Anna had thrown the shirt in the laundry and took a shower as soon as she got back. She told herself the shower was because her father had insisted she wear sunscreen. She didn't understand because she never burned. She had her father's skin. Her mother always complained because she was paler and would burn.

She was in the kitchen with Alison when her father came back with Bryan, Keira, and their guests.

"Are you okay, Anna?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, the sun was hot and I'm not about to wear my bikini."

Keira said, "You should."

Anna sighed. "I'm trying to hide this." She pointed to her belly. "Because I'm not like Lana who is grown up with a husband."

"A husband that throws bullets," Mike said. "And I'm in shape. How d'you enjoy catching those Bry?"

"Hey, I haven't gone soft. I probably hold more hoses in a week than you do in two months' time."

Alison turned to her sister. "They live next door. They completely redid the cottage. It's gorgeous."

"With a pool!" Keira added.

"Hey K, if you're going to shower you better get to it before the boys come home." Bryan broke up the gossiping.

Anna wanted to hide. She was mad at Cole but wasn't sure why. He didn't ask Cassie to stop to talk. He didn't go for a walk with her. She felt the same way she did when girls at her old school talked about staying after school with Mr. Volpe. They would giggle like they hoped he'd kiss them. Maybe he had and Anna was too stupid to notice especially after she started going to his house she didn't stay as long after school.

Why was she thinking of Dustin and why was she feeling that way about Cole? Cole was Cole, her friend, and nothing more. As if she conjured him, Cole came in with Sam.

"Take turns in the shower before dinner!" Alison called out.

"Sam, you go first." Cole offered.

When he looked at Anna, he asked, "Where's the shirt?"

"In the laundry, did she want it back?" She tried to sound cool.

She thought she saw Alison look at her but thankfully her father and Bryan had gone outside to grill the ribs.

Cole's voice was calm. "Anna, I wanted to show you that app."

She knew there wasn't an app, but she had no choice but to follow him to his room. It was funny how she could be in both of the boy's rooms. Not that there was a reason for her not to be except she had a reputation.

He shut his door. "Sorry about her."

"You didn't do anything but lend me a stained shirt. How did Rory know she stained it?"

"It was the first time we swam in Ryan's pool last summer and when Cassie left, she took my shirt. I had to walk home without one. Later the four of us walked up for ice cream and I was teasing her telling her I wanted it back. She purposely let her melting ice cream stain it. She thought it was funny."

"Why did you even like her? She's a bitch."

"Yeah, but she didn't start out that way. I didn't like the way she treated you."

"I'm used to having people hate me for something I didn't do." She was on the verge of tears but didn't know why. Sometime tears just came without warning or reason. She typically blamed then on the human that was growing inside of her.

Cole looked shell-shocked at the prospect of female tears falling. "Come on, Anna. Why would she hate you?"

"Because I was wearing your shirt, and she probably thinks we're..." The tears were falling too fierce.

Cole finally seemed to get it. For a kid smart at math he was dim about girls. He also surprised Anna when he gathered her in his arms and hugged her. She'd liked to say he smelled good, but he didn't - a combination of sunscreen and sweaty armpits.

There was a loud rap on the door and they jumped apart. Sam yelled, "Your turn."

Cole sprung to the door. "Sam, come 'ere. Anna's upset about the crap with the shirt."

Sam came into Cole's room and put his arms around her. Sam's hug felt comfortable, and he smelled a lot better, like soap.

She didn't see, but she heard drawers slamming. When she looked up, Cole had left. Sam was trying to make her feel better. "Ignore her. She wants what she can't have. He's finally learning to resist her."

"But I'm not... we're not..." Sobs escaped.

"I know. Come on, dry your eyes. Mike will kill me if he thinks I made you cry."

Anna laughed because that was ridiculous. Sam would never make her cry. If anyone was responsible, it was Cole and Sam was covering for him. The one thing she learned by living there was they got along. In fact, she was almost positive they felt like brothers.

"Smile, Ann, we're having ribs."

That was a reason to smile because her dad's ribs were out of this world. She ducked in her room and checked on her red eyes. They didn't look bad. She would use her favorite excuse, I'm just tired.

Everyone was too busy filling their plates and eating to look at her eyes. She caught her father putting aside food, and she cocked her head. He whispered, "I promised Mari, I'd bring some for her."

