Page 82 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
Piper’s heart pinched for the girl who was trying to do better, only to do something ridiculously stupid, but for all the right reasons. And intention was nine-tenths of the law. Or at least, that’s what they always said on Law and Order. Or was it possession was nine-tenths of the law?
Either way, intention had to count for something, and Piper wasn’t going to let Rebecca get brought up on charges that a little bit of white paint could fix.
Piper faced the officer. “I am so, so sorry about this. The mess, the confusion, and wasting your afternoon, ma’am.”
“I’m sorry too,” Rebecca said.
“She can’t be more sorry than I am because I’m Bex,” Skye repeated.
“No, ma’am. I really am,” Rebecca said honestly. “I’m really Bex.”
“She can’t be.” Darcy and Jillian stepped forward, arm and arms. “We’re Bex.”
Everyone looked at Darcy in her chinos, ballet flats and preppy-pony tail and Jillian in her Cake Goddess apron. Piper sighed. “Guys, you’re only making this more complicated. I don’t want to have to explain to Gage how you are now a wanted vandal.”
“Wanted?” Rebecca croaked.
“I’ve got you,” Piper said, repeating the words Josh had told her.
“Link hands, ladies. We’ll make a body chain in protest,” Skye said, reaching her arms out to the sides.
Piper smacked Skye’s hand down. “Whatever ‘Hands Across America’ picture you have in your head, let me remind you there are only five of us.”
“Picture you’re larger than life, the strength of our fore-sisters sharing their wisdom and power.”
Piper looked at Darcy and Jillian. “I am so sorry I dragged you into this.”
“Dragged me? Are you kidding? I feel like I dragged you into this,” Darcy said. “If it hadn’t been for my engagement party, you would have never been in Margo’s sights.”
“Well, it looks like we got ourselves a problem, Officer Miller,” Skye said with a big grin. “If you can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt who Bex is, then you have no case. Court adjourned.”
The officer reached for her cuffs. “I’m not the DA so I don’t have to prove anything. As far as I’m concerned, I might as well take you all downtown.”
The officer led them toward the car and Piper’s throat tightened with concern and a little panic. “Before my friends get dragged further into this, you need to explain. Everything. Understood?” she said to the teen.
“Officer,” Rebecca said, and when Skye went to step forward, Piper stopped her with a stern shake of the head. “They’re just trying to help. It really was me. I was the one who painted the silo, and I’m really sorry.”
“We’ll still need to figure this out downtown,” Officer Miller said.
“How did they know it was me?” Rebecca asked as they were walking to the patrol car.
“Margo,” Darcy said, sliding an arm around Rebecca in a maternal and gentle way Piper hadn’t even considered. She was so busy being tough, she didn’t even realize that what the girl needed was something gentler.
“I don’t even know how Margo would know. I just found out,” Piper said.
“Josh must have said something.”
“Josh said I can trust him, and even though this goes against who I am, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.” Even as Piper said it, a bad feeling jumped up and grabbed her by the throat.
“Saying it doesn’t make it true, Miss Piper,” Rebecca whispered.
“Maybe not, but I know I can trust him. He’s different.”
Rebecca looked up at Piper, her eyes filled with tears. “It’s never different for girls like us.”
“Maybe this time it can be.”
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