Sarah and Kevin 49

"Ready?" she asked Peter. He nodded and they went out to the truck.

Sarah got in and started the engine. Peter slid in beside her and put his hand on the back of her neck. Sarah took a deep breath and put the truck in gear.

Peter sang on the way to the meeting. He kept caressing the back of her neck, sending goosebumps and shivers down her back. Sarah sighed as she pulled into the parking space behind the church. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She didn't try to pull away. After he got out of the truck, Sarah leaned her head forward and rested it on the steering wheel. God, I'm tired, she thought.

She remained in that position for several minutes. "Sarah!" she heard a voice yell. It sounded like Jason. She lifted her head as the door opened. "Sarah, are you OK?" Jason asked, clearly worried. Peter was at his side, concern written on his face as well.

"Yeah. I'm fine." she said.

"No offence, dear, but you don't look fine. You look like you haven't eaten or slept in weeks."

Sarah gave a little laugh. "Oh, it hasn't been that long."

Jason frowned at her and took her arm. "Come on. There's a cot in one of the rooms down here. You can rest on it until the meeting is over. It's air-conditioned so you won't have to be out in this heat." He led her into the church, giving the truck keys to Peter. Peter took her free hand and held it.

They brought her to the room and made her lay down on the cot. She tried to protest, but they wouldn't listen. Jason covered her with some kind of blanket. Peter knelt beside her, brushed her hair off her face and took off her glasses.

"I really am OK," she said. Peter shook his head.

"Jason's right. You look worn out. Sleep. I'll come and get you when the meeting's over." He kissed her on the mouth before leaving the room. Sarah sighed deeply and gave in to her exhaustion.

***

"...so she's not talking to him and she stopped eating dinner with us. She's probably not sleeping either." Sarah woke to hear Peter talking about her. She sighed and rolled over.

"Where are my glasses?" she asked. Peter unhooked them from his shirt collar and handed them to her. She put them on and sat up.

"Did you mention that I was sleeping with him? Oh, and don't forget to tell him that you've taken every opportunity to try and get into bed with me too." Sarah said bitterly as she finger-combed her hair.

"Sarah. What are you doing to yourself?" Jason asked. Sarah stood up and straightened her clothes.

"I'm just stupid," she said and bent to fold the blanket she had used. A sob escaped and she sat down on the cot and cried. Jason seated himself beside her and Peter knelt in front of her. They patted her and gave her tissues until she stopped crying.

"I'm sorry. I'm making you late by being a big baby."

"Sarah. You're not being a baby," Jason scolded her. "You are, however, throwing away a relationship that has made you very happy. The lights are gone out of your eyes. Why don't you let Kevin decide what he wants instead of making that decision for him?"

Sarah took a deep breath. "No matter what he chooses, I'll be miserable. If he stays with me, I'll blame myself for the loss of his career. If he goes, I'll be lonely. There will never be another Kevin," she sobbed again.

Jason hugged her. "At least it would be his decision. From what Peter has said, Kevin's pretty miserable, too." Sarah just nodded. She wasn't going to win this argument. It would be best if she just left it alone.

"Let Peter drive you home. At least think about taking my advice, OK?" Jason knows me too well.

"OK" Sarah nodded. "Thanks, " she said and kissed Jason's cheek. He returned the kiss and let her go with a hug.

Peter held her hand the entire way home. He pulled into the garage and turned off the engine.

"You know, if he caught you sleeping with me, he'd let you go." Peter said softly. Well, this is a new tactic.

"I know." she said. "He'd also try to kill you."

Peter shrugged. "It would be worth it." Sarah felt a tingle travel down her body. Ugh. Why does he do that to me?

"Peter. Just stop. OK?" she said and got out of the truck.

Peter got out and followed her out of the garage. She closed the garage door and walked to the house with Peter on her heels. She walked straight to her door and fumbled for her key. Peter held her shoulders and kissed her neck.

"Sarah. I want you. Please." he whispered and slid his hands around her waist. She closed her eyes and let the goosebumps run down her back.

"I'm not ready for that," she said.

Peter chuckled. "Let me make you ready, then." he said, kissing the other side of her neck.

Sarah leaned back against him and he ran his hands up her torso and over her breasts. She sighed, blocking out the warnings that she should stop before this went too far. He began unbuttoning her blouse. When it was open enough, he pulled it down over her shoulders and kissed both of them. He turned her around to face him and he kissed her mouth.

Sarah broke the kiss and found herself gasping for air. "Peter..." He covered her mouth with his fingers to silence her and kissed her neck again.

He took her hand and pulled her into his bedroom. Gently, he pushed her onto the bed. He laid down next to her and ran his hand over her body as he kissed her. He grabbed her skirt and pulled it up so he could slide his hand up her thigh.

"God damn it, Tansara! Are you coming to practice or what?" Kevin yelled. It sounded like he was almost in the kitchen already. Sarah scrambled out of Peter's bed and ran for the door to her rooms. She tripped and fell into the hallway. She heard Kevin's feet run up the last couple stairs and through the kitchen.