CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Outside Claire exhaled heavily as though she'd been holding her breath forever. Her heart was racing in her chest, guilt-charged. How could she talk to Doris like that? She walked pensively towards Jorge's car, pondering. Really she had turned into a bitch.

But was she going to give up on Ryan? No, she was supposed to have forgotten him by now! Chaos invaded her heart and brain, waging war. Doris's tone of voice was full of sarcasm earlier. She was being nasty without being vulgar. Could it be that she knew about Ryan and her?

"Is everything okay?" Jorge asked, derailing her training of thoughts.

"Huh?" she gasped.

Jorge narrowed his eyes. "I'm asking if you're okay, because you look like you've seen a ghost," he repeated, laughing indulgently.

God! Now she was being obvious, wasn't she?

"Oh, yeah, I am okay." Her smile was elusive. "Are you going home early today? Because I am."

"Yeah, I'm done for the day," Jorge answered.

"Okay, let's go." They both hopped in and the ride commenced