Paige's Turn, page 16
Maggie came from behind and gave me a squeeze. “You look gorgeous.”
I looked closer and touched my hair. “I don’t recognize myself.”
“It’s all you.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Now let’s get you over to that country club. You have just enough time to make a fashionably late appearance. I’m so tempted to walk in with you so I can see everyone’s reaction, especially Brianne’s.”
“I can take myself.”
“I’m not budging on this. I’ll hang out at Momma’s and Daddy’s, and you can text me after two hours and I’ll come and get you. Or who knows, maybe you’ll love it and want to stay, or maybe some attractive man will offer you a ride.”
“I’m not getting in a car with a stranger.”
“You are so naïve. I’m talking about Sam.”
“He’s going to be on a date.”
“We’ll see.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
I wrung my hands and checked my hair a hundred times on the way over to the reunion. I even reapplied my lipstick. That was a new one for me.
“Relax.” Maggie reached over and took my hand. “It’s two hours of your life. Please promise me, though, that you won’t go off into a corner by yourself and read.”
I held up the tiny purse she brought for me to use. “Does it look like I brought a book?”
“Please. Don’t tell me you don’t have some downloaded on your phone.”
“Actually, I don’t. I always read paper books.”
“Huh. Old fashioned. It fits you.” She giggled.
“Thanks.”
“You don’t look old fashioned, and that’s all that counts tonight.”
“I don’t even remember peoples’ names. And I know no one will remember me.”
“That’s what name tags are for. And believe me, Brianne has told all her cronies about you. You will be known.”
“That makes me feel worse.” My stomach started churning.
“Paige, you don’t have anything to prove to anybody. Just be you and the rest will fall into place.”
“Then why do I even need to go?”
She paused for a minute. “Because it’s your turn.”
It’s exactly what Mitzi would have said. “Great, now I’m going to cry and I don’t know how to reapply my makeup.”
Maggie laughed at me. “Take a deep breath. The mascara is waterproof.”
The country club was right outside of Bella Port. It sat up on one of the only hills around. When lit up at night, it was very pretty. I think my parents had a membership to it, but I hadn’t been there in years. The parking lot was full, which only made me more nervous.
“You got this,” Maggie reassured me.
“Please be here in two hours, on the dot.”
“I promise, as long as you promise to give it a chance.”
I nodded.
Maggie pulled up to the front, where they were offering valet parking. That seemed over the top. Maggie squeezed my hands. “Smile, breathe, knock ‘em dead.”
I exited the car and thought of how much Mitzi would be enjoying this. I took a deep breath and walked heel to toe in the front doors. The lobby area was full of people I knew once a upon a time. It made me want to run right back out the door, but I steadied myself and walked over to the check-in table. All I was hoping for was to not make a fool out of myself and for time to speed up.
Some woman who wore a name tag that read, Kim Hutcher, looked up at me from the table. “Name?”
“Paige James”
Her eyes widened. “Did you used to date Jansen McClain?”
I nodded.
“Wow.” She handed me my name tag sticker. “We had homeroom together.”
“Oh.” I tried to place her, but couldn’t. “It’s nice to see you again.” Lying seemed the way to go.
“Dinner is first in the banquet room.”
“Thank you.” I walked away, feeling like I might vomit. People were staring at me. I even noticed a few guys suck in their gut as I walked by. I couldn’t place any names with faces. I was beginning to wonder if I was in the right place, or if I ever went to high school. But when I walked into the banquet room, I knew I was in the right place. Brianne was there greeting everyone like she was Miss America or something. I will say the look that she gave me was priceless. I wished Maggie could have seen the shock in her eyes and face. The way she sputtered was great too.
“I . . . thought you weren’t coming, Paige.” She tried to keep her tone light, but it was full of I hate your guts.
“Maggie talked me into it.”
“Ohhh, how great.” Her jaw and fists clenched. “And you’re looking so . . .”
“Different?” Wasn’t that everyone’s word for me?
“Very.” She wanted to slap me. I could feel it.
I looked around the banquet hall decorated in our school colors of red, black, and white. I at least remembered that. “You did a nice job with the decorations.”
She gave me the fakest of smiles. “Thank you.”
I turned to find a table to sit at far away from Brianne. I really think she wanted to cause bodily harm to me. I was stopped, though, by Sam. Handsome Sam, in a dark suit and tie. I didn’t think he could ever look more beautiful, but I was wrong. We stood a few feet apart staring at one another. I had to control Mitzi. I swore we had some connection going, because all I kept hearing was that he was meant to be mine and I needed to walk right over to him and tell him so and kiss him. Every part of me wanted to, but inner Paige reasoned that wasn’t a good idea.
“Princess.” He grinned and closed the gap between us.
I looked down at my dress. For once, maybe, I looked like one. “Maggie.”
He shook his head. “It looks like all you.”
“I better find a seat.” Or I was going to do something I regretted. I wasn’t going to throw myself at him. He knew how I felt and he was there with Brianne.
