Unexpected Ride by Rebecca Avery

grinned and said, “Turning kind of red in the face there, Carla.”
    She should have known she couldn’t win at this type of game with Chuck.  So instead of replying she simply picked up her purse and headed outside to where his bike was parked.  He was still laughing when he came out, got on the bike and stood it up. 
    She put her purse strap over her head to ensure it didn’t come off her arm and slung it behind her back then climbed on behind him.
    Looking back at her, he smiled and then said, “You know Detective Sanders is getting a sweet ride too, right?”
    “I’m not talking about Greg with you anymore,” she said, looking away from him.
    “Greg, huh?” he laughed and then turned back around and started up the bike.
    Thanks to Chuck redirecting her thoughts back to Greg Sanders, specifically Greg’s mouth and how good it had felt against hers, and the bike ride to the mall, she felt ready to get this thing with Jarrod over with.  Hopefully once and for all.   Lots of changes in her life… but most of them felt really good after suffering for so long and Greg was right… she owed it to Doug to feel this way.  They met up with Meredith and Carla led them towards the department store she’d designated as the spot to meet Jarrod. 
    “Carla Johnson?” Jarrod said from behind them as they neared the store.  Just get it over with.
    Stopping and turning she was hit with a complete dislike for the man as she watched him look at Meredith and then move on to eyeing Chuck and finally back to looking at her.
    “Jarrod, my goodness it has been a long time,” she replied.  Not long enough.
    “How are you?  I heard about Doug… I am so sorry for your loss.  He was a good man,” Jarrod said.  A better man than him.
    “Thank you.  We are doing better now,” she replied.  “This is my daughter, Meredith, and her fiancé, Chuck.”
    “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your dad’s funeral… I was away on business,” Jarrod said to Meredith.  “You probably don’t remember me much do you?”  At least he was playing his part well… but then again… being a con man had been his first profession.
    “No.  I’m sorry I don’t…” Meredith replied.
    “Your dad and I went to school together.  He was a great guy and I just know he was so proud of you.  So when is the big day?” he asked her.
    Watching Jarrod smooth talk Meredith reminded Carla of her own innocent response to Jarrod.  At nineteen she’d been more gullible than your average teenager.  She knew that… now .  He must have seen her coming a mile away… an easy target for his schemes.  Romeo Montague had nothing on Jarrod Tompkins when he found a young girl who could easily become the means to and end for one of his games.  He had been too good to be true and within a couple of months he had her helping him sell counterfeit concert tickets… while having unprotected sex with her.
    She’d only found out the tickets were reproductions after Jarrod left her holding the bag, so to speak.  Having to tell her father, who was an attorney at the time, that she’d been arrested had been the worst experience of her life. 
    That incident was only matched by finding out she was pregnant.  Having to tell her father about being pregnant right after he finally managed to get the charges against her dropped since she’d been unaware the tickets were fakes, was just as painful.
    Jarrod probably was good at selling real estate… he could peddle anything to anyone… even his right to be a parent.  Even now, all these years later, it still made Carla physically sick to think of the meeting between her father, Doug and Jarrod where Jarrod had agreed to leave her and Meredith alone in exchange for not being turned into the police… and enough money to leave the state of Florida far behind him.  Sorry bastard.
    Carla gave Jarrod a pointed look.  Knowing his time was up, he said, “I should get going but I wonder if it might be