Secrets by Leanne Davis

could feel his gaze on her. It made her extremely nervous. And extremely aware of him. He drove her home, parked and walked with her into the apartment.
    “Well, at least you made me do something. I don’t know what to think of this.”
    “I don’t either.”
    They looked at each other. What were they talking about? The potential stalker or each other? Sarah turned her gaze away, suddenly very interested in her floor covering.
    Scott cleared his throat, and stepped back. “You shouldn’t stay alone tonight.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    “Don’t be stubborn. Have someone come stay with you.”
    “There’s no one to call.”
    He frowned and shook his head. “What do you mean?”
    “There’s no one I can call,” she said turning away and pretending to rifle through her mail on the counter. She was too embarrassed to look at him with the truth of her isolated status.
    “You have parents.”
    “Yes, well they’re older and sickly. I can’t burden them with this. My brother is only fifteen, and my friends are either married or almost.”
    “So? Tell them what’s going on. Be smart, Sarah.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    “Sure, as I walk out of here and you’re in this quiet apartment that someone came up to the door of last night. That’s how you will be fine?”
    She quivered inside at his accurate description. She took a deep breath. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”
    Silence met her. She peeked up at him through her lashes. He stood with his hands on his hips and toe tapping. He looked pissed. “You know burying your head isn’t going to make this go away, or change that it’s happening.”
    “I know that.”
    “Do you? Tell your family. Burden them, be smart. Be safe.”
    “You don’t understand about my family. It’s really complicated.”
    “Okay. I don’t get it. But if you won’t go to them, stay with Kelly.”
    “She’s getting married tomorrow. I can’t show up there for a sleep over tonight of all nights.”
    Scott narrowed his gaze. “John and Cassie’s then.”
    “They have two little boys in the house. No way.”
    “Okay, pick another friend. There has to be someone.”
    “No, there doesn’t. There is no one else. There you go, former prom queen is the utter cliché, all the glory at eighteen, and near loser in her twenties. I have few friends. Do you need me to spell it out for you more? The fact that I told you I don’t go out much? I don’t do much but with the Tyler family. None of that got through to you, did it? I’m not who I was in high school.”
    He was quiet watching her as she talked. She started pacing as she spoke, dropping her head after her tirade, feeling him still tracking her movements with his gaze.
    “Vanessa needs me home, so I can’t stay here.”
    She looked back at him. His tone was kinder than it had been. Finally, he seemed to comprehend she was a loner, loser, a complete and utter lame, washed out, prom queen.
    “You stay here?” Her tone came out more high strung than she meant it to.
    “Am I that distasteful for you?”
    “No, I didn’t mean it that way. I was just surprised.”
    “Did you miss the part where I was at the police station with you?”
    She smiled, chagrined. “No.”
    “Why would you be shocked I’m worried about you staying here alone? You say you have nowhere you feel like you can go…why wouldn’t I offer you help?”
    “I’m not your responsibility or even a friend.”
    “Call me your friend. Look, it’s getting late. Just come back to my house tonight, and we’ll figure something more permanent out tomorrow when we have time.”
    “What about Vanessa?”
    “What about her?”
    “She’ll scratch my eyes out.”
    Scott sighed as he squeezed the bridge of his nose with his hand. “She’s not going to scratch your eyes out. It’s my house. I bring home who I want.”
    “You don’t usually bring me home though.” Who did Scott usually bring home? And how often?
    “I guess tonight, I am.”
    ****
    Sarah wasn’t