“I’ve never told anyone that.” Emery’s voice concealed the utter chaos of emotions that were brewing under the surface of her skin.
“I know.”
“Please,” Emery’s voice wobbled with fear. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Never,” Rachel whispered.
“Rachel Helms,” an officer called. “Emery Shaw.”
The girls looked at each other and stifled giggles. They were the only ones in the cell, so it didn’t make any sense that the officer was calling their names.
“Bail’s been paid,” the officer said as he stalked over and opened the cell.
Rachel grabbed Emery’s hand as they walked to where Rachel’s father waited.
So many thoughts raced through Emery’s head. She didn’t know what was worse for her right now, getting arrested or telling Rachel her secret.
“Rachel Marie Helms!” boomed a man on his phone standing in the middle of the room to which the two girls were led. “I’ve got to go, my daughter has been arrested. AGAIN!”
Emery took in this man standing a few feet away from her. His persona filled the entire room; Rachel obviously had her father’s personality and looks. He had black hair that was long enough to curl just a bit, with sprinkles of salt and pepper gathered at his temples that made him look distinguished. He was attractive for a man of his age, but right now he just looked downright pissed.
“Rachel, you are so done,” he grunted through gritted teeth.
“Hey, Daddy, thanks for getting me. That was bullshit, though. I was just hanging out with Chandler. I didn’t know they were doing a sting. You should’ve told me to stay away from him today because he was working with the cops.” Rachel’s tone was casual, like he’d just picked them up from the mall.
He glared at her, and Emery could almost see the smoke coming from his ears. He turned on his heel and walked out of the room without another word. Rachel looked at Emery and shrugged her shoulders. The two girls followed him to the parking lot. When they got to his Jaguar, he finally looked at Emery.
“I’m sorry, Emery,” he said apologetically. “I’m usually not so rude to Rachel’s friends. However, I don’t really like meeting her friends this way.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Helms. Thank you so much for helping me. I didn’t know what to do.”
Mr. Helms slid into the driver’s side of the car and Rachel squeezed into the back seat, leaving Emery to sit in the passenger seat.
“Thanks for getting us, Daddy. Are they pressing charges?”
Emery watched as Rachel’s dad blew out a long breath. “As much as it pains me to have to tell you this, I talked the ADA into just charging you with some bullshit so that you only have to do community service.”
“Told you,” Rachel leaned into the front seat and whispered to Emery.
Emery was waiting for him to address her, but he didn’t.
“I’m done with all of this, Rachel. I’m not sure what I’ve done that’s so bad that you do these things.” His voice was full of exhaustion.
“I could move in with Mother,” Rachel answered, her voice small.
“Ah, yes. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Is that what this is about?” Mr. Helms ran a hand through his hair and his phone buzzed. He picked it up and began barking into the phone.
“No,” Rachel answered without him hearing her.
The ride to Perimeter Mall to pick up Emery’s car was silent except for the barking of directions to whoever was on the phone with Mr. Helms. When they parked, Rachel got out and pulled Emery into her arms.
“There’s no escaping the click, Emery.” She stepped back and smiled. “Talk to you later.” The tires squealed as Mr. Helms peeled out of the parking garage.
Emery stood there watching the taillights on the car that held her saviors. One had gotten her out of jail and one had made her realize sharing her secret wasn’t the end of the world. Or at least she hoped it wasn’t.
CHAPTER FOUR
Free Fall
“You’re not even in trouble?” Rachel’s voice cracked through Emery’s cell phone. She was currently trying to talk Emery into skipping school and going to Six Flags.
Without even pondering whether she should go or not¸ she gave in. “Fine,” Emery agreed, then did a u-turn on Ashford-Dunwoody and drove back towards home.
Rachel’s house was new construction on the other side of Emery’s neighborhood. It was all brick with rock details around the two-story columns framing the massive maple double doors. When she pulled into the circular driveway, she saw Rachel waiting for her with a huge grin on her face.