Town of Chance: Sweet Caroline (The Dare 5)

“Sure you do. It’s better than moping around here and analyzing all the things you think you’ve done wrong in your life.”

“I’m not doing that.”

Shelby crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave Caroline the stare-down.

“Don’t even try that with me. I’ve been where you are, remember? Hell, I’ll probably always look over my shoulder and worry about Skip showing up here, but I made the decision

to live my life. To live a better life than the one I had back in New York. You need to start doing that, too.”

“But I don’t want to have to converse with people and make new friends or deal with any men.”

She squinted her eyes at her sister.

“What the hell does that mean?” Shelby asked.

“It means that going to a bar to hear a band and where there’s drinking and socializing that they’ll be men. Men that I don’t need to be around. Men that remind me of Cameron and how stupid I had been to believe him to be sincere. I can’t fall for the same bullshit lines and pretend compassion. I can’t. And to tell you the truth, until my ability to judge a person’s character begins to strengthen and be accurate, I have no problem sticking around here on my days off and my free evenings. In fact, I’m going to volunteer at the library tomorrow all day for their book drive event.”

“But I thought you would join all of us at the beach and get to know the girls.”

“Another time. I’m not ready to go prancing around in my bikini.”

Shelby felt her chest tighten with concern.

“Honey, do you have more injuries from Cameron that you didn’t tell me about?”

“Nothing like that. They’re all gone, and thank God no scars as reminders. Just another week and I can get this damn last reminder off.” Caroline rubbed the cast.

“It will be gone soon enough. I don’t have to go tonight. I can stay here and hang out with you.”

“No, go and have fun with your friends. I’m fine here, really.”

“Are you sure? I might be kind of late.”

“Go. I’m fine.”

* * * *

“Is that a new shirt?” C.J. asked his brother Hunter.

Hunter brushed his hands down the front and fixed his belt. “Maybe,” he said as he looked around the bar.

“Who the hell are you looking for?” C.J. asked him and then took a slug of beer. He and York had been at Spencer’s an hour already and hadn’t caught sight of the pretty platinum-blonde Caroline.

“What’s with you and the new shirt?” York asked Hunter.

“Nothing. I stopped into mom’s store and she talked me into some shirts she put aside for me.”

“You were in Mom’s store? When?” York asked.

“Yesterday.”

“Who the hell do you keep looking for?” C.J. asked him.

“No one. What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? First of all you’re acting fucking strange,” C.J. said.

“How so?”