"So when is Nick going to be in?" Sarah asked trying to see in the house.
"I don't know. Tomorrow I think. He hasn't called with the final plans," Alesha said standing in the doorway, the door almost closed.
"Lita!! Can I go to Joey's?" Taelen asked running up to the house. "Who're you?" he asked looking at Sarah.
"I'm a friend of Nick's," she said smiling down at him. "And you?"
"He's my…cousin," Alesha said sharply. Turning to Taelen she said, "Be back by 7, sweetie."
"Cool," he said looking at Sarah funny and running off.
"Well, tell Nick that I stopped by," Sarah murmured, watching Taelen.
"I'm sure he'll be thrilled," Alesha said with fake sweetness.
Sarah looked at her. "Ya know, you should savor the short time that you are here darlin. One day, I will find something on you and things will be right again."
"Right for who? You or Nick?" Alesha asked closing the door.
"Damn her," Sarah muttered walking to her bright red Eclipse. Climbing in she sped down the driveway almost running over the guy that was lurking around the entrance. Slowing down, she rolled down her window and looked at him. "Something I can help you with?" she asked looking him up and down. "Kinda cute," she thought.
"Umm, yeah," he said squinting his deep blue eyes at the sun glaring off her window. "I was umm, wondering if this was where Alesha Blacketer lived," he said running a hand through his long blonde hair and looking up towards the house.
Sarah nodded. "Yes, it is."
A look of relief passed over his deeply tanned face. "Good. Thought I might've gotten lost for a second," he smiled, revealing the dimples in his cheeks. "You a friend of hers?"
"No," Sarah said with vehemence. "I'm a friend of Nick's."
"Nick?" he asked.
"Her…boyfriend," she said.
"Ahh, yes. Him," he said nodding his head. "He home?"
Sarah shook her head. "No. He's coming home tomorrow I think. Alesha's there, though."
"Hmmm…," he said thoughtfully. Looking at Sarah, he smiled again. "I don't want to sound presumptuous, but do you think that you could give me a ride back to my hotel?"
Sarah grinned. "Of course I can," she said.
"Great!" he exclaimed walking around to the other side of the car. Climbing in he held out his hand in introduction. "I'm Chad, by the way."
She smiled and shook his hand. "Sarah, and if you don't mind me asking, how do you know Alesha?"
"We're old friends," he replied.
"Ahhh. So you're from Oklahoma as well," Sarah said maneuvering the car through the busy Tampa streets.
He nodded. "Yeah. She and I go waaaay back," he said. He looked over at Sarah as she pulled into a parking spot at the hotel. "I was umm…wondering. Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"
Sarah looked at him for a moment. "Sure," she smiled. "Wouldn't want you to be lonely on your first night in our wonderful city," she laughed.
"Great. Wanna meet me here at say 7?" he asked looking at his watch.
"Make it 8:30," she said with a wink.
"8:30 it is then," he smiled and climbed out of the car. "Thanks for the ride," he said softly as she drove off with a wave.
"This could be my chance to get that Goody Two Shoes back for making my life hell," Sarah murmured to herself as she watched Chad walk into the hotel. "And who knows, what else might happen," she grinned pulling out of the parking lot.
