Page 7 of Just Add Friendship

“Thrift shop,” Steph said, glad for the change of topic. She had no doubt Brandy’s hunky boyfriend Ian had heard every word. Steph really needed to mingle anyway, and now was as good a time as any. She pushed up from her chair. “I’ve gotta say hi to a few people. I’ll see you both later.”

Ian smiled with a nod, but Brandy grasped her hand. “Text me any updates on my mom.”

“Of course.” So far, everything Lydia had said had been normal first date stuff. Nothing with red flags. When Steph asked if she’d made a second date, she’d said not yet. So Brandy was taking advantage of that buffer to continue working behind the scenes. The license plate number didn’t set off any alarms, since the guy didn’t have any tickets or arrest warrants.

As Steph weaved through the gathering, she greeted people, asked how they were doing, and gave her fifteen second spiel of “I’m living with my grandpa and working at the salon. What about you?”

No sign of Cal Conner. And as the minutes ticked by, Steph decided she was glad he hadn’t shown up. She could keep his memory as a high school one. Fun, daring, swoony—because yes, that kiss did happen—mysterious, and well, all fantasy. Because who was she kidding. Cal Conner hadn’t been her type in high school, and she was pretty sure he still wouldn’t be her type.

She worked at a small-town salon, for heaven’s sake, and the man she planned to marry—once she met him—would be financially secure. Because she didn’t plan on living in her grandpa’s rundown excuse of a house for the rest of her life. And Cal Conner, with his longish hair, his beat-up motorcycle, his wrinkled five-dollar bill he’d bought sodas with on their one and only date, his lousy grades, all that time spent in after-school suspension … No, he wasn’t her type. He was only the token bad-boy high school crush.

“Steph, you haven’t changed!” someone said in a singsong voice.

She turned to see a woman who looked very familiar. Dark hair, pretty eyes … “Darla! You haven’t changed either.”

The two women hugged briefly, then Darla introduced her husband, and started talking about her three kids.Three!Imagine. Oh, and Steph had fibbed. Darla had totally changed.

After a few minutes of nonsensical catching up, she was on her own once again. The light buffet had been cleared, and about a dozen couples were dancing on the makeshift dance floor, beneath the single balloon arch.

More balloons had been found, but Marci had opted to make balloon trees for table centerpieces, which was cute in theory, but made it hard to have a conversation with anyone across the tables.

Speaking of Marci, she was with her husband-slash-high-school-boyfriend at the display table that sported pictures and memorabilia of Everly Falls High School. Steph had helped set that up, and she knew there was one picture with Cal Conner in it—at a football game. He was a face in the crowd, but Steph remembered that night well because it had been the first time he’d spoken to her.

Marci laughed at something her husband said and wrapped her arms around him. Their easy affection only made Steph feelmoresingle, if that were possible. She and Marci had been on the cheer squad together, but Steph’s real friend group was made up of Brandy, Lori, and Julie.

Speaking of Julie … she and her husband Dave were currently dancing, if a bit awkwardly to account for Julie’s pregnant belly. Steph tamped down a laugh. They were an adorable couple. And now, it looked like Brandy and Ian were dancing, too—looking movie-perfect together.

Steph turned away with a half smile. She was happy everyone was having a good time. It was also nice to see former friends, but she felt drained. Lonely in a crowded room, somehow. It seemed like everyone had someone here, either a partner, or at least a date.

It was fine, she told herself firmly. Better that she discovered Nate was still in love with his ex now than find out later. She spent the next hour catching up with former classmates, listening to their life stories—ones she’d probably forget almost immediately. As the evening wound down, she helped with the cleanup even though she wasn’t officially on the cleanup crew, and even though her feet were killing her from her stilettos.

There were only a handful of people left in the gym when she left the school. She’d leave it up to the janitor to officially close everything down and lock up. It was a bit surreal to be walking to her car in a mostly empty parking lot. The September night was crisp, and the cool wind helped to clear her head of the millions of conversations she’d had. Thankfully, tomorrow was her day off, and she could luxuriate in bed as long as she wanted.

Well, until Pops was hungry for breakfast.

She released a sigh and climbed into her car. She could have technically walked, but then she would have had to bring a change of shoes. As it was, she dragged off her shoes before starting her car.

The engine clicked, but didn’t roar to life. She tried again, but nothing this time. If there was one thing she didn’t know how to do, it was mechanical stuff, or yard work, or house repairs … but she could do other things—more essential things, like make people feel beautiful.

The third try brought the same result.

“Fine. I’ll walk and figure this out in the morning,” she said to herself. She grabbed her purse and heels and climbed out of the car, wishing she had a pair of tennis shoes to change into.

Another person had come out of the building, and for an instant, Steph wondered if she could ask for a battery jump, but she was pretty sure it wasn’t the battery. That thing was only a few months old. It was probably the starter—and hopefully nothing more serious, although she didn’t exactly have money for a new starter either.

She leaned against the car and slipped on her shoes. If the person heading to his car was someone she knew—maybe she’d ask for a ride? Save her feet? It was a man, that had become clear by his size, breadth of shoulders, and long gait.

Before she could straighten and call out to him, he’d veered toward her.

And then she knew.

How she didn’t see him inside the gym was beyond her. Because although his hair was short, and he dressed like the full-grown adult he was, everything else was the same. His deep-set brown eyes, his angular jaw, his slow stride like he had all the time in the world … his very presence. Creating goose bumps once again on her arms and neck.

“Bee.” He said the single word on an exhale.

And then he was standing in front of her. Giving her some space, but also allowing her to notice the changes. She now realized shehadseen him inside the gym. At a distance. Because she remembered the man in a dark suit and tie. Thought he looked nice, but immediately dismissed him as being someone’s date.

“Cal?”

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