Free Circle of Friends, Part 2 by Susan Mallery Page B

you know I think you’re wonderful. Be patient and trust your heart.”
    â€œI don’t have a choice,” Noelle said with a sigh. “I love him and I need to be with him.”
    â€œThen you have your answer.”
    * * *
    D EV GOT HOME from work at his usual time. He braced himself for the auditory onslaught, but the house was quiet. Oddly enough, that made him uneasy. Where was everyone?
    He walked into the kitchen, but it was empty and dark. While he wasn’t worried that Noelle had run off, he would feel better if she were home. Had something happened?
    He glanced at the answering machine, but the light wasn’t blinking. No messages. If something had happened, she would have called. So she was at study group or the grocery store or with a friend. Maybe she and Tiffany had gone shopping.
    He crossed to the refrigerator and pulled it open. The shelves were filled with leftovers, his favorite soda, snacks, ingredients for meals. Before Noelle, he could have stored his winter coat in the space and had plenty of room to spare.
    She’d made changes, and not just in the kitchen. She wanted to make more changes, and that’s what he couldn’t let happen.
    She insisted on wearing her feelings like a badge of honor. She wanted too much from him. Didn’t she understand that love made a person weak?
    He took a soda and popped open the can, then walked toward the bedroom to get changed. As he passed the family room, he heard an odd sound and saw Tiffany curled up on the sofa, obviously crying.
    His first instinct was to run. So were his second and third. But she’d already seen him and as much as he didn’t want to deal with her tears, he couldn’t be so heartless as to walk away now.
    Great, he thought. This was just great. Where was Noelle? Shouldn’t she be handling this?
    He moved into the family room and stopped on the far side of the coffee table. “So, ah, how was your day?”
    Tiffany hiccupped a sob and waved her hand.
    â€œI can see you’re upset. Do you, ah, want to talk about it?”
    To his horror, she nodded.
    Dev swore under his breath and sank into one of the overstuffed chairs opposite the sofa. He set down his briefcase and his drink and forced himself to lean forward to show interest when he would really rather be going through some kind of surgery without being put under.
    â€œYou were at camp today, right?” he asked. “Did something happen there?”
    Tiffany blew her nose. “There’s a boy and I really like him. He’s been talking to me and he even asked for my number, but today I saw him kissing Amber.”
    The last word came out as more of a high-pitched wail. Tiffany covered her face with her hands and began to sob anew.
    Dev looked around for someone to rescue him, but even the pool house looked dark and unoccupied. Just his luck that the one time he needed him, his father was gone. No, wait. His father had always been gone.
    Different crisis, he thought, staring at Tiffany and knowing he was the last person to be helping her. Still, he couldn’t make himself say “Why don’t you wait until your sister gets home.”
    â€œWhat’s his name?” Dev asked, stalling for time.
    â€œJustin. He’s really cute and nice and funny. I hate him and I hate Amber.”
    The need to bolt was so strong, Dev felt his muscles tense in anticipation. Why him? Why now?
    He had no idea what to say. What could possibly comfort Tiffany? Except maybe the truth.
    â€œHow old is Justin?”
    â€œSixteen. He didn’t really want to work in the camp this summer, he wanted to get a job. His parents said he had to for one more year, so they’re paying for the insurance and stuff on his car.” She drew in a shaky breath. “He talked about us driving to the beach but now I bet he’s going to do that with Amber.”
    There were more sobs and tears.
    â€œLook, Tiffany,” he said