Page 11 of The Love Syllabus

Chapter 4

First Impressions – Kerry

The evening should be magical, a grand glittering affair shimmering with promise, yet here I am, rattled by an encounter with a devilishly handsome man who had the gall to call me a gold digger. Honestly, why do the hot ones always have to be hot trash? Note to self: stay far away fromhim.

Despite the rocky start, I step into Izzy’s upscale store opening, trying to shake off being unfairly judged and dive into a sea of familiar and new faces.

“Look who’s finally here, y’all! Let’s welcome our town’s very own sweetheart, Kerry Kind!” Izzy’s commanding voice echoes over the crowd.

A sea of heads turns my way, and I plaster on a polite smile, giving a small wave as if I’m not internally cringing. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I catch Mr. Gorgeous-and-Rude, standing at the back of the room, effortlessly cool with a glass of champagne in hand, rolling his eyes like it’s his full-time job.

Surrounded by familiar faces, the locals who have watched me grow up from my sandbox days pull me into warm, nostalgic hugs. Their laughter rings out as they recount tales of my childhood mischief. Now, it’s my turn to roll my eyes as I listen to the one too many times I got a playful tap on the butt for causing a ruckus during church services. Some can’t resist delving deep into my personal life as the conversations continue. And though their intentions are genuine, they’re also borderline intrusive.

Friendly Townie #1: Oh, Kerry, I had lunch with your mom the other day. She told me about your little job situation. Your next hair appointment is on me, sweetie.

Friendly Townie #2: You’ve been glowing ever since your divorce. Good riddance to that dumb boy!

Friendly Townie #3: There’s the town beauty. From your mugshot to this fancy opening, Lord knows you can pull off any look.

I force a tight smile, nodding through the well-meaning but invasive comments. Just as I’m about to drown in small-town familiarity, Serena swoops in with her larger-than-life presence.

“Kerry Kind,” she announces dramatically, looping her arm through mine. “How do you manage to outshine everyone? My clothes even look better on you. You effortlessly steal the spotlight!”

I chuckle, grateful for the distraction. “Stop gassin’ me up! I’m still mad at y’all for applying for that job! A nanny? Really? I teach kids, not raise them. I’d be terrible at it, just terrible.”

“Serena’s right. You look so sexy!” Kiera playfully adds, “I mean – you always look good, in a cute, cozy way, but you’re looking thirty-FINE right now!”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m glad someone thinks so because that man over there has already spoiled my mood.” I nod subtly toward the brooding figure now charming a circle of affluent guests.

Serena squints, her interest piqued. “Hmm… a tall, dark, and mysteriously handsome man with the salt-and-pepper hair? Who is he? What’s his name? Just asking for a friend, of course.”

Kiera fans herself dramatically. “Damn, that man is… whew!” She glances around. “Where’s my husband? I need a goofy distraction from all that sexiness.”

Izzy joins in, squinting across the room. “Seriously, where’d he come from? He’s not from around Beverly Mills and looks out of place among the Greer folks.” She pauses, her eyes narrowing. “What Idoknow is he’s been eyeing you for the past twenty seconds. Maybe you should formally introduce yourself and give him a proper Beverly Mills welcome.”

I scoff, dismissing the idea. “He’s not staring at me.”

But our eyes lock when I sneak another glance, and my heart skips a beat. “Holy crap, is he staring at me?

Serena nods slowly. “Yep. Talk about a step up from your ex.”

I take a sip of champagne, trying to play it cool. “Maybe I should go demand an apology for his earlier comment.”

Kiera pats my shoulder, grinning. “Oh, sweetheart, if flirting were a class, you’d still be in kindergarten.”

Serena snickers. “We keep forgetting you’ve only ever been with one man—a halfling at that. You’re about as clueless as a virgin.”

“Hey!” I protest, placing my hands firmly on my hips. “Just because Cory was my one and only doesn’t mean I haven’t learned a few tricks. I haveplentyof toys.” I proudly retort, a playful spark igniting within me.

The girls burst into laughter.

Izzy wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. “Oh, Kerry, what’re we gonna do with you? Mix and mingle. Secure a job. No, better yet, secure that fine man over there.”

My friends’ playful teasing ushers in a lighter, more bearable mood to the evening. Yet, beneath the surface, the sting from the unpleasant encounter with that infuriatingly handsome man still burns. Despite his undeniable allure, I remind myself of the resolve that led me to divorce my ex. I will never allow anyone to disrespect or hurt me ever again.

So, I dive into the crowd, schmoozing with Greer’s elite, dreading every moment of pitching myself like an infomercial on a desperate loop. The compliments on my looks flow as freely as the champagne. Even worse are the questions about my credentials. Ultimately, each conversation ends with the same non-committal responses.

Rich Prick #1: I’ll give you a call if I’m interested. But I’ll call you sooner if you’re‘interested,’if you know what I mean.

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