Page 128 of Protecting You
“This is Shadow Cove, not Boston. It’s not exactly the crime-capital of the world.”
Facing Brooklynn, Alyssa crossed her arms. “Didn’t you read about the college student who was raped and murdered? Evil people exist everywhere. You need to protect yourself.”
Brooklynn started to argue, then grinned, eyes bright with curiosity. “Trying to distract me?”
“I’m serious. You need to?—”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.” Brooklynn’s gaze flicked toward the living room. “Except maybe the vapors.” Fanning her face, she affected a Southern accent. “Where’d you find that tall drink of water?”
“Ebay.” Alyssa grabbed two glasses from the open shelves. “I need to talk to you about him.”
“Ooh, what is it?” Brooklynn stepped closer. “I heard there was a secret?”
“You heard? From…?” She knew the answer. Telephone, telegraph… “Frannie called you.”
“She said she ran into you a couple of days ago—at a hotel with a hottie.”
“We were talking in a courtyard.” Sheesh. The gossipy woman had made it sound like they’d been caught in the act or something.
“I know.” Brooklynn’s smile froze in the corners. “She was just excited for you. So, tell me about him.”
This was going to hurt. She hated it. Hated lying. Hated…all of it.
“He and I…” Didn’t go to school together. She needed to remember the pretend story. “We met years ago, but we recently reconnected, and uh… This is going to be surprising, so try to temper your reaction.”
Brooklynn’s expression dimmed. “What?”
“We’re engaged.”
And now…Brooklynn’s smile was gone. “You’reengaged.To a total stranger?”
“He’s not a stranger to?—”
“You’ve never said a word about him to anyone. ExceptFrannie,I guess. Does she know?” She must’ve read Alyssa’s expression, because she said, “Great. Frannie knew before me.”
“Caleb didn’t realize… He’s excited to start telling people.”
“Unlike you, I guess. We saw you last weekend. Could you really not… Wait. Did you at least tell Mom? Please tell me Mom knows.”
“No, I?—”
“Does Kenzie know?”
“Nobody knows.” It said something about Alyssa’s relationship with her sister that she didn’t question the truth of it. She wasn’t suspicious. She fully believed that Alyssa would start dating, fall in love, and get engaged, and never say a word. “It’s brand new. You’re the first to know. We haven’t even told Peri.”
Brooklynn’s gaze dropped to Alyssa’s left hand. No ring, of course.
“I’ll start wearing it after everybody knows,” Alyssa lied. So many lies. “Like I said, it happened really fast. We were going to tell his parents and Peri, but his dad had a heart attack yesterday. He’s still in the hospital. It wasn’t the right time.”
“He’s okay? His dad?”
“Yeah. But it was a scare.”
“Hmm.”
There was nothing to do but keep going. “We want to tell Mom and Dad and everyone else today, so I might need your help. We don’t know what to do with Peri.”
“I see.” Brooklynn took the glasses and filled them with ice. After the rumble of the ice machine and the clinking, she faced Alyssa again. “You’re telling me now not because I’m your sister and you want to confide in me, but because you need my help.”
