She turned to see Allie Lawrence, Posey’s teacher approaching, her boots crunching in the snow. Of course, since her life seemed to be set up to intersect with him in every possible way, Allie just happened to be Tripp’s little sister.
But Jillian was glad to see her. Allie had always been super sweet. It was no surprise at all that she had decided to work with the little ones.
“Hi, Allie,” Jillian said. “Posey loves kindergarten. I’m so glad you’re her teacher.”
“Me too,” Allie said. “She fits right in. And I can tell you read to her at home. She’s got some solid skills already.”
“She does love a good book,” Jillian said, nodding as a little burst of pride warmed her chest.
“Me too,” Allie said, smiling. “My brother is pretty taken with her. They’re like two peas in a pod.”
“Sure,” Jillian said, forcing herself to keep the smile on her face.
“I hear he’s going to be helping out at your grandparents’ place,” Allie went on. “It’s good of youto make that happen. He’s been wishing they would let him lend a hand for a long time.”
“Really?” Jillian asked. He’d hinted at it, but she hadn’t been sure.
“It’s not to pressure you,” Allie said quickly. “I mean, obviously he’s always had a thing for you, but he’s helping them because he cares about them.”
“A thing for me?” Jillian echoed helplessly.
“Well, you knew about it,” Allie chuckled. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you. He planned to ask you to that formal for weeks.”
“Not because he liked me, though,” Jillian heard herself say flatly. She hated to bring up something she’d kept buried so long. But somehow, having told Amberlee had uncorked a bunch of bottled feelings, and made it easier to talk about them again.
“Of course because he liked you,” Allie said, looking genuinely puzzled. “Why else would he ask you to the dance?”
“To make fun of me,” Jillian said softly, hating the feeling that she was tattling on Tripp to his little sister. “As a prank.”
“What are you talking about?” Allie asked, her expression darkening.
“The basketball guys did it to another girl the year before,” Jillian said, looking down. “The one guy cornered her in the hallway in front of everyone and asked her. And when she said yes, they all made fun of her.”
“No,” Allie breathed.
“Yes,” Jillian said. “And then Tripp did the same thingto me. He caught me in the hallway with all his hockey friends watching. I know what was going on. Sure, we hung out backstage sometimes, but I was never part of his crowd. I was a nerd. Hockey stars don’t ask nerds to the Winter Formal.”
Something like understanding dawned on Allie’s face.
“Tripp did. I promise you,” she said softly. “And the way he sees it, you ran off and left him a laughingstock in front of all his friends.”
“No,” Jillian breathed, lifting her eyes to meet Allie’s.
But the other woman was serious. There was no mistaking it.
“He never really got over it,” Allie said.
“They were laughing athim?” Jillian asked, gobsmacked.
That couldn’t be right. Could it?
“You thought he was making fun of you,” Allie said, shaking her head in wonder. “He always thought you saw him as a joker—that he wasn’t serious enough for you.”
Jillian ran through the scene that had replayed in her head so many times over the years.
This time, she saw Tripp looking so handsome, his eyes twinkling not with mischief but with hope.
She felt the tile under her feet as she ran, and heard the peals of laughter in her wake.
