Page 53 of Feels Like the First Time

“And our first nominee for reunion   queen is…” the reunion   chair called out over the still-chatter-filled room “…Zoe Gaston.”

“What?” Zoe yelped, turning so fast she yanked the tablecloth with her and almost pulled it to the floor. The room exploded in a cacophony of whispers. Faces turned, people gestured.

“They just announced you’re in the running as reunion   queen,” Dex realized, a huge grin splitting his cheeks. He turned to give Zoe a hug and realized she was pure white. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe anyone actually…” She stopped and frowned, then shrugged. “I’m sure it’s just to get back at Candice after she publicly announced I didn’t have a chance. It’s not me people nominated, just the anti-cheerleader.”

Dex couldn’t tell if she was excited or not. She looked more confused than anything. He wanted to grab her into his arms and protect her, which was probably crazy considering this wasn’t Carrie.

“They could have nominated anyone if they wanted to do that,” he pointed out. They both glanced at the stage as the redhead, Julie Fenton, and Candice Love, were called as the other nominees. The crowd gave each perfunctory applause, except for the football table, which went nuts at Candice’s name. Unlike Zoe or Julie, the blonde got up and gave a speech. At the end of Candice’s little cheer, Brad stood and did his football victory dance on the chair. He stared right at Dex while he did it, too.

“You can totally win this thing,” Dex said with determination, turning back to Zoe.

“Win it? You’re kidding, right? The whole thing is a joke. I didn’t toss my name in the hat and I sure as hell don’t want to win.”

Dex frowned at the fury in her voice. He looked around the room and noted all the snarky looks being shot Zoe’s way. He noted even more downcast eyes and shamefaced avoidance of his gaze. His eyes met Julie’s as she stepped off the stage. Instead of looking thrilled with her nomination, she was giving Zoe a concerned glance.

“Why not win?” he asked, his attention split between Zoe, the room and his spinning thoughts trying to put it all together. “You’re just as eligible, better-looking and definitely more worthy than anyone else here.”

Zoe gave him an indulgent-friend eye roll, then shook her head. “It’s not about me being a winner. This is on the same plane as them nominating me as the Virgin Queen. It’s a joke.”

As he always did when her virgin moniker was mentioned, Dex growled low in his throat. He should have kicked Brad Young’s ass back in high school for that and that alone. What kind of wimp was he that he’d let something that hurt Zoe so much go without retribution?

“I want to leave,” she said, her expression closed. She’d pulled the walls in again, he realized. Without waiting, she tossed her napkin on the table, and shoe-clad once more, she got up and rushed from the room.

Ignoring Brad’s taunting call and Julie’s worried look, Dex hurried after her. He caught her in the lobby and pulled her into one of the small private coves off to the side.

“Hold up,” he said. “You don’t know it’s a joke. Maybe some people think you’re worthy of being queen.”

“Right,” she agreed with more than a hint of sarcasm.

“You know, you don’t always have to expect the worst,” he admonished, a little pissed that she was so quick to doubt herself. “Haven’t you met anyone since you’ve been here who wasn’t a jerk?”

He saw the denial in her eyes, then the look shifted to contemplation. Then, as Zoe always did when she didn’t want to deal with things, he watched her shove the whole issue aside.

Glancing around as if she’d just noticed where they were, a slow, wicked look crossed Zoe’s face. To one side was a naked replica of the Venus de Milo, to the right was a huge potted plant. Pseudo privacy.

“Is this where you bring all your dates to say goodnight?” she said, putting an obvious effort into her teasing tone.

“Is the evening over?”

She took his wrist and turned it so she could see his watch. He noted it was about forty minutes from the time she’d agreed to meet the masked man.

“I do have some things to do,” she said softly, her eyes now inspecting his face as if she could uncover all his secrets. Dex’s spine stiffened at the thought.

Then she gave him a long, slumberous look that made his insides turn to molten lava. He stepped back.

She stepped closer, so close her scent wrapped around him like a lover’s fingers. Dex gulped. A dull roar filled his head. It took him a second to realize it wasn’t his racing heart, but the reunion   dinner getting out. People filled the lobby behind them, reminding him that their privacy was a joke.

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