stamford.”

“Where in Stamford?”

I tell Pearce the address.

“Let me get her,” he says abruptly.

“You’re at work. It’s only four. I have time to get her.”

“Rachel, just let me do it. I can leave right now.”

“Pearce, you’re acting strange again. What’s going on with you this week?”

“Nothing. It’s just a long ways for you to drive and you’ll have to take Garret and pack up all his things.”

“It’s not that far, and Garret and I could use a road trip. We’ve been cooped up in the house all week. I’ll be home soon. Love you! Bye.”

It takes about forty minutes to get to the address Shelby gave me for the gas station. The way Pearce reacted when I told him the address, I thought it might be in a bad part of town, but instead it’s in a very exclusive area surrounded by gated mansions. The gas station is just outside the neighborhood, and right behind it I can see tall iron gates covered in greenery.

The gas station looks brand new, and as I drive up, Shelby comes out. She’s really dressed up, in a black wool coat, black skirt, beige blouse, and black high heels. I’ve never seen her wear clothes like that. I didn’t even know she owned clothes that nice. Her date must’ve been planning to take her to a fancy restaurant.

She gets in the front seat. “Thanks. I owe you one. I’ll babysit whenever you want.” She looks back at Garret and smiles. “He gets cuter every time I see him.”

I pull out of the gas station and head to New Haven. “So what happened?” I glance over at her. Her coat is open and I notice two buttons missing from her blouse. “Oh my God, did he force himself on you?”

She looks down at her blouse. “No. I just lost one on the way here and the other one must’ve already been missing.”

She didn’t notice a button missing from her blouse? It’s right in front of her bra. You’d think she’d notice that before going on her date.

“Did you just buy that coat? I’ve never seen you wear it before.”

“It’s my mom’s. She let me borrow it for my date.”

It looks like a very expensive coat. I didn’t think her mom had money for expensive clothes, but maybe she’s had it for a while.

“Who was the guy you were with?” I ask. “Where did you meet him?”

She directs her attention out the side window. “I met him at a bar last night. He seemed like a decent guy, so when he asked me out I said yes. But he turned out to be a jerk.”

“Who did you go to the bar with?”

She picks at the polish on her thumbnail. “I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to forget about the date and spend the rest of my night on the couch, eating junk food and watching TV.”

“What’s Logan doing tonight?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him in weeks.”

“He hasn’t called you?”

“He has, but I’m not answering his calls.” She gazes out the side window again.

“Did you have a fight?”

“No. In fact the last time I saw him, he made me dinner and gave me a necklace that he knew I really wanted.”

“That sounds like a date,” I say kiddingly.

But she’s not smiling. “It wasn’t a date,” she says softly. I notice her lip quivering.

“Shelby, what’s wrong?”

She faces forward and closes her eyes. I notice a tear going down her cheek. “I just miss him.”

“Then go be with with him.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not? You love him, so why do you keep pushing him away?”

She wipes her cheek. “It’s complicated.”

“All relationships are complicated. Look at Pearce and me. We come from completely different worlds, and yet we made it work.”

“It’s not the same.” She sniffles and takes a tissue from her purse.

“I know it’s not the same. I’m just saying that you two can make this work.”