Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) by Ellisa Reese Page B

that?”
    “I don’t know. It just slipped out. I wanted to get away from him.”
    “So,” he paused, “it was possibly Brad?”
    I could tell he was angry. He didn’t have the dark look on his face like Brad did when he was mad, but I could tell.
    “Ok,” is all he said.
    We watched the rest of the game, me dozing off every now and then, only to be abruptly woken by Michael yelling “Oh!” Then he whispered, “Sorry.”
    “Alex,” I heard him say, “It’s almost mid night . I gotta go home.”
    “Ok,” I rolled over, “I’ll walk you out.”
    But I didn’t. I woke up the next morning, sad that I never got a kiss from him.
     
    “I feel like going to the game, Mom. I have been asleep for forty days and forty nights like Old Man VanWinkle.”
    Mom laughed, “Still a bit tired?”
    “I guess. Ok, it was Noah for forty days and nights and VanWinkle slept for 20 years. See, I’m one hundred percent . May I please go?”
    “Ok, but do not be alone at anytime. Do you understand me?”
    “Thanks Mom. I love you!”
     
    I walked across the street to get Erica. She was in her room still getting dressed.
    I plopped down on the bed. “You gotta hurry. The game is going to start soon.” I was hoping to talk to Michael before it started.
    “You know Brad will be there, don’t you?”
    “Yeah,” I shrugged, “its fine. I’m good.”
    “Do you think he did it?”
    “I have no idea. I wish it could be dropped. I wish people would stop texting me asking who did it. I even got a message from Megan that she heard Gavin did it. Gavin moved to Florida two years ago. I am pretty sure he didn’t fly back to slip me a roofie. I ended up turning my phone off cause I was tired of it buzzing. I went all day without hearing from Michael.”
    “You could have silenced it.”
    “You aren’t getting the point. I just don’t want to talk about it period.”
    “Sorry,” she said sympathetically. “I need to warn the girls. That is all the talk with them. I am surprised they haven’t bought a DNA and fingerprint kit. Way too many CSI and Criminal Mind episodes.”
    I guess our life in our little town was simply so dull that this was a little excitement that the girls needed to get through the summer. I just wasn’t thrilled it was at my expense.
     
    We walked to the ballpark and as I made my way up the bleachers, Kaitlyn and Abbie instantly had pathetic puppy eyes and were watching me getting closer , ready to pounce on me for info.
    “Abort,” Erica interrupted. “Don’t even play detectives,” she warned. “Take the day off, Mulder and Scully. There’s no crime solving during the game.”
    I could see they were disappointed. “Just give me a while. I’ll talk to you later this evening. I just want to watch the game. I really am going to be useless. I don’t remember much of anything that will satisfy you.”
    “It ’ s fine,” Kaitlyn smiled. “I’m just glad you feel better.”
              I looked over to the dugout trying to find Michael. My dad was standing in front of team giving them his pep talk. Michael saw me and smiled. The heart, the heart, I felt it pound.
    He held up his phone signaling me to look at mine.
    Water! Please xxxoooo
    “Who wants to go to the concession stand with me? I need to get Michael a bottled water.”
    “I’ll go,” Kaitlyn offered. “Be careful, Alex.” She took my arm and led me down the bleachers. I didn’t need help, I was fine, but I knew it wasn’t worth telling her. She would do it anyway.
    “Hey Alex,” I heard just about everyone say as we walked past them. I would look back and see them whispering. I was extremely embarrassed and paranoid that they were talking about me.
    I got t wo waters and headed to the dug out. My heart was beating harder than I ever felt before. I stopped and took a deep breath. “Are you okay?” Kaitlyn asked. “You need to sit?”
    “I’m good,” I lied. “Let’s take Michael his water and then