Our first familiar face of the night, other than Emily and Sabrina, but just like when I’d run into her back in high school, I wasn’t all that happy to see her.
Sharon had been a big hit with the teachers because she’d known how to sell it. She came from money, and she had always been the first to volunteer or donate anything for theless fortunate. But when no one was watching, she’d pick who she’d felt was worth being nice to and made life as hard as she could for everyone else. I could never figure out how she had all the faculty snowed, or how Caden had tolerated dating her for a couple of months in senior year.
“It is so great to see all of you.” She scooted closer to the table and hooked her purse over the back of her chair.
We all shared a look when she turned her head.
“You look great, Emily. Time was wonderful to you. I was very excited and proud to spot your name in the last book I read.”
“Oh, thank you,” Emily stammered, furrowing her brow. Sharon had ignored both of us throughout high school, but when she’d dated Caden, I’d been worthy of a hello once or twice. I’d never known what to do with her fake kindness back then either.
“Wait a minute,” I said, my head snapping up as what Sharon said sank in. “You’re a writer now? That’s fantastic. I knew it.”
“You knew it?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “How?”
“Well, I figured writer or soccer star—or maybe both?”
I caught a blush run up her cheeks.
“I’m an editor, not a writer. I loved playing soccer in college, but that’s as far as I wanted to take it. I earned a communications degree while I played, and I worked at a big publishing house before I went on my own. I have ghostwritten in the past, but not for a long time. Editing is where I like to live.”
“That’s pretty fantastic too,” I said, my smile growing when her gaze slid back to mine. “Congratulations.”
“I’ve spotted your name in a few books now,” Sharon gushed, breaking what I thought was almost a nice moment between Emily and me. “It’s so awesome to point out to friends and say how I knew you back when.”
“Excuse me,” Sabrina said, choking out an exaggerated cough as she set down her water glass. “Must have gone down thewrong way. Too bad you don’t have any pictures withyour friend Emilyfrom high school to show the people who attend your seminars.”
“Right,” Sharon said with a tight smile, turning back to Emily. “I love seeing professional women start working for themselves. Such an empowering accomplishment.”
“Thank you. I like to think so. Being able to work from anywhere makes everything much easier.”
“Very true,” I agreed. In my case, the ability to work from home wasn’t only easier, it was a godsend. Being so afraid to leave my condo these days was part of the reason Caden had pushed me into this reunion, and my mother had been so quick to offer to spend the night.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Sharon said as she popped up from the chair. “I need to go take my seat at the sponsors’ table. Emily, I’ll message you on Facebook.” She scurried across the room, not addressing, or even looking back at, the rest of us.
“Was it something I said?” Sabrina pressed her hand to her chest. “Of course she’s one of the sponsors.”
Caden laughed as his gaze followed her departure. “She didn’t even say hi.”
“She barely looked at any of us. Other than calling us agang, Emily was the only one lucky enough to get a direct acknowledgment.” Sabrina smirked at Emily.
“And here I’d thought we’d had a thing,” Caden said on an exaggerated sigh.
“What did you mean by seminars?” I asked Sabrina.
“You didn’t hear about that?” Emily squinted at me. “Sharon is a motivational speaker. I think for the past ten years or so.”
“Motivational speaker?” I chuckled. “Sharon? Motivation for what?”
“Living your best life, overcoming obstacles, loving yourself. She isallover YouTube. Emily and I trade video links all thetime for sport,” Sabrina said. “I actually wondered if she’d be nicer and if she really practices all that toxic positivity crap she preaches.”
“Not me,” Emily scoffed. “The idea of everyone deserving self-actualization is her platform rather than her belief, at least from what I can tell. But I guess if she’s really helping some people live their best lives, no matter what her agenda is, it ends up for the greater good, right?”
Emily’s smile was warm and genuine, showing none of the trepidation I had been called out for before I’d left my house tonight.
I was an odd mix of relieved and disappointed. Yes, it was great that she didn’t seem to hate me. But it would be a big blow to my ego if I carried all this guilt over how we’d ended for a couple of decades and she hadn’t even thought twice about it. Maybe she was married or attached and didn’t have time to think of her jerk ex-boyfriend from high school.
“So, what do you do for a living? Now that we’ve talked about myfame,” Emily joked and reached for one of the rolls in the bread basket. I inched closer to the table, trying not to be so obvious about checking out her ring finger as she picked up her butter knife.
