No. She couldn’t deal with that. Jumping to her feet, Sami rushed for the stairs, forgetting about the coffee and toast. There was only one thing to do, and that was to get the hell out of here. She grabbed her suitcase and stuffed clothes into it, overwhelmed by the sudden need to be gone. She couldn’t face Allie or any of the rest of them.
She stared at her suitcase, suddenly realizing she had no ride. She’d sold her car to pay her legal fees when things blew up at the clinic. She’d bought a Greyhound ticket to Grandpointe to visit Carly, not knowing what else to do, and then AJ and Crash had driven her around. But they were gone.
She had to go to the diner and find out what was going on. Lucy and Susan had to be wrong. Carly wouldn’t run away with Crash. They were best friends. Everything would be okay. She’d insist that Carly let her stay and help this time. She might not be as charming or cute as Carly, but she could at least wait tables while Carly worked on her building issues. There was certainly no point in staying here. She hunted for tissues, trying to stop the tears but knowing that they would start again any second. So maybe today wouldn’t be a good time to start waiting tables. But it was still the only place she could imagine going. She felt guilty asking Carly to help her, since Carly had so many other problems at the moment, but it was her only option.
Sami grabbed her purse but decided to come back later for her luggage. She mustered every ounce of dignity she possessed as she went back downstairs and casually opened the screen door again.
“Are you leaving, too?” Lucy asked in surprise. She had an arm around Susan’s shoulder now, and the other woman was a little flushed, almost panting. She must be upset by what they saw this morning, Sami thought.
Plastering a smile on her face, she nodded. “I need to go to the diner, too. Do you think you could give me a ride into town?”
The two women exchanged a look. “Greg and Roy took our car,” Susan said apologetically.
“Ours is still here. I’ll be happy to give you a ride.” Lucy jumped up and planted a kiss on Susan’s forehead. “I’ll see you in a bit. Let me just grab my keys.”
As Lucy drove, she chattered about how much fun she was having, obviously trying to cheer Sami up. Sami stared out the window, not listening to her prattle, thinking about the situation. She should be grateful for the one night she’d had with Crash and AJ. How many women could say they’d made love to two semi-pro football players at the same time? Especially such gorgeous ones. That was not a happy thought either, though, since it brought up images of cheerleaders and orgies. No doubt all of that stuff about how they’d never done it before and didn’t want to hurt her was all bullshit. It was probably their shtick. Convince some stupid cunt that she was so special they couldn’t stop themselves, even though they’d never even considered doing something like this before. Then they’d get her into bed, only to be gone before she woke up—
Stupid, stupid, stupid. How could she have fallen for that? They shouldn’t be playing football. They should be in movies. They’d totally had her believing that they were sincere, they wanted her to come and live with them, they would take care of her forever.
Same old lies women had been fooled by for centuries. She should have known better, especially after Ron. She’d been right not to trust any of them. But when it came down to it, she was just as gullible as anybody else. Maybe she should become a nun. Obviously she wasn’t smart enough to live in the real world. They would make her feel protected, the way she’d felt last night when—
Grandpointe was coming into view now, and Lucy looked at her, waiting for directions. She pointed out the turn to Carly’s diner, assuring Lucy that she’d be able to catch a ride back later, already feeling a little calmer. She’d go in, calmly ask for a cup of tea and some breakfast, and Carly would explain what was going on. Carly was the one thing she could count on. They’d always been there for each other. Sami’s parents lived in Florida now, clear across the country and caught up in their own lives. They would listen, but they’d be shocked by her involvement with Ron. She could hear her mother’s voice in her head. “You’re lucky you got out of there without a criminal record. So you had a fling. They’re athletes. They probably have a different woman every night of the week. Forget them and move on. It wouldn’t have worked anyway, and you said you couldn’t decide which of them you wanted. That ‘open marriage’ stuff never works in the long run. It’s for the best, dear.”
