Page 77 of The Do-Over
“Yeah, maybe. Or maybe I was always wrong about that, and you’ve always been the same great guy you are when we were younger.” Thea sighed. “Maybe it was easier for me to tell myself you were a jerk. Maybe I wanted that to be true.”
They were quiet for a moment. She wondered what he was thinking, but she didn’t dare ask. It would be too easy to get pulled into a serious conversation, and she couldn’t afford to split her focus.
They meandered toward the stage, where a podium had been set up. “I guess this is where the award will be presented,” Thea said.
“The mayor’s the one giving it to me?”
“That’s what it said in the email.”
“And once that’s over, we can leave.”
“Well, we probably shouldn’t just cut and run. That would raise some eyebrows, you ditching out on your own party. But yeah, we can head out pretty soon after the presentation.”
“I’ll feel better when this is all over,” Rob said.
“No way!” a voice came from behind. “Rob Honeycutt?”
“What do they mean, no way?” Rob muttered. “I’m supposed to be here, aren’t I?”
Thea turned. “Oh—it’s Steph!”
“Who?”
She pulled Rob around just as Stephanie came running over. “I didn’t know you were coming with him, Thea,” she said.
“Last-minute plan,” Thea said quickly.
“Well, hey, that’s amazing!” She turned to Rob. “Great to see you again.”
“Hey, Steph.” It was clear from the relaxed smile on Rob’s face that he remembered her from their high school days. “Nice to see you too.” His gaze flicked down to her pregnant belly. “How have you been?”
“Oh, you can see how I’ve been.” She laughed and rested a hand on her bump. “Doctor says it’ll be any day now, so we’re pretty excited. But enough about me. Today is supposed to be about you!”
“I didn’t know you were coming to this,” Thea said.
Steph bit her lip. “I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it,” she admitted. “I mean, I know things didn’t…end great between you two. But you look like you’re fine now!”
“We’ve been catching up,” Thea said quickly, eager to cut her friend off before she could say too much and let slip any of the things Thea had said about Rob over the years. Thea definitely didn’t want Rob hearing about how heartbroken she’d been when he had left at first, or about how, in recent years, she had resigned herself to hating him and had always made faces when his name had come up.
“We’re all really proud of you, Rob,” Steph said. “And I think it’s cool that you agreed to have this ceremony here. It’s been a while since we’ve seen you here in Deer Ridge.”
“I’m happy to be back,” Rob said, giving Thea’s arm a little squeeze that made her wonder whether the comment was meant specifically for her.
“Is anyone else here?” Thea asked Steph.
“I mean, no one we know,” Steph said. “I sort of thought Carlo might show up. He goes for these things sometimes, doesn’t he?”
“I’m sure he’s working,” Thea said. “I’d have been surprised if he took time off to be here.”
“What about you, Rob?” Steph asked. “Any guests here for you? I’m surprised not to see you with a girlfriend. Or did the wife stay home?”
“No, I’m—” Rob glanced briefly at Thea. “I’m single.”
“Well, in that case, I know some people I could introduce you to.”
“Who are you going to introduce him to?” Thea asked crossly. “Everyone we know is married.”
“I have work friends,” Steph said, raising her eyebrows.
