when I’d last seen him. The corn colored hair still sprang from his head untamed, and his eyes were as sparkling green as ever. With his athletic physique, he could have passed for a California surfer.
“Greg’s waiting in the car outside, and Mel’s preparing a welcome home breakfast.” He frowned again. “Your phone is getting annoying.”
Ben . He’d be getting worried. I lifted my phone to my ear and managed to squeak a greeting.
“Hey.” His warm, sleepy voice filled my head. “Thanks for letting me know. Did you have a good flight?”
“Um, yes. Thanks.” Scott continued to scrutinize me, and my cheeks burned some more under his gaze. “I have to go. Talk to you later.” It was horribly rude of me, but I terminated the call and shoved the phone into my pocket. I’d apologize when I called him back.
“Got it.” Scott snapped his fingers. “You cut your hair. That’s why you look different.”
“Yes.” I had to say something now, before we had someone I knew as an audience. “Why are you here, Scott?”
“To give you a ride home.” At last he dropped his gaze to the floor. “And to, uh, apologize.”
I felt like Alice, falling into the rabbit hole. This wasn’t what I expected. “Apologize?” I squeaked again.
“Yeah.” Those piercing green eyes locked into mine. “I don’t blame you for running away. I put you in a horrible position, and you were too polite to say no. Greg told me what an ass I was. I mean, what kind of idiot proposes to his girlfriend at his brother’s wedding reception? It was dumb, and I’m sorry.”
Never mind a rabbit hole. This was an alternate dimension. Maybe I was still asleep? I dug deep. “I shouldn’t have run away. I’m sorry too.”
This drew a tentative smile, his face relaxing. “You’re looking good, Dorothy. New Zealand agreed with you.”
I sucked a breath into lungs that had forgotten how to work. “Thanks.” Relief made me light headed, the words now tripping off my tongue. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Scott took control of the luggage trolley and pointed it toward the exit, while I fell in beside him.
“You’re coming back soon though, aren’t you? Now the team leader position has opened up, Greg figured you’d be taking it.”
Wait . “What?” Another rabbit hole. “What team leader role?”
“Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” He flashed me an uncomfortable smile, and continued to guide the trolley through the crowds. “I’ll let Greg explain.” The insurance industry was tightly knit, with everyone knowing everybody else’s business, and Greg also worked for C&H.
There was something else I had to say before we reached the car, and I reached out to tug on Scott’s sleeve. “I never meant to hurt you.” It had strange echoes of Ben apologizing to me after the party.
He paused, a dozen emotions flying across his face. “It’s all water under the bridge now,” he said eventually. “Let’s go find Greg. Melanie can’t wait to see you.”
I trailed after him, my head spinning. If I could face Scott, having breakfast with Melanie should be easy.
Chapter Thirteen
Breakfast with Melanie and Greg was pretty much as I’d expected. Despite being away for a year, I fell right back into our old patterns of behavior, and I couldn’t wait until it was over. Pleading jet lag, I escaped to my mother’s apartment on the next block. I couldn’t even go to my own apartment, as I’d sublet it.
I longed to hear Bens voice, but it was still too early to call him. I’d sent a text to apologize, but it wasn’t the same as talking. Sleep eluded me. After an hour of staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, I contacted my friends to see if they were free.
****
I wrapped my hands around a large caramel latte, sinking further into the comfy chair in our favorite café. Perhaps now I could relax.
Ana slid her chair closer. “Right. Spill the beans. We weren’t due to meet until tomorrow and
“Greg’s waiting in the car outside, and Mel’s preparing a welcome home breakfast.” He frowned again. “Your phone is getting annoying.”
Ben . He’d be getting worried. I lifted my phone to my ear and managed to squeak a greeting.
“Hey.” His warm, sleepy voice filled my head. “Thanks for letting me know. Did you have a good flight?”
“Um, yes. Thanks.” Scott continued to scrutinize me, and my cheeks burned some more under his gaze. “I have to go. Talk to you later.” It was horribly rude of me, but I terminated the call and shoved the phone into my pocket. I’d apologize when I called him back.
“Got it.” Scott snapped his fingers. “You cut your hair. That’s why you look different.”
“Yes.” I had to say something now, before we had someone I knew as an audience. “Why are you here, Scott?”
“To give you a ride home.” At last he dropped his gaze to the floor. “And to, uh, apologize.”
I felt like Alice, falling into the rabbit hole. This wasn’t what I expected. “Apologize?” I squeaked again.
“Yeah.” Those piercing green eyes locked into mine. “I don’t blame you for running away. I put you in a horrible position, and you were too polite to say no. Greg told me what an ass I was. I mean, what kind of idiot proposes to his girlfriend at his brother’s wedding reception? It was dumb, and I’m sorry.”
Never mind a rabbit hole. This was an alternate dimension. Maybe I was still asleep? I dug deep. “I shouldn’t have run away. I’m sorry too.”
This drew a tentative smile, his face relaxing. “You’re looking good, Dorothy. New Zealand agreed with you.”
I sucked a breath into lungs that had forgotten how to work. “Thanks.” Relief made me light headed, the words now tripping off my tongue. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Scott took control of the luggage trolley and pointed it toward the exit, while I fell in beside him.
“You’re coming back soon though, aren’t you? Now the team leader position has opened up, Greg figured you’d be taking it.”
Wait . “What?” Another rabbit hole. “What team leader role?”
“Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.” He flashed me an uncomfortable smile, and continued to guide the trolley through the crowds. “I’ll let Greg explain.” The insurance industry was tightly knit, with everyone knowing everybody else’s business, and Greg also worked for C&H.
There was something else I had to say before we reached the car, and I reached out to tug on Scott’s sleeve. “I never meant to hurt you.” It had strange echoes of Ben apologizing to me after the party.
He paused, a dozen emotions flying across his face. “It’s all water under the bridge now,” he said eventually. “Let’s go find Greg. Melanie can’t wait to see you.”
I trailed after him, my head spinning. If I could face Scott, having breakfast with Melanie should be easy.
Chapter Thirteen
Breakfast with Melanie and Greg was pretty much as I’d expected. Despite being away for a year, I fell right back into our old patterns of behavior, and I couldn’t wait until it was over. Pleading jet lag, I escaped to my mother’s apartment on the next block. I couldn’t even go to my own apartment, as I’d sublet it.
I longed to hear Bens voice, but it was still too early to call him. I’d sent a text to apologize, but it wasn’t the same as talking. Sleep eluded me. After an hour of staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, I contacted my friends to see if they were free.
****
I wrapped my hands around a large caramel latte, sinking further into the comfy chair in our favorite café. Perhaps now I could relax.
Ana slid her chair closer. “Right. Spill the beans. We weren’t due to meet until tomorrow and
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