#Book 1 - Page 17 (1/2)

I must have been mulling that over for longer than I thought because Debbie looked over at Dex. “I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Debbie. I went to college with Perry in Eugene.”

She extended her slender hand, which Dex shook politely.

“Dex,” he said.

When he took his hand back he looked down and grimaced.

“Sorry, I think I got coffee all over your hand.”

She glanced at it and quickly wiped her hand on her jeans, trying not to look disgusted and failing at it.

“So, how long have you two been together?” she asked.

Before either Dex or I could correct her—not that I really wanted to, as I felt that having someone as handsome as Dex by my side was at least doing me some favors, even if he had bad handshaking habits—someone else caught Debbie’s attention.

A tall, meaty-looking fellow came out of the gas station with a case of beer under his wide bicep and stopped beside her with an expectant look on his face. He looked familiar but it took me a few seconds to place him. I thought maybe it was someone I went to college with, as he was apparently there with Debbie, but the moment our eyes locked, I knew who it was.

Patrick Morrison. I went to high school with him. We weren’t friends, but we had mutual friends. He wasn’t the most popular guy in school, but he had wavy dark hair, brilliant hazel eyes and the same taste in music as me. In high school, music was the divider of friends, the sorter of groups, and the way we defined each other. The fact that this cute guy went to the same concerts as I did was like a G.o.dsend, and I was absolutely smitten with him. He was usually nice enough to me, but like all guys back then, he wouldn’t have given me the time of day if he didn’t have to. I remember when he finally signed my senior yearbook; it was the happiest d.a.m.n day of my life. Pretty pathetic when you think about it.

And yet here he was, five years later, standing beside Debbie Birmingham at a gas station outside of Portland.

“Holy s.h.i.+t!” he said pointing at me. “I know you!”

I quickly looked at Dex. His brows were raised at me, a hint of a smile on his lips. I could tell he was enjoying this little reunion.

“Yeah, hey,” I said shyly at Patrick.

He looked at Debbie. “How do you guys know each other?”

She gestured at me with less enthusiasm than before. “Oh, Perry and I went to college together. I should have realized you went to the same high school.”

He nodded, still smiling at me. For a minute there I felt kind of lost in his eyes, eyes that held that same sparkle as they did back in the day. Sometimes I think all the dramatics of high school were exaggerated, all the crushes completely unjustified. But seeing him again, I knew this one wasn’t quite buried yet.

I even started to think that perhaps his smile was a lot more generous than any I had gotten before. The thought that he was actually happy to see me crossed my mind, as well as the pride in the fact that he recognized me.

But that all ended when he opened his mouth again.

“You used to be so fat!” he said, and broke out into laughter.

I stiffened at the comment and felt the blood rus.h.i.+ng back to my apple cheeks. There went that. In an instant my self-esteem nosedived (and it was never even high to begin with).

I tried to laugh it off. “Well, I lost a bit of weight since then.”

Patrick kept laughing. “I mean, you look better now, but wow. Good job, Perry. No longer that little chubby girl who used to stare at me all day.”

Oh my G.o.d, kill me now. Seriously, who says that to someone?

I watched him laugh and was even more appalled when Debbie joined in too. Not that she knew me back then, but I could see how she’d find that funny. That b.i.t.c.h always hated me.

“You learn something new every day!” Debbie smirked. “But seriously, you look great, Perry.”

Patrick wiped the smile off of his face and gave Dex a quick glance. “So, where are you headed?”

“The coast,” I said quickly before Dex actually filled them in. Not that he was saying much but if he did start to explain what we were really doing, I would have looked even more stupid.

“Us too.” Debbie smiled mischievously. “One-year anniversary celebration at Cannon Beach. Are you guys on a little romantic rendezvous?”

I opened my mouth to say something (what, I wasn’t sure, but it probably wasn’t the truth) but Dex beat me to it.

“Nothing says romance like storm watching,” he winked at them. OK, I was not expecting him to say that. I was suddenly warm with gratefulness. It was a simple thing—he didn’t lie; he just didn’t correct them—but it made me feel like at least one good façade was still intact.

Debbie gave us an approving look. “Oh, very true. Well, good to see you, Perry. Don’t be a stranger.”

Patrick said roughly the same thing and they both waved at us in unison.

As soon as we got in Dex’s SUV, I let out the biggest sigh of relief and thunked my head down on the dash.

Dex patted me lightly on the back.

“You survived,” he said with a chuckle. I looked up at him, feeling both embarra.s.sed and relieved.

“Thank you so much for…well, not telling them the truth. About us. I mean, there is no us, but you know,” I rambled.

He shrugged and started the car. “Don’t worry about it, kiddo. You’ll just owe me.”

I straightened up and fastened my seatbelt as Dex brought the car back on the highway.

“Owe you?” I asked with caution.