“I heard you were back in town,” he said with a laugh, like he’d told a really funny joke.
Instinctively, my hackles rose. Was this going to be another awkward encounter where a former classmate wanted to reminisce or talk about my SAT scores?
“Yep,” I replied. “I’m back in town.”
“Remember that time you cut off all your hair in third grade? Everyone thought you looked like a boy. Man, I’d forgotten about that.” Jay smiled dreamily.
My eyes widened because I had not been expecting that, and I wasn’t sure if the embarrassing reminder was better or worse than rehashing my past accomplishments.
I finally settled on, “Yeah, wow. I’d forgotten too.”
“You know?—”
“I think we’re going to grab some food,” Mark interrupted with a hard look at the newcomer. “You have a good night now.”
Jay stared at Mark like he hadn’t even known he was there, and definitely didn’t remember him from high school. But Jay must have hadsomesocial awareness because he eyed the muscles highlighting Mark’s strength and presence, and wisely backed away. “Yeah, you too. See you around, Candy.”
My finger drew a little squiggle on the varnished tabletop, and I laughed under my breath. “Thanks.”
With a glance, I saw Mark watching me with a concerned expression. “I never liked that guy.”
I smiled. “Well, it was a memorable haircut. Very unfortunate.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Took two years to grow out,” I admitted.
Mark’s eyebrows drew together in sympathy.
“It even made the Humble Shelf.”
“What’s the Humble Shelf?”
My lips parted in surprise. “You haven’t seen it?” He shook his head, still looking confused. “Well, it’s this shelf in the living room of the farmhouse, on one of the built-in bookcases in the corner. Mom keeps childhood photos there—the really bad ones. Says it’s to keep us humble. There’s one of me with my unfortunate third-grade haircut. Another when Brady had braces and had to sleep in headgear.” I laughed a little, remembering. “Oh and Joan at probably three or four during one of her birthday parties, surrounded by streamers andgifts and this Mickey Mouse cake, looking grumpy as hell, hating every minute of it.”
“That’s...wow. I can’t say I ever saw Amy doing something like that.”
“Well, it gets even better.” I grinned. “It’s basically her dream to show it to potential partners and embarrass me and my siblings. She wants to gauge how they might react and find them worthy or wanting. My mother, the romantic, thinks only someone who really loves you could love the unattractive, most awkward version of yourself. It obviously backfired anyway since we’re all still single.”
After my pronouncement, I watched Mark closely, curious if he’d have any sort of reaction. Surely someone who was in a secret relationship with my sister would make a face at hearing her called single. A secret smile, a narrowed gaze,something.
But, no. Mark just shook his head, his amusement plain at my mother’s diabolical plans.
The sound of chairs scraping over linoleum had my attention going to the opposite end of the room.
“Looks like they’re getting started,” I said happily.
“Oh, no,” Mark murmured.
“What is it?”
“Look who the last-minute entry is.”
I followed Mark’s gaze to where Cole Abernathy was squeezing in another chair. He stepped out of the way to reveal none other than MacKenzie Clark.
“Yikes.”
Mac moved to take her seat next to—of course—my brother. They glared at each other in a way that probably wasn’t good for their eye health.
