Okay, so this is awkward. Awkward, but nice. God, it’s good to see her. How often have I pictured this over the years? I’ve been in Portland a few times and always thought about looking her up. I even grabbed her address once when I sent her some silly Chewbacca socks a few Christmases ago, but we haven’t connected in person for years.
Yeah, I checked out plenty of her social media pics and couldn’t help noticing she had a boyfriend every time. Rarely the same boyfriend for long, which was kinda how it went in college. She dated a lot, but never got serious with anyone.
“Can I get you something to drink?” She gestures at a green bottle chilling in a silver bucket filled with ice. “There’s still half a bottle of Dom Pérignon.”
“It’s not Pabst Blue Ribbon, but I suppose it’ll do.”
She smiles and backs away. “Let me grab you a glass.”
I do my best not to stare as she hurries toward the kitchen. Those smiley-face pants are fucking adorable, and I get mesmerized watching her hips sway under the flannel. She’s wearing one of those tank tops with the skinny straps, and I’m pretty sure there’s no bra under it. Her hair has soft golden streaks I don’t remember from college, and her ponytail swings as she walks.
God, she’s beautiful. And still sweet as hell, judging by how quick she is to invite me inside no matter how long it’s been.
“It’s great to see you,” she calls from the kitchen as she bends down to grab a glass from the bottom shelf of a cabinet. “You’re looking great.”
“So are you,” I croak.
Stop staring at her ass.
She straightens up with a glass in hand, and I manage to tear my eyes off her as she whirls back around. “Let’s sit in the living room to catch up.”
I follow her in there and spend a second debating between the loveseat and the spot on the cushion beside her. What’s the protocol when you haven’t seen someone in ten years? I’m already at risk of being a creeper for showing up like this, so I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. Speaking of which, I should explain.
“I didn’t mean to just bust into your night from out of nowhere,” I tell her. “I was visiting Ryan Callow—you remember him from my Ultimate Frisbee league?”
“Of course,” she says slowly, taking a sip of champagne. “We weren’t close, but I see him sometimes on Instagram.”
“He lives just a few miles from here,” I tell her. “For some reason I was thinking you knew I was in town.”
Which is ridiculous, I realize now.
She must see some hesitation in my eyes, because she pats the cushion beside her. “I’m glad you came,” she says. “Come on, sit down.”
“Thanks.” I drop down next to her and accept the delicate champagne flute. My fingers brush hers, and I’m reminded of that heatwave that used to hit every time we’d touch. Which was always innocent, I swear. For God’s sake, we sat on my beanbag chair playing video games. It doesn’t get more platonic than that.
You always wanted more.
“Cheers,” I manage, clinking my glass against hers. “Here’s to birthdays.”
“To birthdays.” She smiles, but it’s a nervous smile. “God, I can’t believe it’s been ten years.”
“Too long.” I take a sip of the champagne. “So tell me what you’ve been up to. Your social media says you do some sort of clinical social work?”
She nods and rests her glass on her knee. “I got my undergrad in special ed and a master’s in social work. I manage a group home for adults with Down Syndrome.”
“Just like you always wanted.”
She smiles. “I owe it to you. Well, you and Shane.”
There’s a tightness in my chest that happens every time I think of my brother. I swallow some champagne to make it go away. “He’d have been proud.”
Her eyes cloud with sympathy, but it’s obvious she knows I’d rather not talk about it. “I’m sorry,” she says softly. “I know it’s been a long time, but I still think about him a lot.”
“Me, too.” Christ, more than she knows. More than anyone knows.
Sarah clears her throat, and I’m grateful she still has a knack for recognizing the need for a subject change. “How about you? I saw you do something in aviation?”
“Yep. I’ve been a private aviation management consultant for the last four years, but I’m out here on a temp assignment that could turn into a full-time gig as the Chief Operations Officer for Wyeth Airways.”
