Regardless of her strong words, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get Pete out of my mind. I should have used my wounded ankle as an excuse and stayed home today. Although, I wasn’t the type of person to miss a day of work for a frivolous reason. In fact, during my entire tenure with the company, which spanned over a decade, I think I only called out once when I caught the stomach flu.
“Hey, Lauren,” I answered my cell phone and glanced at the time on my monitor. I was shocked to see it was already half-past three in the afternoon since I accomplished nothing all day.
“Oh, she’s alive,” my friend said sarcastically.
I smacked myself in the head. “Crap,” I mumbled under my breath. I forgot I had promised to call Lauren yesterday. Except for a quick text to let her know I arrived home safely, I hadn’t spoken to her since the reunion. “I’m the worst.”
“Yeah, you are, but I love you anyway. How is the ankle, dancing queen?”
I looked down at my air cast. “Great!” I lied. I didn’t want her to feel bad for practically tossing me to my death. “I’m not even limping anymore.”
“Really? I would have thought for sure you’d have fractured it, given how you were hobbling around.”
“Yeah, me too. But you know me, I’m tougher than I look.”
“Speaking of looks, spill it, sista! What is going on with you and Penis?”
I closed my eyes. “Can you please stop using the stupid nickname?”
“Testes. Hmm, very interesting,”
“Lauren!”I scolded.
“Your reply speaks volumes.” I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.
“What? We’re grown adults…”
“And youlikehim,” she said.
I picked up a pen and started doodling. In a small voice, I said. “Yeah. A little, I think.”
“I knew it!” she exclaimed. “Yousoowe me dinner! I told you that you’d be gushing over that hottie and I was right. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you were sneaking glances his way the entire time we were throwing it back. If you were not so focused on watching his every move, you wouldn’t have face-planted on the dance floor. Although looking back, I think your slip and slide was the best thing that happened all evening.”
I glanced at my braced ankle again. “Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one who was carried out of the place. It was mortifying!”
“Oh, please. Since when have you ever been embarrassed? You have a knack for figuring out a way to turn lemons into a lemontini. Besides, I saw the look of pure delight on your face when he scooped you up into his arms like some modern-day prince charming.”
“Lauren,” I yelped.
“Don’tLaurenme. I know you are not as young as you used to be, and all the all-work-and-no-play has probably made you rusty, but don’t fret. I’m here to help you see the light. Whatever you think you felt for Pete, I’d bet he felt it tenfold.”
“What are you talking about? The man hates my guts.”
Lauren chuckled. “Hate? You kill me. If his expressions and actions are what hate looks like, then I wish Gary hated me more. Let me tell you, I’d have to be half-dead laying on the ground before my husband would come rushing to my side with a bag of ice.”
“He’s a cop and a dad. I’m sure it was a knee-jerk reaction. He probably took a thousand first aid classes over the years and involuntarily sprang into action.”
“Not buying it! Gary’s a dad, too,anda doctor, remember? Rationalize however you like, my friend. Except you can’t rewrite history. I was there. And I saw the way that man looked at you. Sparks were flying! So much so, even my usually oblivious ophthalmologist husband noticed hearts in Pete’s eyes.”
“You’re so full of it.”
“You’re so blind! Why do you sound so surprised, anyway? Didn’t you guys have a great trip home?”
“Yes.” I bit my lip. “How did you know?”
“Ha! I have my sources.”
“Lauren…”
