Free Chasing Shadows by S.H. Kolee Page B

revelation, but kept quiet as Sarah continued.
    "Except she had a miscarriage at six weeks. She was devastated, not only because of the baby, but because she knew she was going to lose Grant. She made him promise to stay with her, and he did because she was so distraught over the loss of the baby. She was so depressed that he was afraid that she would do something to hurt herself."
    Despite my instant dislike of Cara at the birthday party for Kendra, Simon's sister, I felt a wave of sympathy wash over me. No one deserved to experience that kind of loss. Maybe that explained her behavior.
    "Except Grant realized at a certain point that she was using that loss to manipulate him into staying with her. That's why they had such a rocky relationship. Every time he would break up with her, she would cry and tell him she wasn't over losing their baby. Until finally he couldn't take it anymore and told her it was over for good. Cara made him promise to tell her if he started seeing someone, and he felt so guilty that he agreed."
    "Wow," I finally said, shocked that I had no idea what Grant had been going through. "It just goes to show you that you don't always know the things people have to deal with."
    Sarah nodded. "Grant told me he's always had feelings for me, but he was afraid to act on them. Even though he was tired of Cara's games, he was afraid that she would do something drastic if he started dating me. Apparently, she accidentally found out that he cared about me through Marcus. Marcus mentioned it offhandedly the summer after our junior year when he was visiting Grant, and she was livid. He finally decided at Kendra's party that he didn't care whether Cara got upset anymore, but he still wanted to honor the promise to tell her if he started seeing someone. He realized today that he won't let anyone stand in our way. When he thought something had happened to me, he was beside himself."
    "So, are you two together now?"
    Sarah nodded, happiness shining in her eyes. I hugged her, glad that something good was coming out of all this. And if anyone deserved something good to happen to them, it was Sarah.
    "I'm so happy for you, Sarah."
    Sarah hugged me back. "It's just like I told you. We're gonna be related!"
    I laughed, feeling real joy coursing through me. It was a heady feeling with everything that was happening.
    "I have a feeling Grant won't be needing that sleeping bag anymore," I teased.
    "No kidding! I've been waiting a long time for this!"
    I grinned, although she made me promise to come get her if I needed to talk. I left the bathroom and quietly opened my bedroom door in case Simon had fallen asleep in my absence. It was unnecessary because he was lying down on the bed with his head propped up on his arm. He was under the covers so I had no idea what he was wearing on the bottom but I could clearly see that he was shirtless. His gaze traveled down my body and up again, and I was keenly conscious of the shorts and thin t-shirt I was wearing to bed. I hadn't given it a second thought when I grabbed the clothes I usually wore to bed, but now I was wishing I had changed into something bulkier, especially since I wasn't wearing a bra.
    Simon lifted the edge of the bedcover invitingly, and I silently slipped inside next to him, not knowing what to say. For the first time, I realized how small my twin bed was. Simon stayed on his side as I laid on my back, staring up at him. He lifted a lock of my damp hair, rubbing it between his fingertips.
    "Do you know how many times I've imagined you lying next to me like this?"
    I shook my head, having lost the ability to speak.
    "I'll admit, these aren't the circumstances that I imagined." Simon's eyes darkened as he dropped my hair and gently traced the outline of my lips with his finger. I knew what he was thinking about. "I didn't think our lives would be in danger. And I didn't think I would ever hurt you."
    "Shh," I whispered, reaching up to grasp his neck and pull him down to me.