It was for the best. It had to be. She had to toughen up, get herself together, and move on. She couldn’t stay here, not after this humiliation, but maybe she could move someplace close.
“Everything will be okay, dear.” Lucy stopped at a red light and turned to Sami, putting out a hand to pat her arm.
“Oh, yes. Thanks.” She made her voice as cheerful as she could, grabbing her purse and taking advantage of the light to jump out. “There’s the diner up ahead about half a block, where that red convertible and the truck are parked. I’ll just get out here, and you can circle back around to the highway. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be back later.”
She slammed the door before Lucy could protest and hurried up the sidewalk toward the diner. It looked homey and welcoming, like the setting on a popular sitcom. Like she would walk in and all of her friends would be sitting around on couches with coffee, cracking jokes about their lives.
As she got closer, four people came out of the diner and walked toward the truck. Sami recognized Carly’s long, silky blonde hair, pulled back in a ponytail as usual, and opened her mouth to call out. Then she saw that Carly was looking up at someone large, bulky, and dark standing beside her.
It was Crash. He had an arm around Carly’s shoulders, and he squeezed as she nodded at something he’d said. Behind them AJ emerged, talking to a tall, thin girl whose hair was pulled back like Carly’s.
Sami stopped in her tracks, then ducked into the space between two buildings, peering back out at the group. She felt like smacking herself in the forehead. That had to be Tammy. Of course Tammy would come back. Who would let someone like AJ get away? Crash and Carly hugged then, and Carly kissed him on the cheek. Sami suddenly realized what a good-looking couple they made, Crash’s dark coloring against Carly’s elegant, shining beauty. They’d probably been playing Carly and Sami at the same time. Sami had been a quick fuck, but Carly was a keeper, the perfect type to be the wife of a professional athlete, just like the other blonde talking earnestly to AJ. Sami knew she was jumping to conclusions again, but it had always been that way with them. Ever since third grade guys had used her to get close to tall, beautiful, slender Carly. Or at least they’d tried to. Carly could always see through their games, and she’d blow them off, assuring a usually tearful Sami that they weren’t worth her time or her grief.
This time was different. In school she’d known, at least on some level, that those guys were only playing. AJ and Crash had convinced her that they weren’t like that. When they’d said they were falling in love with her, she’d allowed herself to go someplace she hadn’t been in a long time—maybe ever. She might have told herself that she could deal with it if they only wanted a one-night stand, but in reality her heart was well and truly involved. Now it was beginning to break as her suspicions were confirmed. The four of them laughed about something as Sami peered out at them again. She could see the Closed sign in the doorway of the diner, and somehow the sight of it proved the truth of everything Lucy had said.
That was that. AJ had Tammy back, and Crash wouldn’t have agreed to a threesome if he wanted her for himself. Guys just weren’t like that. Sami turned and fled. The only thing she felt was a desperate, blinding need to be anywhere other than in Grandpointe. As she ran, she became aware of the jersey she’d put on and began wrenching and tearing at it to get it off. It seemed like the perfect symbol of the guys’ betrayal, and she needed to be rid of it. Her purse swung blindly, bashing her in the nose. She cursed at the pain as she saw a few drops of blood land on the jersey. Pulling the offending garment
over her head, she tossed it away and wiped the remaining blood on her jeans.
Chapter 17
AJ settled himself in the middle of the truck’s bench seat, thankful that there wasn’t a gearshift between his knees. Crash sat next to him on the passenger side, and Carly leaned in the window looking harassed but grateful. “Thanks again, guys, for going with Ginny to pick up the new fryer and water heater. I’m so glad to hear that things are working out between you and Sami.”
Crash grinned at her as Ginny climbed in and started the engine. “You mean Buffy. It’s a little strange, we know, but we’ve been talking about it, and I think it could be the perfect arrangement. AJ can be there when she wants to have the serious feelings conversations, and I’ll be there when she wants to have some fun.”
