Page 41 of Angels & Whiskey

“When’s the party?” Mom asked.

“In a month. You’ll get the invitation this coming week. It’s black-tie.”

“This is exciting news.” Mom beamed.

“I have no idea what it entails, but yeah … it should be exciting.” I gave a weak smile. “Anyway, Dad, I was thinking—want to go to the range this afternoon?”

“You want to go shooting?” he asked, taken aback. “You’ve never wanted to go with me before …”

That was true. Guns had never been my thing. But given the circumstances, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to learn how to shoot. I didn’t intend to shoot Rich; I just wanted to learn to protect myself for when I did leave him.

“I know, but I’m bored and want to hang out with my dad if you can spare a few hours,” I pleaded. “It will give you a break from editing.”

“You’re sure that you want to goshooting?”

“Yep, let’s go.” I smiled and waved my hand, motioning for him to follow me.

“All right.” He smiled back. “Let’s go to the range. Sarah, hold down the fort.”

I’d never shot a gun before.

I didn’t know what to expect. I’d watched people on television getbitby the gun when they fired it and that made me nervous, but I needed to do it. I needed to learn how to shoot.

“What do you want to shoot?” Dad asked as we looked into the gun case.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Should I buy my own?”

“You want to buy a gun?” Dad’s eyes widened.

“Maybe …”

“All right, what’s gotten into you?” He turned, facing me as his hip rested on the glass case.

“Nothing.” I smiled.

“Sunshine …”

A lie quickly entered my head. “All right. I want to learn to shoot so I can go with Rich sometime and impress him.”

Dad’s head tilted a little to the side as he thought about my answer. “You want to impress your husband?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged again. I noticed I did that with all the lies I told. “Doesn’t Mom do stuff to impress you?”

“When she cooks a new meal and it’s delicious, yes. Not learning to shoot so she can come with me when I want to be alone and do something manly.”

Telling Dad the truth was right on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to tell him. I envisioned him wrapping me in his arms and telling me everything was going to be okay and he’d help me—that he’d protect his little girl.

“It’s not just for men, Daddy—”

Before I could lie some more, a clerk stepped over. “See anything you like?”

I had no idea what I was looking at. I didn’t know what calibers meant, what size I needed, what type—I just knew what looked the most badass.

“I’m not sure I know what I’m looking at.” I chuckled.

“What do you want the gun for?”

I looked out of the corner of my eye toward Dad then did my signature shrug. “Just to use here at the range.”