Page 87 of Dreaming at Seaside
Outside the cottage, Kurt breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness she’s okay. What a nightmare.”
Bella had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She needed to find out the complete story, not only for her own peace of mind, but for everyone else’s, as well. She wanted to call Caden and see how he was holding up. She knew he was devastated, but she also knew that he needed time to deal with Evan.
“We’re going to stay at the house tonight,” Kurt said as he pulled Leanna close. “Will you call if anything comes up?”
“Of course,” Bella said.
Leanna hugged her. “Hang in there, Bella. I know you’re worried about Caden and Evan, but you heard Vera. She doesn’t think he was involved. And he did speak up when he thought something was going on. Call me if you need me.”
“I will, thanks.”
Tony draped an arm over Bella’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s all go to my deck and commiserate.”
“I’m going to get some munchies. I’m starved.” Jenna hurried back to her cottage.
“I’ll get iced tea.” Amy ran onto her deck and disappeared into her cottage.
Bella leaned against Tony as they walked back to his deck. “Tony, how will we get past this? No one will ever look at Evan the same again.”
Tony tightened his grip around her shoulder. “Bell, I think I remember hearing a story about three girls who snuck out one night, broke into a certain family’s cottage, and drank all the beer in their fridge.”
Bella had buried that memory long ago.
“And the way I heard it, those girls lied about being involved and admitted it only after a certain skinny little blonde puked her guts up.” He stopped walking and shifted his eyes to Amy, heading down the gravel road toward them.
“Do you have a point, or are you just into reminding me that I was once a delinquent, too?”
“First of all, my chunky-dunking, firework-exploding, toilet-carrying friend, you are still a little bit of a delinquent. My point is, did everyone treat those teenagers any differently afterward, or were there a few days of disappointed looks and meaningful discussions to help the girls understand why they shouldn’t have done it?” He arched a brow and kissed the top of her head. “It’s gonna be okay, Bell. We all love you, and I don’t think anyone here will assume the worst about Evan unless you tell us that this was all his doing.”
“What are we talking about?” Amy carried a pitcher of iced tea. She’d thrown a sundress on over her bathing suit and she was juggling plastic wineglasses.
Tony took the pitcher and glasses from her arms. “I was just telling Bella to breathe.”
“That sounds like good advice.”
Jenna joined them on Tony’s deck a few minutes later with a bowl of pretzels and a container of hummus. “Terrible situations make me hungry.” She lowered herself into a chair, then patted Bella’s leg. “Any word from Caden?”
“My phone’s in the car.” Bella rose.
Tony patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll get it.”
Amy stared after him with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Hey, puppy eyes.” Jenna tossed her a pretzel.
“Sorry. Habit.” Amy shoved the pretzel into her mouth.
“You guys, tell me what you’re thinking right this very second.” Bella prepared for worries about Vera followed by,It sucks to be you. I can’t believe Evan lied to everyone. How can we ever trust him again?
“I’m so relieved that Vera is okay, and I wish Jamie hadn’t looked at you the way he did,” Amy said. “Oh, and Tony’s got a nice butt.”
“You noticed that look, huh?” Bella asked.
“I noticed that look, too. I’m glad Vera’s okay, and I wishyoudidn’t look so worried.” Jenna popped a pretzel into her mouth. “Oh, and I agree about Tony’s butt.”
“Ugh.” Bella buried her face in her hands. “That look sucked, but I don’t blame him.” She reached for a pretzel. “So, you’re telling me that neither of you is sitting here thinking about how Evan screwed up? Or wondering if he was behind the whole thing, if hesentthem to Vera’s?”
Jenna and Amy exchanged a concerned look.