Carly laughed, despite the frown line between her eyes. “Sounds like a great plan. Good luck not being dragged into those conversations yourself, though.”
AJ groaned. “Don’t be fooled. He’s been the one starting them lately.”
“Okay, get going before they sell my fryer to someone else,” Carly said, standing back. “I really appreciate you guys doing this.”
“Not a problem. You know you should call Dennis today, too.” Crash gave her a stern look. “He can help you. He wants to help you. You’d be stupid not to take advantage of his knowledge and expertise in this.”
Carly rolled her eyes but nodded.
Crash shook a finger at her. “How would you feel if you were the only one who could help him with something important and he refused because you were too pretty to be sincere?”
Carly backed away and waved as they pulled into the street.
“So where is this place we’re going?” AJ asked as they headed out of town.
“It’s a used restaurant supply place about an hour away.” Ginny checked her mirrors and turned toward the highway. “I really appreciate you guys coming with me. I’d never be able to lift this stuff by myself, and you can’t count on them to help.”
“What all does she need?”
Ginny pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. “Here’s the list Lou brought with him this morning in his surprise inspection. He gave her twenty-four hours to get all this shit fixed. Can you believe it?”
“It’s lucky she has you to help out now,” Crash observed as he and AJ looked over the list. “Wow. How is she going to get all that done?”
“We are going to get her some replacement appliances,” Ginny said. “Karl and Allie are trying to round up people to get new flooring tiles and get them installed today.”
“What about the new refrigerator?” AJ asked, frowning at the list.
Ginny sighed. “He’s just going to have to give her a little leeway on that one. We’ve put all of our cash together to get the fryer and water heater.”
“Do they have refrigerators at this place we’re going?”
“Probably.” Ginny shrugged. “I can ask about a payment plan, maybe. But she won’t be able to pay anything if he closes her down tomorrow. I don’t think he will, though. I have a feeling he’s after something else.”
“Like what?”
She gave him a sidelong look. “I’m not sure. He really seems to have some kind of grudge that he’s taking out on several small businesses in the area, from what I’ve heard. Most of this stuff is bullshit.”
AJ scowled. “She hasn’t reported him?”
“No, I don’t think so. Fortunately, Allie had a talk with Carly last night and convinced her to start letting some community members help her out. They’re going to have a meeting later about how to deal with Lou.”
“She’s actually going to accept help this time, then?”
“Sounds like it. She’s been so damn stubborn, but it looks like she’s finally going to be reasonable. It’s about time, too, with all she does for other people.”
“What do you mean?” Crash leaned forward to see around AJ.
“Carly makes and delivers food to needy families throughout the year, and I know she’s planning a big Thanksgiving and Christmas ‘orphans’ dinner.”
“Orphans?” AJ repeated.
Ginny smiled. “Yeah, but not real orphans. It’s for people who don’t have much family nearby, but everybody is invited. She’s planning on having Daddy Dave and his boys do the serving dressed in their leathers to show people that the BDSM community isn’t a bunch of dangerous, scary people.”
“Oh, you mean like the bikers who deliver toys to children’s hospitals at Christmas?” Crash said.
“Kind of like that. I’m glad I started working for Carly, although I haven’t gotten to cook much yet. She’s got a really good heart. If she can just swallow her pride a little now and let people help her, it could really bring the community together in a good way. Allie convinced her that all those people she fed this summer will really appreciate the opportunity to help her now when she needs it. It was a very warm and fuzzy moment.”
* * * *
“Lucy brought her here?” Crash put his hands on his hips and glared around the room, gratified to see that almost everyone leaned back involuntarily. Allie had just returned from making lunch for the group at Clifftop, which she reported was only Susan and Lucy at the moment. Buffy had disappeared somewhere this morning, and he needed to know why and where, and when she was coming back. They’d only claimed her last night, and he didn’t want to lose her again so soon. Or ever.