Brianne hurried to us in a New York minute. She draped herself and her slinky black rhinestone dress over Sam. “Where have you been?” she whined so well.
Sam stiffened. “I was in the John.”
She laughed that mean-girl sort of laugh. “Can you believe Paige came?”
They both looked my way, but I only focused on Sam.
“She always surprises me.” His words gave me a shiver.
Brianne was having none of it. “Baby, can you please check to see if the DJ is finally ready?”
I noticed Sam cringe when she called him “Baby.” That term of endearment always annoyed me.
“Well, enjoy yourselves.” I waved and walked away, reminding myself not to trip or gag at the pair.
I found an empty table and took a seat. Now I was wishing I did have a book to read. I suppose I could always download an app and buy one, but I soon found myself surrounded by people, the male variety.
“Do I know you?” Some jock looking guy threw himself in the chair next to me.
“Maybe.” I looked him over. He was relatively attractive and in good shape. Nice blue eyes and his hair was styled.
He stared at my name tag, or was that my chest? “Paige James? Were you a cheerleader?’
“No.”
“Dance team?”
“Not even close.”
He cocked his head. “How do I not remember a beautiful woman like you?”
“If it makes you feel any better,” I looked at his name tag. “I don’t remember you, Jace.”
He laughed deeply. “I was the quarterback for our football team. We won the state championship our senior year.”
“Sorry. Never went to a game.” But now that I knew his name, I think I remember him strutting around the school. Maybe?
“What? Are you sure you went to Bella Port High School?”
“My diploma says so.”
“So where do you live now?”
“I just moved back to town. What about you?”
“I live in Tampa. I coach football and teach algebra at one of the high schools there.” He kept staring at me. “I really can’t place you.”
“I did my best to not be noticed back in high school.” If only I could now.
“I’m glad I noticed you tonight.” He gave me a seductive grin.
That was all well and good, but it became a huge problem when his old teammates started rolling in. I suddenly found myself sitting at the popular table. This was not in the plans. I almost went into full panic mode and sent a mayday signal to Maggie.
And Jace was more than eager to introduce me to everyone. “Do you guys remember Paige?”
Everyone looked my way. I noticed some lip licking and creepy smiles. But the consensus was no one remembered me. I wasn’t surprised.
Jace placed his arm around the back of my chair and shook his head. “You were the best kept secret of the school.”
Some of the other guys nodded.
I smiled uncomfortably. I was more than grateful when they all started reminiscing about their glory days. I noticed some of the wives and girlfriends who came looked completely uninterested. I was trying to think of a way to politely excuse myself and find a vacant table. But to add to the fun, Brianne showed up with Harris Kelly. She was on a mission.
Brianne pushed Harris forward. “Paige, do you remember Harris Kelly?”
I looked up at the nice-looking man in a tan suit with straight brown hair and a timid smile. “Vaguely.” I think we had some classes together.
“Perfect.” She gave him a nudge forward. “You two have a lot in common.”
By this time, Jace was now in the fray. He looked up at Harris. “Professor.” He shook hands with Harris. “If it wasn’t for this guy here, none of us would have passed English.”
All the guys at the table grunted in agreement.
“Why don’t you sit with us, but on the other side of me—I want to keep this pretty thing by my side.” Jace gave me a wink.
Brianne’s head almost exploded. A vague recollection popped in my head that Jace and Brianne had dated. It made sense. She was head cheerleader and he was the quarterback. Funny the things that were coming back.
Jace gave Brianne a take-that look. “You’re looking pouty there, Brianne.”
She actually stomped off.
Jace laughed. “I love to give her hell.”
I was beginning to like Jace.
Harris did join our table, but he sat on the other side of me. This was shaping up to be a very interesting night.
“You going to try and hook up with your ex?” some guy across the table asked Jace.
“Brianne’s old news.” Jace turned to me. “Besides, I’m sitting next to the most beautiful woman here.”
I actually blushed. “I don’t know about that.”
“I guarantee it.” No one had ever been so forward with me.
But he did nothing for me. My focus was fixed on Sam, who was helping the DJ up front.
“Paige,” Harris said to my left.
I turned toward him.
He had a nice smile. “Brianne said you worked for a publishing company as an editor.”
“I used to. Now I own the bookstore in town.”
“Paige’s Turn?”
“Yeah. My aunt named it.”
“I remember. She was good lady. I was sorry to hear that she passed away.”
“Wait,” Jace said. “You are Mitzi Hollis’ niece? Maggie’s sister?”
I nodded.
He gave me a once over again. “Holy hell, you’ve changed.”
“Not really.” I tucked some hair behind my ear and turned back to Harris. “You were saying?”
“I was saying, I remember you were as lovely then as you are now.” Wow. The professor was charming.
“Thank you. What have you been up to?”
“I went to Harvard,” he seemed embarrassed to say.
“That’s amazing and an honor.”
“An expensive one.”
“I know. I went to Whitman.”
