Christmas parade on Main Street every year and unfortunately, my hotel's on the same road. After twenty minutes of redirection,

's to a lady I went to high school with. I don't remember h

soccer team... Or maybe it wa

ny potential bypassers. San Antonio is small. The odds of someone recognizing me are high. Especially with the reputation I had

nny." I look at his name tag. Jack. I must have gone to high school with him if am right about his age. I would have been closer to graduating when he started school but regardl

. Yeah." He extends

e first time he's seen boobs that aren't behi

ke, Old man Fr

d replace it with a smi

ng away on his computer with such vigor I'm

person who's checked in all da

ration?" I'm joking but the kid's face flashes pale if only for a moment

op a table at the other side of the room. "And we have a landline if you need.

he keycard and start toward

thing, just come get me, okay?" He chuckles awkwardly. "Faster than the sheriff, y

to a pretty girl. What's he planning on doing if someone tries to traffi

ks, J

find my way to my r

the parking lot. I'll move my car to the spot in front of my room l

I didn't see anyone else who would be interested in talking. He must have followed me from the front office. I let out a slow bre

one who was talking to Sheriff Graysto

er on the top. She's wearing a dorky smile on her face

"Is this some kind of Ch

s black. Hers is short, mine is long and wavy. I have to look up just to talk to her and she's built. Not in a muscle build

laugh all day. It's charming. "C

s not that bad being home when

pink. She look

the red letter A on all my shirts." I say

me, her blue eyes

dark. "I never beli

ou shou

nice to have a friend while I'm in to

t the letterman's jacket," I sa

or. She's tall enough to let her rest h

my stomach. Maybe visiti

g over my shoulder. I could use good carefree

again, I can tell she knows what I'm implying. Starting my trip here with

crooked smile and I think she's about to agree but she shak

h

a total rejection either. Still, I ca

" I leave the que

rsity of San Antonio." She shrugs. "I kno

my cards on the table like this but I've also never been rejected by someone before. Espe

me. It's just a charity game but we play a

p it. "The town riva

Sophy." She stands up straight. "It'll

forget? I remember always thinking her name was cute when we went

," she shouts back. Facing me again, she

my last name. Did she do it on purpose?

st friend, you know so..." I'm rambling. I know I am but I can't help it. I have

abs my s

ng to make me absorb the severity of the situation. She steps closer an

going to talk me out of saving my best friend's life, she's wrong. Nothing

u get going." I move to clo

ou're not

y, Hazel." I push on the door again and th

against the door and

st anyone from this town. Especially h

n excuse to get me out of town. And why? Because she's

ect reputation. And she'll get what she wants once I find Ol