Page 62 of Win Some Love Some
“Nor.”
It was hisNora, you’re not making any sensetone.
I knew it well.
A noise from just outside the garage caught my attention. High-pitched voices raised in excitement. I knew that sound. It used to delight me. It was a little pat on the back. An ego boost. But now it sent chills down my spine. It was the sound of being recognized.
I turned to see who was heading toward the open bay doors. “Oh no,” I whispered.
“What?” Nick asked turning in the same direction.
“High school reunion incoming.”
It was the Bride to Be and her family.
“Nora?” Terry cried, separating herself from the pack of blonde blow outs. “Is that you? Oh my gosh, it is you!”
I plastered on a gigantic smile and tried to pretend I was happy to see my old friend. “Terry! How are you?”
She jogged into the open space of the garage, and wrapped her arms around me. She was followed by her younger sister, who graduated with my sister Charlie, and an older woman I didn’t recognize.
“It’s so good to see you! I didn’t know if we would have a chance to catch up before the wedding.”
“Yes, well, I’m looking forward to your big day. Are you excited?”
Terry, not an inch over five feet, who still looked like she could pass for a senior in high school, bounced on her toes which made her blond hair swish. She had not changed one bit.
“So excited! Like I can’t wait to be Mrs. Terry Doonesbury.”
I was painfully aware of Nick watching me. He would know I was faking all this enthusiasm, and it made me uncomfortable. “So you’re taking Ted’s last name?”
“It’s old fashioned, I know,” Terry blinked her wide blue eyes. “But who wouldn’t want to be a Doonesbury?” she squealed.
“Who wouldn’t?” I squealed back.
“And you! How are you?” She squeezed my hand like she knew how I’d been. “We were just about to get lunch. You should join us.”
“Uh…oh…no, I can’t. I’m working.” I shot a look to Nick over my shoulder.
“Yep. I can’t let her go. Sorry.” He tossed the rag he’d been using to clean his hands back over on the bench.
“Oh.” The excited look dropped from her face like a stone, only to be replaced by confusion. “You work here. At the garage?”
Clear as day, I heard what she wasn’t saying:That’s a long way away from traveling first class around Europe.
I couldn’t blame Terry. Everyone in town was working so hard not to say it. Not to bring it up. They might as well have just yelled their questions at me like the trolls on the internet.
How much money did you lose?
How did you not know?
Why are you such an idiot?
Terry leaned forward, dropping her voice like she was telling me a secret. “I don’t want you to feel any pressure to bring a date. When I sent the invitation for a plus one, I’d just assumed you’d still be with Rene.”
“Yes, of course. How could you know?” I said politely. But, behind me, I could feel the tension rolling off Nick.
“I mean how could Iknow,right? What he would do to you. That asshole,” Terry said.
