Page 59 of Play Dirty

I’m okay with finding my way out of the darkness of my past with a sexy, sweet, and kind man who adores me.

He’s not my usual type, not by a long shot, but that’s the whole point.

I’m moving along in my healing process, and it feels like Marty is my next step.

* * *

We’re almosthome when my phone rings, and I see Ally’s name on the screen. It’s ten o’clock in the evening, and I can’t imagine why she’s calling me this late unless something is wrong.

“Hey, Ally.” I answer quickly. “Everything okay?”

“No!” She huffs but I hear the stress in her voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uncle Canyon and Saylor are in San Diego overnight and I’m at a sleepover at Rhea’s. But they’re just…awful. They’re smoking cigarettes, and it’s so gross, and they called me a baby for not trying it.” Her voice breaks just a little. “I don’t want to stay, Stevie. Please, can I come stay with you?”

I hesitate. “Have you asked your uncle?”

“No, because if you can’t come get me, I don’t have any other options. Colleen is on vacation.” Colleen is the nanny who stays with her if both Canyon and Saylor have to be out of town.

I glance at Marty, but she’s not on speaker so he probably has no idea what’s going on.

“Let me call Saylor and I’ll call you back,” I say abruptly.

I disconnect and shake my head. “I’m sorry—we may have to make a detour.”

“What’s going on?” he asks.

I explain as much as I know.

“We can go get her,” he responds automatically. “Just give me an address.”

“Let me just check in with Saylor and Canyon first.”

It takes a little maneuvering, but twenty minutes later, we pull up to Ally’s friend’s house. Ally is waiting outside with an adult I assume is her friend’s mother and I get out of the car.

“Hi, you must be Stevie.” The woman approaches me with a smile.

“Hi.” I shake her hand and glance at Ally. “You ready to go, kiddo?”

Ally nods. “Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Fernandez. I’m sorry—I just get these anxiety attacks…”

“Of course, honey. No problem.”

Ally and I head back to Marty’s SUV, and she gets in the back.

“Did you tell her what was going on?” I ask as soon as we sit down.

“If I tattle on them, they’ll make my life miserable when school starts. Rhea’s okay when it’s just her, but when her posse is around… I don’t like her as much.”

“Her posse?” Marty asks.

“Hi, Uncle Marty.” She waves at him. “And yeah, that’s what she calls her circle of friends. It’s dumb. But what do I know?”

“Obviously, you know enough to protect yourself as well as your friends,” I say gently.

“Were you guys out on a date?” she asks abruptly.

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