“Are you okay, dear?” Jan asked.
Candace cleared her throat. “Oh yeah. My ankle is just hurting a bit. I think I’m going to head back to my room and rest it.”
She half expected Brent to hop right up and offer to walk her to her room, but he remained seated.
“Let me go with you,” Jessica said, beginning to stand.
“No, no,” Candace said. “I can go on my own. Enjoy yourselves.”
Travis hopped out of his seat and helped her stand. She thanked him before sneaking a peek over at Brent. He ate his breakfast as if nothing were happening.
Jessica caught her hand. “I’m going to come by later so we can talk.” Then she leaned forward and whispered, “No excuses.”
Candace nodded. It was time she talked to Jessica, anyway. Even though she would be bombarded with questions, it wouldn’t hurt to unload her feelings on someone who understood how she had always felt about Brent.
She gave everyone a smile before she slowly made her way outside the dining room and to the elevator bank. A last glanceat the table showed the group laughing together—no one paying her any attention, least of all Brent.