Allie was putting out sandwiches and cans of soda for the people gathered to work at the diner. “She said it was around eight. Buffy came out and asked for a ride.”
“But we were here then. That was just about the time we were getting ready to go get the fryer, but we were here. Why didn’t we see her?”
“I don’t know. Apparently she told Lucy she’d get a ride back.”
Crash took a step closer. “But she never came in and hasn’t come back yet?”
“No.” Allie met his eyes.
“No one has seen her? Anywhere? How about a phone call? Has anyone tried calling her?” He could feel his blood pressure increasing and his fists bunching up at his sides.
Karl’s hand fastened on his arm, and he was distracted from his interrogation. “Calm down, Crash. We’re all friends here. We’ll help you find her.”
“I swear she never came in after you left,” Carly said from across the room.
“So what do we do now?”
“Well, let’s try your idea and give her a call before freaking out.”
“Already on it,” Carly said. “But it just goes to voice mail.”
“Give me her number, and I’ll keep trying,” AJ told her, getting his own phone out.
Karl looked around. “I guess the obvious thing to do now is to split up and drive around looking for her. She didn’t have a car, right?”
Carly shook her head.
“No other friends in the area?”
“No.”
“Okay, then. Has anyone heard her mention any place around here that she wanted to go?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Crash, AJ, you two have spent the most time with her lately. Any ideas?”
Crash scowled. “Fuck, no. Sorry.”
Karl sighed. “In that case, Allie, could you go and call Chuck, please? Let him know what’s going on, and ask him to look around for her if he can. I don’t think we need to jump the gun and file a missing persons report, but if Chuck’s not busy I’m sure he’ll have some ideas and be able to get some help without making things worse. Then you and Carly stay here in case she comes back. The rest of us will split up and go looking for her. Everyone write down your cell phone numbers so we can get ahold of you easily if—when she gets back. If you find her, call in to Allie right away, and she’ll let everyone else know. I’ll call Clifftop and ask them to keep a watch out for her. Any questions?”
They all dispersed with lists of numbers and maps of Grandpointe. Crash followed AJ to the red Mustang they’d rented that morning, feeling his
spirits drop with every step. She was gone. They’d been too much for her. It had freaked her out. She’d said she wanted them both—hell, she’d even seduced them—but when it came down to it she obviously couldn’t handle it.
“I’m sorry, man.” He dropped into the passenger seat and stared morosely out the window.
“For what?”
“For not leaving the two of you alone last night. She probably wouldn’t have left if I hadn’t been there ruining everything.”
“Knock it off.” AJ put the key in the ignition, but instead of starting up the car he turned to Crash. “That’s bullshit, do you understand? I never thought I’d ever share a woman, but last night was the most unbelievable experience of my life. I believe Buffy loves us both, you as much as me. I can’t imagine why she would choose either one of us, but she wouldn’t have initiated last night if it wasn’t exactly what she wanted. Now shut up and eat your candy bar.”
He tossed something over. Crash looked down at the plastic-wrapped goodie on his lap, then back up at his friend, who was waiting to turn into the street with a grim expression.
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes. I do. Eat your candy bar and then get out the map and decide the best places for us to look.”
* * * *
Sami lay on the grass, staring at the sky and thinking hard. She was beginning to regret having torn off Crash’s jersey so impulsively this morning. The air seemed unusually cool, not at all what the bright sun had promised. She had dozed a little. Her arms felt chilled from the ground underneath her. But there was nothing to do about that now. She’d run off in a rage when she saw Crash and AJ with Tammy, and now she had to decide what to do about it.
She got up, brushing the grass from her shirt, and began walking aimlessly, rubbing her arms to warm them up a little. She didn’t know anybody in this town other than Carly and the group at Clifftop, and she didn’t really want to talk to any of them until she decided what to do about AJ and Crash. Maybe if she got a cup of coffee it would warm her up and help her think.
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