Read Online A Clean Slate by Laura Caldwell - Free Book Online

I remembered correctly, it was coming up soon.
    â€œOh my God,” Jess said. “Is it Kelly McGraw, blast from the past, or is it a vision?”
    â€œIt’s me,” I said, letting myself be pulled into another one of Jess’s surprisingly strong hugs. Everything about Jess was tiny—her miniature frame, her rosebud mouth, her hands and feet—and although she hated being called “cute,” she was probably going to be stuck with the term her whole life. Steve was just the opposite. Tall and gangly, with an unfortunate resemblance to Ichabod Crane.
    â€œYou look unbelievable,” Jess said. “Where have you been and what have you done to yourself?”
    â€œWe had a little makeover day,” Laney said. “Shopping at Saks and then the works at Trevé.”
    I smiled at her, thankful for her answer and the diversion from the question about where I’d been for so long. I wasn’t prepared to broadcast my memory loss, and I couldn’t very well use Ben as an excuse for not being around, since everyone probably knew we’d broken up months ago.
    â€œI won’t even ask what you spent,” Jess said, “but whatever it was, it was worth it. You look beautiful!”
    Behind her Steve nodded, and I thanked them profusely, the compliments making me sit taller on my bar stool.
    â€œSo the wedding’s soon, right?” I asked as Laney turned to the bar and ordered drinks for Steve and Jess.
    â€œOne week from today,” Steve said. “According to the schedule Jess set, we should be home right now writing out place cards, but we needed a break.”
    â€œ He needed a break,” Jess said. “Anyway, Kell, we’re so bummed you can’t be there.”
    I couldn’t be there? Why not? These were two of my good friends. An uncomfortable silence fell.
    â€œRight. Well, I was going to be busy.” I glanced at Laney for some help.
    â€œWith that charity thing,” she said.
    I had no idea what she was talking about, but by her expression and the way she was nodding slowly I could tell that she was making it up. I had, apparently, declined the wedding invitation because I had another date with my couch and my antidepressants.
    â€œRight,” I said. “The charity thing. But I’m not doing that anymore, am I?”
    â€œNo,” Laney said. “It got cancelled, right?”
    â€œRight. So I’ll be able to go, after all. Is that okay?”
    â€œWe’d love it,” Jess said, but she and Steve exchanged worried looks. “The thing is we already turned in our seating chart. I don’t know if we can change it.”
    â€œI’ve got an idea,” Laney said. “I was planning on bringing Gear, but he was going to have to leave early to go to some gig, so why don’t I just bring Kelly as my date. Would that work?”
    â€œThat would be perfect!” Jess said in a relieved voice. “I’m so glad you’ll be there.”
    â€œMe, too.” I squeezed Laney’s hand.
    I loved being out and about like this, loved seeing my friends. So why hadn’t I done it for so long? Why had Iholed myself up in that apartment and turned down a wedding invitation? I wouldn’t think about it. Not now—maybe not ever.
    I helped Laney order another round of drinks, then more cocktails when other friends arrived. We made a tight circle near the bar, shouting over the music, laughing at old stories, clinking glasses. And then I felt him. My mouth slowed down, my head turned. Ben. Pushing through the crowd. He looked handsome in a thick wool sweater, his brown hair tamed and combed away from his face, his cheeks a little flushed from the cold outside. Behind him, another Toni look-alike trailed along, and when I looked closer, I could see they were holding hands. Therese. The girlfriend.
    Ben was smiling, looking right at our group, and I was panicked at how I was supposed to act.