Free Till I Kissed You by Laura Trentham Page B

But Monroe had never had an interest in such things. Her nature had veered more mature and serious than the rest of the high school girls in their group.
    An unexpected jealousy reared up in her stomach. She wasn’t jealous of Monroe’s nonsplotchy blushes or her long blonde hair. She wasn’t even jealous of the claim Cade Fournette had on Monroe’s time.
    She had once been in love like Monroe. She had walked around pooping rainbows and smiling at the rain. It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and she’d lost it. She beat the jealousy back into the closet of her soul that she avoided opening.
    â€œSounds lovely.” And it did sound lovely, but she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “Any word from your mother? Have things gotten easier?”
    A hint of sadness crossed Monroe’s face. “Better than the first couple of weeks. She didn’t do as much crying and begging to come home this past Sunday on the phone.”
    Any unkind, selfish feeling vanished, and Regan rose to give her friend a bracing hug. Even though Monroe’s mother had agreed to attend a residential program for alcoholics, when the day came to check in, she’d changed her mind, forcing Monroe into coercion and threats.
    Another shadow crossed Monroe’s face. “Sam is fighting the extradition to Georgia. Something about statute of limitations. I don’t know. Cade was pissed and yelling at the state lawyer assigned to the case.”
    â€œBut he’s still in jail?”
    â€œFor now. Tarwater Senior is pressing hard for bail. There’s another hearing next week.”
    â€œWill you go?”
    â€œIf it helps keep him behind bars, I will.” Monroe chewed on her bottom lip. “Kayla is terrified. I talked Tally into giving her a job. I’m hoping between school and work, she’ll stay out of trouble, but also be protected, you know?”
    Monroe was doing anything not to feel helpless, but if Sam Landry got out and wanted to hurt Kayla, he would find a way. Regan twirled a piece of hair that had come loose at her neck. “Are you taking measures to protect yourself?”
    â€œSam Landry can’t even meet my eyes in court. He’s afraid of me. And Cade. Men like him only prey on the vulnerable. Girls like Kayla and women like my mama. Don’t you worry about me.”
    Regan had never heard Monroe sound so hard and intimidating, and she was reminded, despite the outward smiles, her friend was a double black belt and had taught Sam a harsh lesson in the back alley of the Rivershack Tavern in June.
    â€œYou know what? I’m not worried about you one bit. But where was that fire the night of the rabbit kerfuffle?” Regan’s tease brought a true smile back to Monroe’s face.
    â€œCade and I weren’t exactly fighting over rabbits that night.”
    â€œAll the greasepaint he transferred from his face to yours kind of tipped me off.” Regan winked in her direction.
    â€œAnyway, you had enough fire for the both of us. You took Sawyer down that night as I recall.”
    A flush of heat spread through her body. She grabbed a brochure of paint colors and fanned herself. She had indeed taken him down. Seeing him holding two squirming rabbits by the ears had enraged her. The speed at which she’d overtaken him had surprised them both, and she’d jumped on his back like a monkey. The rabbits had hopped away.
    Her momentum had taken them both to the ground. After they hit the grass, they’d tussled until his strength trumped her fury, and she ended up underneath him, her hands trapped over her head, her hair in her eyes.
    She’d squirmed and tried to pull her hands free, her plan to rake her fingernails down his face, but he’d firmed his grip. His touch was rough yet he hadn’t hurt her. In fact, his grip, his scent, the press of his body shot a buzz through her. A buzz she couldn’t blame on the beers