Chapter Three
“I’m done.” Trey gave her a mock salute, spun on a heel, and walked off.
She stared after him in complete disgust. “Of all the egotistical, arrogant, men.”
Of all people, why Trey? Why would the universe play such a cruel joke on her? She knew it wasn’t the universe. She also believed that God wasn’t a cruel God, but why? Why, why, why, did He bring Trey back into her life, just when it seemed life was going well.
She hadn’t seen him since that night. Her cheeks heated as the humiliation of it crashed over her like a wave. Had it really been six years? On those rare moments she allowed herself to think about that night, it seemed like only yesterday.
They’d never gotten along. Not since kindergarten when they both wanted the red ball at recess and had been sent to time out because neither would release it and squeezed it so hard it popped. In middle school, they’d had to sit next to each other in science class, and they’d both failed a test because he asked her for a pencil during an exam. She’d had a break from him from eighth through tenth grade when her family had temporarily moved away, but eleventh grade saw the return of their battles.
That year, she’d won the school election and was named class president. He’d had his revenge their senior year when he won homecoming king and she didn’t even make the court. In a rare event, they’d both been named valedictorians of their graduation class.
Maybe that was the catalyst to soothe their egos and forge a friendship when they both ended up at Georgetown. Granted, he’d attended on his daddy’s money, while she’d earned a scholarship and had to work a part-time job to help pay the remaining expenses.
She had to snap out of it. Even though it often felt like yesterday, it was ancient history. They’d gone their separate ways, hadn’t seen each other in years, and she rarely thought of him anymore.
Not really.
Not in good terms at least.
Regardless, she couldn’t allow her aversion for Trey to ruin her position at Hope House. He was right, though admitting so left a bitter taste in her mouth. They’d have to come to terms with the past, even if that meant pretending it never happened, in order that they not stray from the mission of Hope House.
More importantly, her parents had taught her better. She’d been raised to treat people as Jesus would have treated them, and she’d failed at that, miserably so. Dragging her feet, she followed his path outside. Humble pie was far from her favorite, but it appeared she’d be eating some this evening.
She left the building and scanned the parking lot for him. When she spotted him climbing into an SUV, an expensive one at that, she picked up her pace, called out his name.
He froze. He hadn’t yet closed the door and one leg still hung outside the SUV. His eyes didn’t leave hers as she crossed the asphalt. A wary expression clouded his sapphire blue eyes, and she couldn’t blame him.
She’d acted despicably, with a complete disregard to professionalism. She stopped several feet away from him, waited to see if he’d say anything.
Of course, he didn’t. She’d given him the silent treatment, why should she expect less?
Drawing in a long breath, she held it for a moment before releasing it. “I’m sorry.”
He cupped a hand to his ear. “What? I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”
Counting to ten, she bit off the sharp retort on the tip of her tongue. “I’m sorry for my lack of professionalism. If you’d like to come back inside, I’ll finish the tour.”
“Will there be audio this time?” The hint of a twinkle sparkled in his eyes.
A hesitant laugh pushed from her lips. “That can be arranged.”
“Then I’ll finish the tour.” He slid out of the driver’s seat and shut the door behind him. “Like it or not, we’ll have to talk about it eventually.”
She held up a hand and shook her head. “For now, let’s pretend we’re meeting for the first time today. I think that’s the best idea.”
His brow arched, but he didn’t argue. “Fine by me.”
As they reached the front door, the other board members were walking out.
Lovely. How odd would it look that they were outside?
To her surprise, Trey spoke up. “We began our tour outside, and Miss Simmons just finished showing me the newly repaired area of pavement fixed by a grant. Whoever completed the work, did a fantastic job.”
She tried to keep the shock from her face. How had he known that? One of the board members must have told him, that was the simple explanation. Yet, if that was true, why would he have told them that she’d been telling him all about it.
Suppressing the loud groan building within her she played along. “I told him we are petitioning the city for a traffic light at the entrance, or at least a caution light. Rachel showed me the traffic reports. Ever since they built that new shopping center across the street, the traffic in front of Hope House has increased ten-fold.”
