Read Online Don't Bet On Love by Sheri Cobb South - Free Book Online Page B

” Mr. Wilson urged. “ The poor kid’s been through enough. Let him and his girlfriend go! ”
    “ You stay out of this! ” the sergeant warned. “ All right, Hadley, what happened next? ”
    “ Well, we finally left about nine-thirty. I’d forgotten all about where we were parked until I saw the policeman, and he wanted to see my driver’s license, but I didn’t have it, because— ”
    “ Because it was in his other pants! ” of fered Mr. Wilson.
    “ Be quiet, Wilson! ” the sergeant bellowed.
    “ So Officer Cummings brought us here, ” Gary concluded.
    Mr. Wilson stood up and whipped out his checkbook. “ I like this kid. I’ll tell you what I'm going to do, Sarge. I’m going to pay his fine for him. Just tell me how much it is, and I’ll write you a check. ”
    “ Wilson, your checks aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on! ” the sergeant growled, growing red in the face. “ One more word out of you, and I’ll write you up for obstructing justice! ”
    Mr. Wilson lapsed into sulky silence, and the sergeant turned back to Gary. “ Were you able to reach your parents when you called just now? ”
    “ Yes, sir, ” Gary said. “ They're on their way. ”
    “ Mine are coming, too, ” I added in case anybody was interested.
    “ Are they bringing your wallet with them? ” the sergeant asked Gary.
    “ Well, they should be. At least, I asked them to. ”
    “ Fine. If you can show me a valid driver’s license , I’ll tear up both tickets. Meanwhile, I’ll have to hold you in custody until your parents arrive. ”
    Officer Cummings led us to a small room he called a holding pen, but it sure looked like a jail c ell to me. He stepped back and allowed us to enter, th en pulled the door closed behind us. It shut with a loud clang.
    I sank down onto the bench that ran along one wall, then took off my high-heeled shoes and stretched my aching legs out in front of me. Gary paced back and forth like a caged animal, runn ing his hands through his hair.
    “ I kind of like that guy Wilson. ” I said, making a feeble attempt at conversation. “ I have a feeling he'd be a pretty good fellow to have on your side. ”
    Gary smil ed slightly but kept on pacing.
    “ You might as well sit down, ” I said at last. “ You'll wear a path in the floor. ”
    “ Yeah, I guess you’re right. ” He sat down beside me on the bench, leaning forward with his elbows propped on his knees and his chin in his hands.
    As I watched him, I found myself wishing our parents wouldn’t hurry to our rescue too soon. Colette might have Gary tomorrow, but at least for tonight, he was all mine. A night in a jail cell with Gary suddenly seemed wonderfully romantic, and it was definitely something that he would never be able to share with Colette.
    “ I'm so sorry about all this, Molly, ” Gary said, breaking the silence. “ I can’t seem to do anything right! ”
    “ Oh, Gary, please don’t apologize. ” I reached out and touched his arm. “ It wasn't your fault. And I thought you were terrific back there at the Lamplighter, talking to the manager. ” Steeling myself to say the de spised name, I added, “ I bet Colette would have been proud of you. ”
    Gary gave a humorless laugh. “ Yeah, right. ”
    “ Well, she should be! After an evening like this, any girl would be proud to go out with you! Look at it this way. How many people know what it's like behind the scenes at the fanciest restaurant in town? How many people get to ride in the back of a squad car? How many people have adventures like these when they go out on dates? ”
    Too late, I remembered that this was not a date, and lapsed into embarrassed silence.
    Gary slipped his arm around my waist. “ You’re a good sport, Molly, ” he said softly. And then he bent his head and kissed me lightly on the cheek.
    At that moment Officer Cummings reap peared, jingling the keys to our cozy cell. “ Hadley and McKenzie, your folks are here, ” he said.
    I