His hands ran up under my jersey, caressing my back and pulling me closer to him over the center console. He showered my neck in increasingly eager kisses as I maneuvered my hips closer to him. I pulled his shirt from the waistband of his pants and ran my fingers over his slightly-squishy stomach when it sounded like the glass on the driver’s side window exploded.
We separated like two kids caught making out at lover’s point.
“What was that?” I asked smoothing my hair.
Garrett didn’t answer but instead rolled down his window. “Can I help you?”
“Garrett Henry?” An angry voice came from outside.
“Yes, that’s me,” Garrett replied.
“I need you to step out of the car. Now.” It wasn’t a request.
Garrett opened his door and got out. Before he could close the door, I heard the loud thump of Garrett’s body hitting the side of the car.
I threw my door open and jumped out ready to fight someone when I made eye contact with none other than Luke.
My mind was fuzzy as Luke said to Garrett, “You’re under arrest for the murder of Alex Johnson.”
“Murder?” Garrett’s face went ashy. “No way. I don’t even know an Alex Johnson.”
“His friends call him Boy Boy,” Luke barked.
Garrett looked at me pleading. “I’m so sorry. There must be a mistake.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure they’ve got the wrong person.” I glared at Luke.
Luke ignored me and began reading Garrett his Miranda rights.
“Oh come on, there’s no way he killed anyone.” My voice pleading now.
Garrett looked like a scared puppy left in a cardboard box on the side of the road in the pouring rain.
“Do you understand these rights as I’ve explained them to you?” Luke finished.
Garret nodded.
“I need a verbal yes or no,” Luke said through gritted teeth still holding Garrett against the Corolla.
“Yes, I understand.” Garrett’s voice was quiet.
Luke pulled him from the side of the Corolla and ushered him to the police car where Jerry stood holding the door open.
My mind reeled. How could they think Garrett killed Boy Boy? And Boy Boy was dead?
“Wait. Rylie.” Garrett turned to me. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s happening. I didn’t kill anyone.”
“I know,” I replied. “It’s all a misunderstanding.”
“Can you take care of Babbitt?” Garrett asked as he was lowered into the cruiser.
“Yes, of course,” I said.
“Take my keys. You can take the car to your car and then leave it at the lot. I’ll take care of it when I get this all figured out. Just take care of Babbitt.”
“I will. It’ll all be—” but before I could finish the sentence, Luke slammed the door in Garrett’s face.
He turned to me with a look of disgust. “You have a hickey on your neck.”
My hand shot up to where Garrett’s lips had been moments before.
“I don’t know how you’ve conjured up Garrett as a suspect.”
“He has you to thank for that.”
“Me? How—”
But Luke wasn’t listening anymore. He got into the driver’s seat of the patrol car, put the car in drive, and tore out of the parking lot.
I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him as they drove away. I had to figure out what Luke was talking about. How could I have been the one to make Garrett a suspect?
15
The clock on Garrett’s dash read 7:20 when I finally pulled out of the parking lot. It had taken a minute for me to get my wits about me. I yanked my cell phone from my purse and called Shayla.
“Hello?”
“Shay? It’s Rylie.” I pulled onto the Interstate and wove my way over to the fast lane. The Corolla was no Cherry Anne, but it had spunk.
“Hey, Ry, what’s up? How’d your date go?”
“It was fine until Luke arrested Garrett.” My voice sounded angrier than I intended.
“What?” I could hear her readjust the phone. “Why would Luke arrest Garrett?”
“For murder. Luke thinks Garrett killed Boy Boy.” I took a breath. “I didn’t even know Boy Boy was dead.”
“Didn’t you watch the news this morning?” Shayla said. “That’s the body Brock and Dusty found over at Golden Rock Pond.”
“But—”
“And remember you saw two people in Garrett’s boat that day?”
Dammit. I hit the steering wheel with my palm. “Did Seamus tell the police?”
“He didn’t have to.” Her voice turned angry. “You told Luke yourself.”
I racked my brain. Had I told Luke? No. Why would I have?
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult your boyfriend,” I hissed.
“He’s not—why would you—” Shayla sounded like she might cry. “How did you know?”
“I could tell the other day,” I said in a softened tone. “It’s okay, I won’t say anything.”
“Was it really that obvious?”
“Maybe not to everyone, but I’m your best friend. And speaking of, why didn’t you tell me?”
“We didn’t want to get in trouble for fraternizing and since the season’s almost over and I’ll hopefully be going off to police academy, we decided to wait to go public.”
“Makes sense.”
“But enough about me. What about Garrett? Do you think he did it?”
When I’d met him on the boat ramp, I would have said it was possible, but after the day we had there was no way. “No. He couldn’t have. He’s probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He even set up a meeting with Eli Hudson—er—the quarterback.”
“Wow. He must have really liked you.”
“Don’t talk like he’s dead. He does really like me, and I really like him too.” I turned off the Interstate onto the exit to Garrett’s house. “Luke caught us totally making out.”
“No.” Shayla gasped.
“Yep. In the car. Like freakin’ teenagers.”
She giggled. “I bet Luke was pissed.”
“Oh, he was,” I said. “Are you busy right now?”
“Not really . . .”
“Is Seamus with you?”
She hesitated before answering. “Yes.”
“Can you leave him for a bit and come pick me up from Garrett’s house and take me to my car?”
“Wait, you’re at Garrett’s house?”
I could hear Seamus in the background say, “Tell her that’s not a
