Chapter Twenty-Four

Kate

 

Sam and his wife had sat at the other end of the long pew.

The couple had been married for ten years now.

His mother sent me the wedding announcement when it happened.

You think you’ve moved on from things in your youth, then something like that arrives, and nope. Wished him well and was sad for me, as little sense as that made after all that time.

So what if he was my first adult kiss?

I could watch Sam in profile from here and he hadn’t spotted me, yet. He was even more handsome than I remembered, maturity chiseling all the baby fat away into sculpted perfection. He could’ve been a model. A movie star. Had a scout ever approached him?

Debbie went through the schedule of the weekend, then wanted to lead us through our school song. Sam looked my way for the first time and our eyes met.

He still recognized my singing voice after all these years?

Butterflies from my teens awoke and fluttered in my belly.

So wrong, Kate, he’s married.

Stupid hormones.

But his eyes were so intense.

Had he always been so focused?

Once. With a kiss that was combustible.

I smiled and nodded and he nodded back.

Then orientation was over and people filtered out of the building.

“Kate.”

A voice I’d know when I was eighty. I turned and waited. “Hey, Sam.”

The years had been good to him. He still had an athletic build and no gray hair.

“This is Mandy.” His wife shook my hand. “Kate and I were friends.”

Friends. Were.

Yep.

“We’re heading over to the Farmer’s Market. Want to join us?” Mandy asked. She was cute, with a friendly, wholesome face. Like a TV wife of the past.

“Uh, sure.” It wasn’t far from here, and held every Saturday into the afternoon. Some things never changed. “Heard you had kids.”

“Two,” he said. He smiled for the first time at mention of them.

Mandy reached in her purse for the photos and stuck the book of prints in my face. “Aren’t they adorable? Candace has her daddy’s eyes. And that’s Jordan. He’s ten months.”

“Congratulations.” A toddler and an infant.

They’d started kids late.

“Jordan falls asleep to your album. Only thing that works when he’s teething,” she said.

He kept my demo? Played it for the kid? Should I be flattered?

“Not the first baby I’ve sung to sleep. Even my brother and sister.”

“How is your family?” Sam asked.

He didn’t remember? That hurt. How could he not remember the funeral?

“Been on my own since age twenty.” When all my dreams came crashing down. “Dad and Kristi are dead, Sam.”

His eyes sparked to life with regret. “I’m sorry, Kate, I know. The question was about your brother.” This was so awkward with his wife here.

A familiar ache developed in my chest. I shrugged. “Mother might as well be, too. Is what it is.”

“Peter? He’s well?” Sam tried again.

“As can be expected.”

We entered the market and Mandy grabbed a basket. “Hon, we need carrots.” She led the way to the vegetables section.

We strolled behind her. “What about you? Did you get married?” he asked.

I laughed. “Who would ever propose to me?” He didn’t know how absurd that question was. “Sorry, bad inside joke.”

His brow furrowed in confusion.

I wasn’t this random or unfiltered in high school. Was I?

He started choosing carrots.

Mandy took the bunch out of his hands and picked up another. “No, silly, they should look like this.”

“She usually does the grocery shopping,” he said nearly monotone.

“Is there someone special in your life, Kate?” she asked. She’d been ahead of us when he asked me.

“A guy. Sixteen years. It’s complicated.”

The furrow was still there. “I’m glad you’re not alone,” Sam said.

“Wouldn’t say that.”

He blinked. “Sorry?”

“I hate him a little. Like I said, it’s complicated.”

And nothing I wanted to get into with a past crush and his perfect family. I searched for anything remotely interesting to divert my attention to.

Mandy loaded his arms as the basket got heavy. I lingered back as the wife took his attention. My phone buzzed.

Sonya. Is everyone fat and bald?

I’m strolling the farmer’s market with my gorgeous high school crush and his lovely wife. Kill me now. I included the pistol emoji.

Sam? Water-polo-team-photo-in-the-yearbook Sam?

The one and only. He is neither fat nor bald.

Why are you torturing yourself?

I couldn’t think of a polite reason to bail.

“Kate, do you like strawberries?” Mandy asked. She was holding a flat with multiple little green plastic baskets.

“Uh, sure, yeah.”

“Take one for your room. The motels around here don’t serve breakfast.”

“I’m staying with Jane,” I said.

Sam’s gaze went to me. Light in his eyes. “Mom didn’t mention that.”

“We’ve been friends a long time.”

Sam’s mom did her best to help me start a music career. Wasn’t her fault I had to stop before it ever really began, and she’d never judged the choices I had to make since to survive.

Mandy finished shopping. “Sam, we need to pick up the kids.”

“Right.” He looked back to me. “See you tonight.”

He gazed at me like he had something else to say, then turned to follow his wife.

“Yep.”

We all had to head in the same direction, but I let them outpace me.

Ugh, that was so awkward.

Damn him for still being beautiful. Eighteen years, and my heart still lurched at the sight of him and his puppy-dog brown eyes. And broad shoulders. Tight ass. His confident walk.

The presence he radiated that said I’ve got this and you’re safe with me.

Twenty years since high school and I felt like a teenager again.

I shouldn’t have come.

Back to the parking lot, and escape.

My phone buzzed. Sonya again. What happened? You stopped responding.

They needed to pick up the kids.

Did you bring the dress?

I brought the dress.

Then find a single guy and use it to get laid. This weekend is about you.

You said that before I left, and I’m not interested in a hook-up with an old classmate.

Why not? You won’t see them again. Until the 30^th reunion, ha.

I’m turning my phone off now.

Ah, come on. I’m only being a good BFF and looking out for you.

I love you for thinking of me, but leave my vagina out of this.

LOL. Give me all the dirt tomorrow.

I promise.

And turned my phone off.