Gage had been the high school quarterback, with the ego to match his massive shoulders. While I worked out to be healthy and liked to think I still looked good, I was nowhere near the stellar athletic shape I’d been in back in high school and college. Judging by the two-sizes-too-small suit he was sporting like a peacock, he lacked the awareness of who he was now, post-athlete life. I felt bad for the guy as the waistband of his pants appeared to be cutting off his circulation.
“I was busy with soccer and knew who you were then, but I would never have recognized you now.” I shrugged, pursing my lips for effect. “Sorry.”
“Maybe we can all get reacquainted?” The friend on his left quirked a brow at us. Once I pictured his shiny head with hair, I realized who he was. All three had been on the football team and wouldn’t give the girls soccer team the time of day, even though we were the ones with the championship banners hanging in the gym.
I didn’t hide my eye roll as I turned to Sabrina.
“Cocktail?”
“God, yes,” Sabrina breathed out before popping out of her seat. “And we give this an hour before we get out of here,” she whispered behind me.
“I’d like to eat the plate I paid for.” I glowered back at Gage and his crew when I spotted them gawking at us. “We’ll give it at least two hours.”
“I can’t believe this shitty turnout,” Sabrina said after she ordered our drinks.
“They tried. I guess. Graduates move away or aren’t interested. It’s probably hard to get people to come.”
“Or get people to care to come.”
I shrugged. “Maybe reunions just suck in general.”
“But the cocktails don’t,” Sabrina sputtered, setting the glass on the bar after her first sip. “Now that’s a drink.”
I eyed her over the rim as I sipped my gin and tonic, wincing after the initial burn rolled down my throat.
“It sure is. We’re here, so let’s make the best of it.” I clinked my glass with Sabrina’s. “To old times. May we push past them so we can have good ones.”
Sabrina’s smile was sad as she nodded.
“I will one thousand percent drink to that.”
“Sabrina? I thought that was you!”
Our heads whipped around to a—finally—familiar voice.
“Caden! Holy shit, how are you?”
I stuffed a single in the bartender’s tip jar as they embraced in a long hug. It took me back to the days I used to warn Sabrina about the weird friends-with-sometimes-benefits relationship they’d had, but watching them simply enjoy seeing each other again made me smile, despite the twinge of envy at their unburdened history.
I reached back to the bar for a napkin as they got reacquainted, but I didn’t realize someone was standing right behind me and lost my footing. I tried to grab on to something for purchase but tripped, almost dropping my drink as I fell back into a hard, broad chest.
“I’m so sorry?—”
I gazed into familiar chocolate eyes, now with a few more crinkles in the corners, as a slow grin split his full lips.
“Hey, Em.”
2
JESSE
“Sorry about that,”Emily said, breathless as she clutched my biceps. “I should have looked behind me before I backed up.”
When I’d come here tonight, hoping to see Emily again and maybe finally getting to apologize for what I’d done all those years ago, the already beautiful girl I remembered paled in comparison to the gorgeous woman who’d fallen into my arms.
“No worries at all. I should have… I should have watched where I was going. You look…amazing,” I breathed out, still regaining my balance from almost falling over and coming face-to-face with the first girl I’d ever loved. “Wow. I mean…” I let go of Emily’s arm to press my palm against my forehead, my stupid attempt to maybe push something coherent out of my mouth.
“Thank you,” Emily said. “And you don’t look so bad yourself. Of course,” she muttered as the corner of her red lips twitched. Her eyes fell to where I still gripped her arm. “I think I’m totally upright now, so you could let go.”
