Riding the Thunder - Deborah MacGillivray [35]
Melody pushed the other girls toward the door. “Come on, the guys have waited long enough.”
Laura hadn’t realized she was crying until a tear hit the back of her hand. Forcing herself to her feet, she walked to the mirror and frowned at her coon eyes. Getting soap from the sink dispenser, she carefully washed the black from under her lower lashes and repaired her face.
The door swung open and Melody rushed back in. She jerked upright, seeing Laura before the mirror. “Ooooops . . . you heard.”
Laura summoned her strength and turned to face Melody. “It’s always good to know what people really think about you. I prefer honesty to two-faced pretenses.”
Melody looked ashen. “Patti is such a snot sometimes. She’s jealous of you. We all are. You’re so pretty. You just never tried to fit in.”
“I’d want to fit in with a bunch of vicious backstabbers?” Laura started to push past her, only Melody caught her arm. “Let go,” she snapped.
“Look, I’m sorry,” Melody apologized.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
Laura shoved by Melody and out the door. She went straight up the stairs to the roof to look for Junior, where she’d last seen him, hoping he’d take her home; her dad worked second shift at the Corning plant in Danville, and her mom didn’t have a car to come get her. It was nearly ten miles or she’d walk all the way home. In despair, she glanced down at her pale satin shoes not made for walking on pavement.
As she reached the roof, her eyes alit on Tommy sitting on a chaise along with the other college kids. Joy sat right behind him. Laura seemed unable to move as Tommy and she locked eyes. He stared at her—trying to judge her mood, she guessed.
Whatever he felt, it didn’t matter. She merely wanted to find Junior and get the hell out of here, but first, she had to stop staring at Tommy.
Joy leaned against his arm, deliberately brushing her breasts against him. Laura felt like vomiting. She couldn’t stop the picture of Tommy and Joy having sex from flooding her mind. The image would keep her from sleep tonight; of that she was sure.
Tommy smiled, as if hoping to draw one from Laura. Damn him! She wanted to dump an ice bucket in his lap. Flashing him a Medusa-on-the-rag glare, she went in search of Junior.
She asked several people. No one had any idea where her date had disappeared. Despite everyone staring, Laura didn’t care. She just wanted to leave.
Melody was suddenly at her elbow. “Laura, what’s wrong?”
She almost recoiled from the other girl’s touch, except she was desperate. “I came with Junior. I want him to take me home. I don’t feel well. I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Junior went off with Jess and Carl a bit ago. Carl’s brother is a bootlegger. Bet they’re off drinking. You don’t want Junior to drive you home if he’s liquored up,” Melody warned.
“Well, he has to take me home sooner or later.” Laura was nearing panic. She didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to hold it in.
Melody grasped her hand. “Take a deep breath, Laura. Don’t give these idiots a show. Let’s you and me go dangle our feet in the pool. When my dad comes to pick me up, he can drive you home. We don’t want you out with Junior. That jerk can’t handle liquor. Why did you come with him?”
“His mother and my mother . . .”
“Enough said.” Melody rolled her eyes. “How I ended up with Davey Dean. Mothers and their well-meaning intentions are a pain in the tush.”
“What’s up?” John Carlyle inquired from behind Melody and Laura.
Melody’s eyes flicked to John and then guardedly to Laura. “Laura’s looking for Junior. She wants to go home. I told her she’s welcome to come with me when my dad picks me up.”
John reached out and roughly took Laura’s arm. “That’s okay, I’ll take her.”
Laura leaned back. The bourbon fumes mixed with the cinnamon breath spray he used to mask the alcohol made her stomach roll. John was with Tommy’s group. And very drunk.
“Thanks . . .