Page 16 of I Choose You

I doubted a boy would ask a nerd like me to the Homecoming dance, and Paige backed up that idea, stating she’d never believe any of the seniors would ask her out anywhere—for a school event or elsewhere. The idea that any of the jocks, fellow nerds, or bad boys would ask one of us to the dance was preposterous.

“We can get ready at my house. I know my mom would let me use her ‘fancy’ perfume,” I told her, air quotes and all.

“I know what you smell like,” Paige teased, rolling her eyes. “No need to get extra for me.” She laid her hand on her chest and fluttered her eyelids at me.

“It’s a chance to get all dolled up.” A chance to pretend I’m someone dressy for a change. I sure could use a night off from being drab old me.

“All right, that’s enough people,” the teacher said, clapping his hands. “Everyone’s here, so let’s all grab a seat—Oh, well, now, everyone’s here. Glad you could make it, boys.” His tone turned sarcastic at the end.

Two boys entered the room, goofing off from the looks of it.

Kaden and Kody Wagner. Blond and blue-eyed twins who looked like they’d walked right off my favorite boy-band posters.

I tamped down the sigh that wanted to slip out. Paige wasn’t so lucky. She watched them saunter in and gave a dreamy little exhale.

“They’re so…”

Rich? Too full of themselves?

“Cute,” she whispered.

Even I could admit that. They were hot, regardless of the warning bells that went off in my head. Every girl in the room stared as they looked for a couple of seats. Kody elbowed one of the football players, kicking him out of a seat. He gave it up with a roll of his eyes. As soon as he sat, he leaned over to tug on Kristin’s ponytail and grin at her.

“Is this seat taken?” Kaden asked another student. He wasn’t mean about it, but his tone suggested that chair should be vacant to appease him.

“Twice the trouble,” Paige murmured. “Twice the eye candy.” She waggled her brows.

I shrugged, getting my book out to take notes. “Sure. But they’re still different.”

Paige slid her notebook onto the table. “Yeah, but the one thing they share is how popular they are.”

Way out of our league, that’s for sure.

* * *

After Rena’s pep talk, I walked back to the office and tried to slot away all those feelings that were overwhelming me. I hadn’t thought about Kaden or his twin since high school. All that time, I worked hard to put the trauma of high school in the past, where it belonged. As an adult, I didn’t have to think about popularity contests and if a couple of peers thought I was worthy of anything. Todd facilitated a warm and happy workplace, so bullies weren’t an issue. He was a firm believer of no drama, and since I pretty much had no life other than my job, it was safe to say my days were drama free.

Seeing Kaden had thrust me back to a time when I couldn’t claim the same. High school with Kaden had sucked, so it wasn’t crazy to worry he might still be the same now.

Then again, maybe the deal won’t go through.

I’d been reaching high when I sent that acquisition email. Perhaps Kaden Wagner was still too much of an asshole to want to bend for Todd. He could be too firm in negotiations sometimes. He had his quirks. So perhaps he wouldn’t bend for whatever Kaden needed or wanted out of my proposal for a partnership. It wouldn’t be the first time Todd turned down an offer.

Thinking about it not going through bothered me, though. Was I being a bad employee to want this deal to crumble before it started? Getting Wagner Industries as a client would be huge for the company, but for the sake of putting up with the asshole from high school, would it be worth it?

Stop stressing about it. It won’t do me any good.

I entered the office and headed up to my floor, coaching myself to calm down.

Maybe there won’t be a deal.

Maybe Kaden will push for too much and Todd will tell him to get lost.

Maybe Todd will handle it all. That’s it. If they strike a deal, I can figure out how to best avoid Kaden in the office.

As the elevator doors open, I frowned. Avoid? Hide? I shook my head. No, that was the Brooke from the past. That was high school Brooke. I had no reason to duck and run from that boy—man—anymore.

“Brooke?”