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Everyone claps as I exit the stage. I glance around the room, looking for the mysterious woman, but it’s more difficult to find her now that I’m not on the stage. As I’m looking around, I spy Jen and Bryan in a corner arguing. Yikes. That can’t be good.

With a bit of surprise, I realize I couldn’t care less what they’re arguing about. I breathe a sigh of relief. Deep down, I think I needed to prove to myself that I could be around them without feeling like my chest was going to cave in. Seeing them tonight was nothing compared to when I saw them last year after Jen broke up with me. I hope Bryan isn’t an awful husband. Or, at least, I want to feel that way. My heart has a little ways to go, apparently.

I stick around for a bit, catching up with old friends and hoping to run into the gorgeous red-head, but I never see her again. She must be someone’s wife. She definitely wasn’t in my graduating class, or I’m sure I would’ve remembered her.

Exiting the gym, I walk back down the long hallway to get back to the front parking lot. Standing on the stairs in front of the school, I take a moment to enjoy the brilliant Kansas sunset on this hot August evening. They're always glorious and full of brilliant pinks and blues, like swirling cotton candy. Inhaling the humid summer air, I smile to myself.

Suddenly, I hear a strange crumpling noise to my left. I turn my head to investigate.

When I glance over my shoulder, I see her, the mysterious redhead. She’s sitting on a step on the other side of the wide staircase. She gracefully tosses her wavy red hair over her shoulder as she rummages through her handbag. When she looks up, she holds a stick of gum in front of her and whispers triumphantly, “Ah, there you are.”

“Are you speaking to your gum?” I ask, and she jumps. She must have been so immersed in her quest for gum that she didn’t realize anyone else had come outside.

She blushes–which I find adorable–then meets my gaze with her forest-green eyes. “Oh! I’m sorry, Madden, I didn’t see you there.”

Does she know me? My thoughts spin. Surely I would’ve remembered meeting this lovely creature. She looks like a majestic fae escaped from some fantasy novel. And I don’t even read fantasy.

“I’m sorry, do we know each other?” I think for a moment, trying to place her. “Were you in my graduating class?”

She furrows her eyebrows and slides her purse onto her shoulder, seemingly annoyed. “Oh. Nope. I just know your name since you gave the speech earlier.”

I walk over and reach my hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…” I pause, hoping she’ll tell me her name.

A smirk crosses her lips for just a moment before she gently shakes my hand and responds with an amused twinkle in her eye, “My friends call me Red.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I glance down at our hands and don’t see a ring on her finger. Excellent.

“Well, I can see why.” I wink. I hold onto her hand longer than necessary and give her my best smolder. Flynn Rider mixed with Chris Hemsworth. “So who are you here with, Red?”

She pulls her hand out of mine and bites her bottom lip. After thinking for a few seconds, she slowly answers, “Um... my boyfriend. Greg.”

I raise an eyebrow. The fact that she had to think about it tells me she’s lying. But why would anyone lie about such a trivial thing, especially to a stranger? “Really? I’m good friends with Greg. I spoke with him earlier, but he never mentioned a girlfriend.”

Her lovely, heart-shaped mouth makes a “tsk” sound. “Well! I can’t believe him. I better go have a chat. With Greg.”

“Right. Nice meeting you, Red.”

“Er, yes. Nice meeting you too, Madden.”

Before I can utter another word, she turns on her heel and scuttles back inside, leaving me completely befuddled. And intrigued.

Chapter 3

Odette

I wake up the next morning in my childhood bedroom. As I take in the room, it’s obvious that Mom and Dad never moved a thing from its place since I left for college years ago. My twin bed feels comfortable and familiar, complete with the pink comforter I received for my 16th birthday. I run my hand over the fluffy matching pillow and give an extra hug to Mr. Rexy, my sparkly T-Rex.

Note to self: redecorate my bedroom before I begin sleeping with all of my stuffed animals on the regular.

Thinking back to last night at the reunion, my face grows hot remembering my strange interaction with Madden. I know we weren’t close in high school, but he didn’t even know who I was. I huff a frustrated breath. Oh, well. I probably won’t see him again anytime soon. Why waste valuable brain cells thinking about teenage fantasies?

Suddenly, I get a whiff of my Mom’s infamous cinnamon rolls drifting through the door. Is there a better scent in the entire world? I think not. The mouthwatering smell is enough to pull me from my bed–and Mr. Rexy.

I grab my robe and slippers from my suitcase and walk out to the kitchen where my sweet mom is busy cleaning up the mess from her baking and humming along to oldies on the radio.

Despite all the stress since Dad’s stroke, she looks well. Her wavy, grey hair is cut adorably short, and she’s wearing her signature outfit: a cardigan, simple khaki pants, and her floral apron. But what always stands out the most is her bright, contagious smile.

I experience the full wattage of that smile when she turns, spotting me.