“Very nice.”
“I thought so.”
Jace tapped on my shoulder and asked me a question about owning a bookstore. And I began getting whiplash talking to both men, who each kept asking me about myself. I’d never been in such a situation. Then it got really interesting. The music finally started working and they announced dinner would be served momentarily. The DJ blasted music from the year we graduated, a lot of Maroon Five and Rhianna. And then to make the night more fun, Sam grabbed a chair from the table next to us and inserted himself right between me and Harris. I wondered why he didn’t choose Jace.
“What have I missed?” Sam smiled at everyone at the table.
The ladies all took notice. Some of the guys got excited, though. “Dude, it’s Sam Kennedy. I kept trying to beat your rushing record.”
Sam gave an appreciative nod.
“Paige here was telling us what it’s like to own a bookstore,” Jace said.
“She’s terrific at it.”
I narrowed my eyes at Sam. What was he playing at?
He gave me a playful smirk. “Did you tell them about story time, and how you wear ballerina costumes?”
“I’d come for that.” Jace wagged his eyebrows.
Sam scowled at him.
“I forgot to mention it.” I glared at Sam.
His smile said, you know you like me.
“Where’s your date?” My smile said, I wasn’t amused.
“She’s probably telling someone off somewhere.”
“You here with Brianne?” Jace was intuitive.
Sam gave a slight nod.
“Good luck with that. She really screwed over her ex-husband from what I hear.”
I arched my eyebrow, interested to know more, but I didn’t want to become a gossip.
“We’re only friends. She asked me to come help her and I agreed, end of story.” Sam’s gaze penetrated me.
So maybe Maggie was right.
“Don’t get caught up in her web,” Jace advised Sam.
“Not a problem.” Sam still gave me his full attention.
I had to hold Mitzi back, because she was saying I should ask him to leave with me. That thought left when Brianne showed up on fire. “Sam, there you are. We’re sitting at the head table.”
Sam reluctantly got up, but not before leaning in toward me. “Save me a dance.”
“I don’t dance.”
“Good, because neither do I.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Being popular was tiring. I didn’t know why anybody would want to be. I don’t know if I had ever talked so much. I was hardly able to eat due to the fact I was barraged with questions from not only people at the table, but random people who stopped by to talk to me or stare at me. Even Mabel Lu’s son, Sawyer, who was there with a woman from my class, stopped and slipped me his number. It was unnerving. And that didn’t account for all the time I spent staring at Sam. He looked miserable. Is it terrible to admit I was glad? I didn’t want him to be happy with Brianne.
During the course of dinner, Brianne played hostess and got up to address everyone. I guess it was customary at these events to announce random facts about our classmates, like who had been married longest or who had the most kids. There was an actual couple there married for eleven years. How was that possible? We had only been out of high school for ten. Jace cleared it up for me. “She got pregnant our junior year and their parents made them get married.” You’d think I would have remembered that. There was a couple there that had four kids already and it wasn’t the couple that had been married the longest either. They flashed a picture of the cute couple up on the screen with their four adorable kids.
It was all well and good until it wasn’t. In an ugly plot twist, Brianne got her revenge. My only high school year book photo I ever took—my freshman year—flashed up on the screen. A mouth full of braces and stringy blonde hair.
Brianne giggled. “It was hard to find a photo of our sweet Paige. We actually just found it tonight.”
My whole body burned.
“She was an elusive creature back in high school, but look at her now, sitting with our quarterback. She proves anything can happen in ten years and with enough money to transform yourself. Make sure you ask her who her plastic surgeon is before you leave.” She gave an I’m kidding but I’m not really kidding laugh.
There was a smattering of uncomfortable laughter, but most everyone was gaping at me. Did I mention they shined the spotlight on me? I was going blind from it and from the ringing in my ears. Everyone at my table had some choice words for her, too vulgar to repeat, but I agreed with them. As soon as the spotlight was off me, I turned to a shocked Harris reminding myself to breathe. “Do you think you can drive me home?”
“Sure.”
“I can take you home,” Jace offered, but his offer implied more.
“Thanks, but I’m going to let Harris.”
“Can I call you?” Jace asked as I walked away shaking from the aftershock of the humiliation. “I don’t care what you used to look like.”
I felt like everyone was watching me go. This was the worst idea ever. I held back my tears and repeated to myself that I wasn’t insignificant and I didn’t need other people to validate my worth. What would Mitzi have done? She probably would have lobbed some zingy comment back to her in front of everyone. But that wasn’t me. When I made it to the hall, there Sam stood. Anger emanated from him in waves.
I brushed passed him. “Tell your girlfriend thanks.”
“Paige, are you all right?”
“Never better.” I marched out the door, both men following me.
Harris gave his ticket to the valet and waited to get his car.
Sam took the opportunity to talk to me in hushed tones. “Are you leaving with him?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. Why don’t you get back to Brianne?”
“You really think after the stunt she just pulled that I want anything to do with her?”
