Page 42 of Isabella and the Slipper

He took the empty popcorn sack from her hand and balled it up. “I assume you don’t have a car.”

She nodded.

“So come with me. I’ll help you get cleaned up.” He tossed the makeshift ball into the giant trashcan.

“It’s just water. It’ll dry.”

He gave her a frustrated look. “While you’re walking home? It’s dark. Just come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hallway toward the stairs.

Chapter 13

The last thing Isabella wanted to do was act like a baby in front of Chase Hawkins, but she didn’t have much choice. She didn’t want to yank her hand away. In fact, it felt good to hold Chase’s hand. Too good. Tingles shot up her arm and electricity hummed across her skin. He didn’t let go until they’d left the sports center and began walking across the gravel parking lot.

She tried to hold it in, but by the time they’d made it to his car, she could feel the ugly cry coming on. He turned to her. “Ignore them. They’re stupid.”

She nodded. “I know,” she said, trying hard not to make her crying vocal. Wailing right now would be the icing on the humiliation cake.

Chase pulled her to him in an awkward cry-hug. She buried her face in his chest, her tears making wet spots on his T-shirt. She sniffed, trying not to add snot to the list of bodily fluids she was depositing on him.

He pulled back and opened his glove compartment, pulling out a tissue. “Here.”

She blew her nose, glad it didn’t make one of those loud honking sounds. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, gaining more control. “Thanks.”

Suddenly, she panicked. Her mother’s photo! She pulled it out of her pocket, relieved to see it was dry and unharmed. She stuffed it back in before Chase could ask her about it.

He opened his passenger door. “Let’s go.”

“You’ll miss the game. I know how excited you were to see it.”

“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’d rather not go back and sit with those people. Anyone who would do that ... well, they aren’t people I want to hang out with.”

“I’ll get your seat wet.”

He grinned at her. “It’s just water.”

She shrugged and climbed into his car. “It’s your car.”

He shut her door and went around to the driver’s seat. He cranked the ignition and buckled his seat belt. “With the top down, you’ll dry fast.”

“Maybe.” She could feel her wet underwear sticking to her skin. She doubted her underwear would air out, but maybe her jeans would dry enough to not look like she’d had an accident.

He turned to her. “Where should we go?”

“I don’t know. Leaving was your idea.”

He chuckled. “Okay, I know someplace.” He put the car into drive, then pulled out and merged into traffic.

She took off her glasses and wiped them with her blouse. When she held them up to the light, she saw that there were streaks all over them, but it was the best she could do. The air blew through her hair as he drove, but it felt good. She inhaled the smells of the city streets. Car exhaust mixed with a seafood smell from a nearby restaurant. She really did like living in the city.

After a few minutes of driving, Chase glanced at her. “You okay?”

She was feeling better. The tears were no longer coming. And if she didn’t think about how hateful her stepsisters were, she could push back the hurt. “Yes.”

“Good. Because you deserve a fun night out. From what I can tell, you go to school, work at the gallery, and that’s about it.”

Heat rose to her cheeks. “Pretty much.”

“You sneak out to work on our science project, don’t you?”

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