The Small Town Preacher's Fake - Lucy McConnell Page 0,45

for the sacred stone the Lord had written the tablets on. That might be a bit of a stretch, but it was the same idea.

He’d lashed out at Evie right after, and he’d been stuck in his bedroom well before bedtime because he couldn’t stand the tension between them.

Was he hiding? Yes. Yes, he was.

He sat on the edge of the bed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seth sprang to his feet and rushed to his door, yanking it open. Evie pulled hers open at the same time. Great. She was hiding from him too.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his heart skittering across the hardwood floor at the sight of her in her pajamas and a face mask. She was so cute with the green mud smeared across her cheeks and forehead. It set off her eyes, making them as big as an owl’s.

“It wasn’t me. I thought it was you.”

Bang! Bang! They turned to the front door and Seth took the lead. Evie hung back, probably shy in her makeover state.

“Who is it?” he called through the wood. It was after 10 p.m. They didn’t get visitors this late at night. Not social ones, anyway.

“It’s Tosha Henderson.”

Seth’s hand slipped on the knob in his haste to open the door. Evie appeared at his side, bringing with her the scent of roses. He tried not to breathe it in, not to let it affect him.

“Tosha?” Evie reached her hand around Seth and pulled the girl inside and into her arms. “What are you doing here?”

Tosha shook.

Seth grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped both of them in it, because Tosha didn’t seem to want to let go of Evie. Evie shot him a grateful look.

“Can I sleep here?” Tosha sniffed. “I won’t be any trouble, and I’ll clean up after myself.”

“Honey …” Evie moved them to the couch, and Seth followed, grateful he had a wife who could offer the physical support. “What’s going on?” Evie prodded.

They sat down, and Seth sat next to Evie.

Tosha looked back and forth between the two of them. “Geez. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come so late. I just got cold, and I thought maybe you’d—” She drew in a deep breath.

“Why aren’t you home?” Seth asked. It seemed like the most obvious question, so he went with it.

Tosha’s eyes grew wide with fear. “I can’t go home. My dad will kill me.”

A dozen horrible scenarios raced through Seth’s head. There were so many ways a teenage girl could get into trouble these days.

Evie rubbed her hand up and down Tosha’s arm as if trying to get circulation going. “Why?”

“Because I—I—”

Seth braced himself to hear the worst. He carefully arranged his features and concentrated on keeping his breathing steady.

“I failed English!” Tosha wailed. “Like, failed failed. Like, I can’t graduate now. Oh my gosh, I’m such a disappointment. They’ll hate me. They are always telling me to do my best. Well, I did—sort of. I mean, I have eight classes and I can’t keep up. Everyone else can do it but me. I’m so stupid.”

“You are not stupid.” Evie hugged her to her side, resting her chin on Tosha’s head. “We can figure this out. There has to be a way you can get credit to graduate.”

“It’s not just that.” Tosha sniffed. “It brings my whole GPA down. I don’t qualify for scholarships. My parents have been talking about me going to college since I could read.” Her voice dropped. “We can’t afford to pay tuition—I needed to qualify.” Tosha started crying in earnest.

Seth had never felt so out of his depth. And he wasn’t sure about Evie’s judgment after the whole guitar thing. She seemed to blank out in the heat of the moment. “Do your parents know where you are?” he asked.

Tosha shook her head. “I didn’t go home after school.”

Seth locked eyes with Evie. He gave her no room to argue. “I’m calling them.”

“Don’t!” Tosha was on her feet as if they’d been a snake about to strike.

Evie shot him a look that told him to back off. He narrowed his eyes in response. She could not consider harboring a runaway.

She turned back to Tosha. “What if we drive you home? Your parents won’t kill you in front of the pastor, will they?”

That wasn’t a bad idea, and Seth gave her a little more credit.

Tosha danced from foot to foot. “I—maybe not.” She pouted. “I don’t want to go.”

Evie stood. “I know. But you’re making it worse by not facing