Anna smiled at her dad, feeling glad that he was friendly to Mari. "Dad, can I come with you when you bring her the food."

"Not tonight, baby girl, you look tired."

Mike sat quietly as she ate. He felt this strong need to save her. That was who he was. He finally spoke. "I know I'm leaving, but I'll be back. Unfortunately, the days that work for my schedule, you're booked. I'm afraid I'll have to stay in town."

She had finished eating and was at the sink washing her hands. She turned. "You can stay in a room upstairs."

He stood and walked towards her. He took her hand. "Are you positive?"

"I was looking forward to your visit, too. If you stay here, I'll see you."

He pulled her into the living room. They both sat on the sofa with some distance between them. Each turned to face the other. She tucked her legs much like Anna often sat.

Out of the blue, she said, "My father worries about me so I lie to him. When he comes this summer, he'll know."

"Fathers love their daughters. If he's like me, he'd do anything to help you."

"Like letting her live with friends and traveling to see her whenever you can?"

He nodded. "And missing her like crazy in between."

Him loving his daughter was his best quality. Better than his looks or his selfless job. Somehow Anna had caused him unhappiness, but he still loved her.

"Tell me about your town."

He sighed. "I grew up in Turner and have always felt like the town was my family."

"Like people feel about The Point?"

He nodded. "Except instead of Rick, we have Tina who owns the diner. The town has grown in the past ten years. All the towns have. We have several new subdivisions with people from away. There are still a lot of us born and bred, but..."

He looked sad as if he lost his best friend.

"Anyway something happened, involving Anna, and the town picked sides. The majority sided against Anna and were very vocal about it. First, it was just social media but recently they have been protesting."

"What was she involved in?" Mari couldn't imagine that sweet girl causing such trouble. She had spunk but there was an innocence about her.

He shook his head. "We decided she needed to leave when they spray painted insults on her car. Then they vandalised the house the first time I was here. They even started protesting that I should resign. What bothers me the most is they tried to undermine my budget."

"Your budget?"

"My department's... fire and rescue... I'm the chief."

"You're the fire chief!" She had no idea. The people of the town wanted to get rid of the man responsible for keeping them safe because of something a teenage girl did. It all sounded like a bad movie.

"Well, when Bryan left, no one else wanted the job."

"So you stepped up because you are a nice guy."

"The raise wasn't bad... teenage girls are expensive. You think I'm a nice guy?" He had a sultry voice. Her stomach flip-flopped.

"You are very nice." She tried to sound flirty.

"I haven't felt nice lately. Love your neighbor and all. My friend convinced me to meet her at the diner for lunch. If looks could kill. My presence gave all the others indigestion. Thankfully, she's funny enough to ease the tension. I thought Tina would throw all her paying customers out."

How could he be smiling at the memory? She felt something that she hated. It almost consumed her as she sat alone in the burn unit while Charlie was out socializing. She felt jealous of this friend who was so funny.

She had no right to feel jealous. He'd been kind to her but he would never want her or ever love her. Needing to respond, she asked, "How can you laugh? I'd be curled up on my bed."

"I wanted to hide but Tina and Darlene have shown unwavering support. You'll understand next weekend."

"Next weekend?"

"Darlene and Brad are staying here. They're coming for Bryan's son's graduation."

She hadn't looked to see where her guests were from. Any guests who weren't Mike didn't interest her. Hearing him speak of his friend as a couple loosened the vice on her heart she had no right to feel.

Mike saw discomfort on her face and wanted to ease her concern. "Don't worry. Darlene won't make you uncomfortable. She can be a loose cannon, but Brad keeps her on a short lease. She knows her brother, Bryan will kill her if she disrespects anyone. The Point's his family now, too."

"I'm good at keeping to myself. Well, I was until you showed up. Now you're fixing plugs and borrowing my car."

"Friends help their friends. I want to help you. Will you go outside with me?"

"I want to. I'm not ready. I'm tired."

She stood to walk away. He wished he had a reason to keep her longer.

"Mari."

"Yeah?"

"Sweet dreams, but if they're not, I'm here."

She gave a weak smile. Mike didn't want her to have a nightmare but he wouldn't mind holding her all night again.