One Tiny Secret

Chapter Eight

When we pull up to the outskirts of the forest where the party took place, there are three Holden Ridge deputy cars sitting there.

“Shit! If any of those guys see me, there’s no way it’s not getting back to my dad,” I say, feeling dejected after flipping up my helmet’s visor.

“Well, if they find your car, won’t that be just as bad?” Parker asks.

Why does he have to make sense all the time? It’s kind of annoying…cute, but annoying.

“You’re right. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and head in to get my car. Stay here and wait for me, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll be here,” he replies, as I go to get off the motorcycle.

“Thanks again…for everything,” I say with a slim smile while handing him the helmet.

He removes his helmet and rests it in his lap before taking the one from me. “My pleasure,” he answers with that damn gorgeous grin of his. That grin could melt chocolate—just sayin’. “Oh, and Dani?”

“Yeah?”

“Hey, about the whole us thing—”

“We’ll talk about us later, all right?” I answer.

He nods. “Okay.”

Making my way through the woods, I have yet to come into contact with anyone. As I reach the empty lot where all the cars were parked, I see one of the deputies filling out paperwork next to mine. Which, by the way, is the only one left in the lot. Awesome.

“Well, there’s no time like the present, I guess,” I say under my breath as I leave the security of the trees and move toward the deputy. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone hurrying toward me. I’m afraid to look over once he calls out my name.

“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, young lady!” My father’s voice pierces through me to my core, and I feel my stomach launch into my throat like I was just on a roller coaster that went backward. “What the hell were you doing here last night? And why are you dressed like that?”

So, if I didn’t already know he was pissed with me, the “hell” in his last question definitely cemented that fact. He’s not that big on cursing, and, yes, “hell” is a curse word to my dad.

“Uh…well…what exactly can I say right now that wouldn’t result in my permanent grounding?” I ask, not wanting to know his answer.

“Not much, but you can start with the truth.”

“The truth?”

He nods while crossing his arms over his chest, staring at me sternly. He’s holding his facial features so tight that his face looks like it’s made of stone.

For some reason, I’m suddenly infected with the worst case of word vomit I’ve ever had. So much for keeping secrets. “Well, the truth is that I did know there was a party going on here last night. I did lie about studying with Alex and Rory. I actually made the flyer for this party. I got drunk, passed out, and woke up in a guy’s bed, but nothing happened though. And that’s why my car is the only…one…here.” I notice that his face falls more and more as I keep talking, so I decide to shut up because I’m saying things I really don’t need to confess, but I guess in my mind I was on a roll. One thing I am certain of, though: I’m totally effed.

He lets out a low growling sound. Huh, he’s never made that sound before. He raises his index finger and I see flames—yes, flames—spring up in his eyes as he points at me. I know he wants to yell, but then he just shakes his head and throws up his hands in what looks like frustration.

“I’m not even sure I can process all of this right now. Do you realize what you’ve done?” he asks, sounding so disappointed in me. There’s only one thing that’s worse than a parent being angry with you, and that’s one being disappointed with you.

“I’m so sorry, Dad. I was stupid, you’re right—”

“Samson!” my dad calls out, cutting me off. He waves over the deputy standing next to my car. “Dani, Samson will take you home, and you better believe we’ll be talking about your punishment later. And I want no more discussion about this. I’ve got work to do here.”

“Why are you here?” I ask, irritated that he interrupted me.

“It’s official business. You know I can’t discuss it with you,” he replies. “Samson, please drive my daughter home.”

Samson grabs for my arm to escort me, but I shake free of his grip. “Did something happen here other than the party?” I ask, more irked than before.

Samson tries to grab my arm again, but I dodge him. My father sends me a look I’ve never seen before, and it worries me. He usually tells me everything that happens, but for some reason, he doesn’t want to talk about this. I know it’s more than just him being upset with me.

“Sheriff, we found something,” I hear someone in the distance cry out.

“Samson, please,” he says, gesturing to me with tired eyes.

“Samson, if you touch me again, you’re going to pull back a nub, I swear,” I grind out, and he backs off.

“Dani, listen to me when I say that I have business to attend to. You shouldn’t be here right now, okay?”

“Dad, what happened?” I ask, and then notice the deputy who just called out to Dad approaching us with something in his hands. It’s my picnic basket. “Hey, that’s mine. Why didn’t Janice take it with her when she left?”

“Janice? Janice was here with you last night?” my dad asks. He sounds desperate. “This is very important, Dani. Was Janice here?”

“Did something happen to her?”

“Was she here?” he asks again, but more pointedly this time.

“Yeah…I brought her here. Why?”

My father releases a heavy breath. His eyes fix on me and his facial expression changes to one of apprehension.

“Her mom called the station last night, saying Janice didn’t come home after she went to the library.”

“She’s probably with Gunnar—” I stop suddenly, realizing I may have just messed up by saying his name.

“Gunnar. You mean the Benson boy?” he asks.

“Maybe,” I reply, feeling shitty for having such a big mouth.

“Samson, make a pass by the Benson place and check out my daughter’s story,” he orders. When Samson walks away, my dad turns back to me. “I want you to go home, Dani.”

“But—”

“Dani, I don’t want to hear it, all right? Just go home and stay there.”

“I have to be at work by four,” I argue, which lands me on the receiving end of one serious glare.

“I suggest you call your boss and let her know you’ll not be coming in today,” he replies and points to my car. “Now get going.”

Frustrated, I storm over to my car and slam the door as I get in it. Peeling out of the lot, I exit the forest and see that Parker’s gone.

“Typical,” I murmur while shaking my head.

The drive home seems like it takes forever. Thoughts of Parker keep irritatingly seeping into my brain. I should be pissed at him—again—but I find that he’s all I can think about at the moment. That’s what happens with guys like Parker—they intoxicate you. I mean, he did help me out last night and take care of me this morning. That’s got to count for something, right?

“Stop being stupid, Dani. Once a selfish jerk, always a selfish jerk,” I declare, and blast the radio to drown out any further Parker thoughts.

Turning onto my street, I lower the music’s volume when I see Janice’s mom standing out in front of her house, looking haggard. Her head rises to me as I get closer and she waves me down to stop. Hattie hasn’t talked to me since she warned me to stay away from Janice, so this should be interesting. There’s a hint of desperation in her eyes and I know exactly what this conversation is going to be about as I slow down in front of her.

“Dani, have you seen Janice?” she asks. Her eyes never leave mine.

I feel the truth creeping up my throat and about to exit my mouth, but I swallow hard, not allowing it to. I can’t confess that I took Janice to a party and that she might be over at a boy’s house as we speak.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Oliver, but I haven’t,” I reply, but feel like the worst person ever right after. But should I, though? Janice clearly wanted to get out of the house and have a good time because her mom has been such a nightmare to live with. Plus, it wasn’t like Hattie was that nice to me the last time we actually spoke.

The expression on her face worsens and it breaks my heart, even though there’s still a twinge of happiness for Janice being able to get away from her.

“Well, if you do see her, could you please tell her to come home right away? She’s been gone since last night, and this is just so unlike her,” she says while wringing her hands.

“I will, Mrs. Oliver.”

“Thank you,” she replies, patting my arm that’s resting on the frame of the car door.

I watch as she makes her way back to the front porch and takes a seat in the old-fashioned white rocking chair that sits there.

“Don’t worry. Janice will be home soon,” I say under my breath, though I’m not sure I’m convincing her…or myself.