A Stranger on the Beach. Michele Campbell

I was sick of this game and annoyed at myself. I’d dodged a bullet. If the surfers hadn’t stumbled into the cave when they did, Aidan would likely have forced himself on me. He could try that again if we were alone in his apartment. But my keys—I had to get them back. I could call the cops. I didn’t want to; it would be embarrassing for both of us. But he wasn’t leaving me much choice.

      I opened my phone, contemplating whether to call 911. Then I remembered. The police would never help me. Aidan’s brother was the chief. It was my own fault for getting involved with a complete stranger. I wanted to scream. But the phone rang in my hands, startling me into dropping it and catching it again. It was Hannah.

      “Hi, sweetheart,” I said. “I was about to call you.”

      I heard soft snuffling on the other end of the line, and my stomach dropped.

      “Oh, baby,” I said. “Hannah. Honey, please, don’t cry.”

      “Mom? How could you do this?”

      I paused. Was she taking Jason’s side, when he was the one who cheated?

      “Me? What did I do?” I asked.

      “How could you not tell me, Mom?” she said, her voice rising in grief.

      “Oh. Well, I was working up to telling you.”

      “If you guys split, it’s like my whole life was a lie.”

      “This has nothing to do with you. It’s about Dad and me.”

      “Were you purposely staying together until I left home? That makes me feel lied to.”

      “No. Nothing like that.”

      “Why didn’t you tell me you were having problems?”

      “I didn’t know, until the party.”

      “You were going to let him leave the country, and not even tell me?”

      “Leave the country? What are you talking about?”