Page 70 of Remember Me

“I understand plenty.” She picked up her purse and walked over to the door. “I’m sure I’ll see you later. I have a few things to get for my parents, so I’m planning on being in town for a little while.”

Opening the door, she left. I stared at the box containing the cream puff for several long minutes, the apartment cold and silent around me. Then, with a muffled exclamation, I got up to get a fork.

At The Farmer’s Daughter, Maggie took a long look at my lank hair and puffy eyes and asked me to update the window display. I nodded gratefully. I’d much rather do that than deal with customers.

I was there, modifying it for the new year, when a blond woman walked past, did a double-take, and eyed me through the glass.

Serena Hansen.

I narrowed my eyes, and with a jut of her chin in response, she strode to the door. With a sigh, I turned to climb out of the window box.

“You!” She came to stand in front of me and pointed a scarlet-tipped nail in my face.

“In the flesh.” I gave a small shake of my head to Maggie, who was looking our way with concern etched into the lines of her face. “What do you want, Serena?”

“I hope you’re happy with yourself,” she hissed.

“I have no idea what you’re referring to.”

“You got me fired! You and your ridiculous accusations and petty jealousy.”

I looked at her in confusion. “Serena, I’m sorry you were fired, but I can assure you that I had nothing to do with that.”

“Don’t play the innocent card with me. If you weren’t worried that your fiancé might ditch you for me, you wouldn’t have said a word.”

I laughed. It was suddenly so obvious that I shouldn’t have worried for a second where this girl was concerned. She was about as mature as a middle schooler. Although…

“I didn’t say anything to anyone regarding you, with the exception of a conversation I had with my fiancé,” I told her. “I told him, and I’ll tell you — I wasn’t worried so much about his behavior as I was yours. I wouldn’t put past you to roofie someone to get what you want.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Wow. Just wow. I find it so hard to believe that a man like him would be interested in a girl like you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Look, I’m busy. Did you want to buy anything or were you just leaving?”

With one final, venomous look, she flounced out.

From behind me, I heard light applause and turned to see Maggie clapping softly. “Well done, you. It looked like she needed that.”

“Much more than I did; that’s for sure.”

I returned to work, head spinning. What had happened? Had Hayes spoken to Dean Hansen? What did this mean?

December 24¦Birdie

TOMORROW WASCHRISTMASDAY. Despite Serena’s dramatic appearance at the shop, I hadn’t heard from Hayes. I couldn’t figure it out. Did her announcement not mean what I thought it did? Had he just given up on me? Remi’s words echoed in my head:it’s time for you to choose him, for once.

Today was no easier than the first day I’d left. I still thought of him — my Big — way too many times in the span of one hour to the next. What was he doing? First term had ended, and there were no classes being held at the moment. Was he still working with his ball players? Chopping wood?

I needed to make a stop by the house to pick up some supplies for my signs. Maggie was running low on stock and she said they were big sellers during the post-holiday sale she ran every year. I didn’t know where Hayes was, though, or what he was doing, and I didn’t want to see him.

I couldn’t.

It hurt too much.

My phone rang, cutting off my rambling thoughts. “Hello?”

“Is this Birdie Grant?”

I didn’t recognize the voice. “Yes?”

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