Page 47 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

Three of them broke off to greet her in the same enthusiastic way as JT. Kevin Lopez, Matty Bell, and Antonio Roberts. They passed her around like a rag doll before settling her between them. At one time, these guys were all her buddies, her go-to good-time pals, former lost boys and perpetually immature. They told stupid “yo mama” jokes, thought it was funny to hit one another in the balls, and were obsessed with dance-offs in the cafeteria, embarrassing underclassmen by forcing them to join in.

Now, they were dads, accountants, and teachers. They wore pleated pants, for god’s sake. They showed Laney baby pictures, exchanged business cards, and made her promise to keep in touch.

JT, with a slightly rounder belly than the last time she’d seen him, introduced her to his wife, Mel, and they chatted about his high school coaching career, but the conversation inevitably boomeranged back to Laney.

“JT tells me how you guys were good friends in school,” Mel said. “Prom king and queen, that’s so cute.” She gazed up at him proudly. JTwouldmarry the type of woman who thought prom king looked good on a résumé.

“How’s everything going with you?” he asked.

“Everything’s good.” Laney smiled. Maybe a little too brightly, according to his slight frown.

“Really?”

“Uh-huh.”

Laney hadn’t posted anything publicly on her social media about her breakup with Bobby, but according to her sudden erasure of a lot of her history after she’d had so much about them together and the LinkedIn update about her leaving the Magnate Company, it was probably easy to put two and two together. Plus, Dean knew the story, and he’d apparently told Hank, which was basically like telling theNew York Times.

She didn’t mind people knowing she’d broken up with Bobby because he cheated on her, but she did mind their sad eyes.

“I’m sorry about what happened,” JT said. “That’s a real shit thing to do to someone. Especially you.”

Laney accepted his words with a pat to his arm then made an excuse to move toward the bar, not even getting five feet before she was stopped by more people. They all wanted to talk to her, reminiscence about their high school years, and get the gossip. Kylie Fallstaff, who reintroduced herself to Laney—and thank god because she didn’t remember—said, “I can’t believe that happened to you. You were always so popular.”

As if popularity checked off some kind of get out of jail free card in life.

The only good thing about so many people wanting to speak to her was that she could talk up RAHD, even though she hadn’t yet spotted Ethan.

She would murder him if he ditched her here in this lion’s den.

At the bar, she accepted a glass of wine from Dean, her throat like sandpaper from all the conversation, but before she could take a sip, Kayla Levy and Madison Gallagher showed up, arm in arm.

Dean gave Kayla a quick once-over. They’d been hot and heavy in school, and everywhere Kayla had gone, so did Madison. Easy path for Madison and Ethan to get together.

“How’ve you been, Kayla?” Dean asked congenially, and she smiled.

“Great. I’m getting married next month.”

“Yeah?” Dean raised his glass to her. “Congratulations.”

“Maddie’s the matron of honor,” she said, and Madison performed a little curtsy, always one to put on a show.

She was tall and thin with a long neck, like a swan, and ten years ago, the dark-haired girl practically spewed fire from her eyes whenever she looked at Laney. Not much had changed in that regard.

“How’s it going, Madison?” Laney finally got a sip of her wine. “I heard you own a ballet studio now?”

“That’s right.” Madison pressed her long fingers against her collarbone, her smile laced with a menacing lilt like Maleficent. “You keeping tabs on me?”

“Well, I’ve been researching local businesses to help out a friend. I’m not sure if you know, but Ethan Marrero has started a nonprofit to raise money for Huntington’s disease.”

At the mention of his name, Madison’s eyebrow ticked up infinitesimally.

“He asked me to head up the first fundraising event, and I’m looking for sponsors.” Laney fished her card out of her purse. “Maybe you’d be interested.”

Madison took the card though she stayed silent while Kayla held out her hand. “Can I have one too? I couldn’t sponsor, but are you taking cash donations?”

Laney nodded. “You can head to the website listed here and donate right through the link. We appreciate anything you can give.”

Madison let out a short laugh. “So, you’re back in town for, what? A few weeks? And already you slid right back in with Ethan.”

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