Saint Sloan (Saint Sloan #1)(60)

Her mom laughed. “Maybe Aaron felt jealous of Ray taking you to prom.”

“Maybe.” But whatever the case, it was lousy timing.





AT AROUND ONE, SLOAN started getting ready. She washed her hair with the door cracked open and a bell hung on the handle in case someone tried to come in again. Never again would she be caught off guard.

The shower was uneventful. She got out, brushed her hair, and put curlers in it. Her mom came in to help with the back. It was fun. Like it had been when she was a little girl. It was nice spending time alone with her mother before all of the craziness began.

“I’m nervous,” her mom admitted as she put the last roller in her hair. “What if something bad happens to you? I know you said it won’t, but I’m your mother. I worry. I couldn’t live with myself.”

Sloan could see her mom’s eyes redden in the mirror and felt horrible. Her mom would feel so much better if she knew the police were involved, but if she told her, it could endanger her life. No matter how hard it was, Sloan had to be brave and keep her mom in the dark. Detective Morgan would be there and would take care of her. It was all she could do.

While her hair set, Sloan put on her make-up. She didn’t put too much mascara on her eyes. Just enough to make them pop. She put a little gray shadow on her eyelids and a very bold red lip on her lips to match her dress. As for her scar, she couldn’t do anything to cover it. She put extra foundation on it as usual and tried to make it not stick out so much. One side of her face was perfect. The other, eternally flawed. Such was life.

Her mom came in and helped her into her dress. It was a beautiful one-shoulder gown that crossed over her chest and over the opposite arm. It had lots of sequins that glittered in the sunlight. It fit her body perfectly. No poufy dresses for this girl.

Once she was zipped, she put on her earrings, diamond studs her mom had loaned her, and a sparkly diamond-ish necklace that accentuated her collarbone.

Finally, her mom took the rollers from her hair and finger-combed out the curls. She braided two small sections on each side and fastened each with a small diamond barrette.

“Beautiful.” Her mom gasped when she stood back to look her over.

“Ya think?” Sloan studied herself in the vanity mirror. She did look better than usual. She just wished the scar didn’t stick out so much. Sloan ran her finger over it, feeling sick as the tips of her fingers rolled over the raised skin.

“It’s a part of you now.” Her mom took her hand in hers and squeezed gently. “I’m sorry it’s there, but you have to deal the hand you are dealt. It could have been worse. You could have died.”

“I know that.” It always made her feel ungrateful when her mom talked like that, which wasn’t often. “I’m glad I’m alive. It’s just hard to have this constant reminder of that night.”

Her mom kissed her lightly on the forehead. “I know, sweetie. I’d take it away from you if I could.”

Sloan smiled and hugged her mom. After tonight, Detective Morgan would catch whoever was stalking her, and she could just go back to normal again. She looked forward to that. “I’ll be okay, you know. At the prom. Nothing’s going to happen.”

“You think this person is just spouting hot air?”

“Yeah. I do.” Sloan lied. She knew he meant business and even had the police involved. Her mom couldn’t know that, though. She hoped she didn’t stay mad too long when she found out.

“That makes me feel better.” Her mom wrapped her arms around Sloan. “Probably just someone playing a stupid prank.”

“Probably.” Sloan said sadly, knowing it couldn’t be farther from the truth.





RAY ARRIVED A LITTLE before three. Sloan’s mom answered the door and called for Sloan to come down. With her heart racing, Sloan took a deep breath and looked in the mirror for her patented pep-talk. “You can do this. Don’t freak out. Don’t lose it. Detective Morgan has it covered. Just have fun. With Ray. Ugh…” She sighed and lowered her head. Why couldn’t things ever be easy for her?

With a sigh, she automatically reached for her headache medicine, then thought better of it. She didn’t need them.

“Sloan!” her mom yelled again. “Ray’s here, and Mackenzie and her date are pulling in the driveway!”

“Now or never. Goodbye room. Hope to see you again.” She saluted her living quarters and went out to face the night.

As she started down the steps, she heard laughter and mingling. It was nice to hear, cheerful. Inside, she didn’t feel cheerful. In fact, if she could have, she’d have crawled up in her bed and hidden under the covers. Unfortunately, she couldn’t. Good ole Mr. ICU had made sure of that.

The first person she saw when she got to the bottom of the steps was Ray. He looked so handsome in a black tailored suit and black tie. Not a bowtie. A straight one, whatever they are called. His eyes lit up when he saw her and for a second, time stopped between them. Sloan could see herself attracted to Ray. Any girl would be. He was handsome and nice, calm and reassuring. And made a suit look good.

“Wow. You look amazing.” Ray smiled as she got closer.

“You don’t look bad yourself.” She smiled back. It was probably a good thing Aaron wasn’t coming. It would be very awkward.