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Collette didn’t see her for the rest of the night. So much for making fast friends.
CHAPTER THREE
Grading test papers was the one thing most teachers hated to do, even though it was how they gauged how well their students were doing.
Colleen was no different. She hated grading papers, but she had also taken it upon herself a long time ago to make sure that her students were always improving, and she had learned that practice really did make perfect.
She had been teaching for almost four years now, and had learned early on that change of scenery was the best thing to keep her going.
That was why she was spending Sunday morning at her regular coffee shop, her latte steaming beside her as she mused over a student’s ridiculous persuasive essay.
“Well, I’ll be,” a woman’s voice startled her. “If it isn’t the maid of honor.”
Collette looked up from her desk and smiled widely at Tara, the blonde dressed in a tight two piece suit, her blouse unbuttoned more than was probably professionally acceptable and her skirt framing her hips.
Her hair flowed down over her shoulders in waves, framing her high cheekbones and perfect blue eyes.
Collette instantly got up and gave the woman a hug. “Oh my God, Tara, how are you?”
“You disappeared on me, woman,” Tara said, crossing her arms over her chest and feigning a scold that didn’t last more than a second before giving way to a smile. “When I came back the table you were gone.”
“Uh, actually I think it was you who ditched me,” Collette said with a smile. She gestured at the papers strewn across the table. “Welcome to my world.”
Tara pulled out the seat opposite Collette’s desk and sat down, crossing her legs as she gazed over the scribbled essays decorated with red comments.
“Wow, spending Sunday working?” Tara asked, finding an empty spot between the papers and placing her Styrofoam cup down.
“I could say the same to you,” Collette mused, gesturing to the suit. Tara looked like she was prepped for a meeting, or had at least just finished one.
Compared to the casual match of jeans and blouse she was wearing, Tara seemed very out of place with the rest of the Sunday coffee house guests.
“Interview,” Tara explained. “I’m being headhunted and thought that the best time to meet my future employers would be when everyone else I normally work with is asleep.”
Collette frowned. “You’re leaving Price Advertising?”
Tara shrugged as she took a sip from her cup and tossed back her hair. “Gotta keep your options open, I guess. Besides, there’s no room to grow at Price. I’m never going to get very far there.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Collette folded her hands around her own drink. “Jackie’s going to be devastated.”
“I haven’t actually seen her since the wedding,” Tara said. “We got moved to different floors, and I rarely bump into her anymore.”
Collette shook her head in confusion. Since the bachelorette party, it had seemed that Jackie and Tara were inseparable, and it didn’t make any sense that both women wouldn’t find a way to make more time for each other.
Collette made a mental note to ask Jackie about that the next time they spoke.
“So, what have you been up to?” Tara asked, a hand gesturing over the papers. “Besides this stuff, of course.”
Collette shrugged. “Not much. Nothing as remotely exciting as the party.”
“That’s a shame.” Tara frowned. “You should really get out more. I thought we had agreed on that the last time we spoke.”
“Well, you were the one who had offered to make my life more interesting,” Collette raised an eyebrow. “So who’s disappeared on whom?”
Tara laughed and raised her cup. “Touché,” she said. “Well, if you’re up for it, a friend of mine is hosting a small party this evening. If you’re interested, I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I’m not sure,” Collette said. “It’s a little short notice.”
“That’s the beauty of it,” Tara said, pushing back her chair and standing up. “A little spontaneity is probably what you need. Come on, you’ll enjoy yourself.”
