“The chance to make it may never come again,” I interrupted.
Claire smiled wide. “That’s exactly right.”
“I’m kind of figuring that out myself.”
“I thought you were heading to law school.”
“Oh I did. I am, but I hate it,” I admitted. “About to make a change in career path, just figuring out what I want to do.”
Claire smiled sweetly. “Well, whatever you decide to do, I know you’ll be great at it. You can do pretty much anything you put your mind to.”
“Well, that’s really kind of you to say, Claire.”
She shrugged. “Just speaking the truth.”
“Oh, my gahd! Claire Hurley and Teagan Reed,” another voice from my past called out.
Claire’s smile dropped and I stiffened.
“What?” Cash asked.
“Lauren Marks,” I whispered. “Head mean girl of our class.”
Cash frowned. “She bullied you?”
“Shetried, but mostly it was girls like Claire and her friends who took the full brunt of her nastiness,” I said before turning to face her.
“Hello, Lauren. How are you?” I asked in a clipped tone.
She wore a long cardigan and a floppy straw hat straight from the “Pinstagram” online shop. She smiled coyly. “How sweet. Like you don’t know.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. The last time I’d seen Lauren Marks was the day of our high school graduation which was also the last day I’d ever thought about her at all. She was the most self-centered, shallow bitch in a school that had more than its fair share.
“And how are you, Claire? I’m surprised to see you in a place like this. You never seemed to follow fashion trends back in high school.”
“I still don’t,” Claire replied. “I’ve always liked clothes like this. The current trends have finally caught up with me. But like you said, I don’t care about trends.”
Lauren’s head tilted, making her look like a confused puppy.
“This is Claire’s boutique,” I said.
“Oh, wow, how… nice,” Lauren said, sounding like she was in shock.
“And with that, I have to apologize, but I really need to get back to work. I’m trying to sort out a fabric supply issue with one of my vendors in Bangladesh and the time difference is a nightmare to deal with. It was so good to see you again, Teagan, and nice to meet you, Cash.”
“You too,” Cash replied.
“Lauren,” Claire said with the slightest of nods. After hugging me one more time, Claire walked away, turning to the young woman at the counter as she left. “Marci, please make sure Teagan gets the friends and family discount.”
“That’s so sweet. Thank you,” I said.
“My gift to the coolest girl in school,” she said before disappearing down the hall.
“Let’s look around, baby,” Cash said, pulling me away from Lauren, who waved goodbye awkwardly.
I smiled up at Cash. “Well, that was super sweet of Claire to say all that nice stuff about me.”
He rolled his eyes.
