“Yes?”
He was a little over six foot with broad shoulders. Lean, but not wimpy. His hair was either dark brown or black, and his eyes were dark, too. He looked furious, as if he wanted to hit someone. Megan thought he seemed hard, as if life was aging him faster than it should. But then he smiled at her, cracking the severeness of his face and putting her at ease. He was actually very striking, once you got past the scary part.
“I was wondering if you would like something to drink? You look like you could use one about now.”
Megan took the glass he held out to her gratefully. She downed the liquid quickly and looked up to see the stranger’s sympathetic gaze still on her.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing what just happened. I’m a little confused. Did I hear Dylan Carlisle say you were Megan Garrett?”
Megan looked at the stranger more carefully. Did she know this man? She must if he was here for the reunion.
“Among other things.”
The man’s kind eyes looked her over more carefully, shaking his head in confusion. She felt like a scientific experiment gone wrong.
“Thanks for the drink. Goodbye.”
Megan shoved the glass back into the man’s hands and attempted to walk away. But he reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back to face him. He quickly placed the glass on the floor beside him and put two fingers in his mouth, whistling as loudly as a train, successfully getting everyone’s attention in the room. Megan wasn’t sure what was going on, but life was starting to get too weird. She instantly took back all her kind thoughts about the man. He was definitely a convict.
Suddenly, he moved in closer and took her face in his hands, leaning down as if he was intent on getting something out of her eye. His smooth, firm lips came as a complete surprise to her. She pushed at his shoulders with all the strength she had, but he was a brick wall. The man didn’t seem in a big hurry to end the kiss either. Not that it was a bad kiss, but something had to be done. Megan brought her knee up as swiftly and as accurately as she could, but was blocked by his quick move to the side. He had been anticipating her. She had missed her target, but had successfully ended the kiss.
“If you ever touch me again, so help me, I’ll . . .” Megan panted as she tried to catch her breath and finish her threat. The man grinned crookedly down at her and then cleared his throat theatrically.
“She may have a reputation for standing men up, but with a kiss like that, I’d say she’s worth the risk!” His voice carried quite well in the large room.
Hearing the laughter and cat calls that surrounded her, Megan took a deep calming breath and then slapped him as hard as she could. Then she turned on her heels and practically ran for the exit. What did she need her dignity for now? She was getting out of here if she had to fight her way out. She was mere seconds from freedom when she heard the announcement.
“Attention ladies and gentlemen. We’re going to go ahead and begin. Don’t worry, the buffet will be open all night. We’re going to hand out a few awards now, but the kicker is, at the end of the awards ceremony, we’re going to auction off the winners! If you ever wanted to dance with the prom queen or king, here’s your chance. All the proceeds will go to help buy new textbooks for Jefferson High School.”
Megan paused in her flight at the door. All she had to do was walk through it, and she was free. But an invisible chain had wrapped itself around her ankles. She reminded herself that she hadn’t mingled with everyone as she had originally planned to. And she was still curious as to how everyone had changed. Who had become successful, who had gained twenty pounds. It couldn’t hurt to just stand in the doorway and watch. She was safe now. No one would notice her here. Dylan and the insane stranger weren’t even in sight. Maybe she could stick around for a few more minutes.
“We’ve had our spies out and about tonight, getting all the goods on everybody, so don’t be surprised if we call out your name. Along with your award tonight, you’ll receive a gift certificate for two for dinner at The Roof! And for those people who proved us right, they get a free carriage ride around Temple Square. So let’s get started; we want to have plenty of time for dancing later. All right then, does everyone remember who was voted most likely to get plastic surgery?”
Megan giggled along with everyone else but felt bad for Taffie when her high school picture was plastered on a tall screen in front of everybody.
“According to our sources, Taffie did have a little augmentation work done, but you’ll have to ask her where. Come on up, Gorgeous, and get in line for the auction!”
Megan felt her own cheeks turn red on Taffie’s behalf, but was surprised when Taffie strutted up to the stage grinning and winking at everyone. She was loving the attention. It reminded Megan of when they were cheerleaders. Back then Megan herself wouldn’t have been fazed by the attention. Now, strutting anywhere, least of all on stage, was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Next, who remembers the most likely to end up in jail? No one? Troy Stafford!”
Troy’s picture was plastered on the wall. Even though he did look a little rough in his high school picture, she remembered Troy as being one of the few sincerely kind people in high school. Megan searched the crowd looking for Troy.
“Ah, hah! There you are, Troy!”
The spotlight hit Troy right in the face as he was trying to look invisible. Poor guy, Megan sympathized.
“Our sources tell us that we were dead wrong on that one. Troy not only did not end up in jail, he has never even had a speeding ticket. He teaches special education classes at Addison Junior High. He’s been married for six years and has three children. Let’s all give Troy a hand for proving us wrong.”
Troy had turned practically purple in mortification. Megan wondered if they were going to be tasteless and actually announce the classmate who had ended up in jail.
Indeed they were.
“Jared Runion,” the announcer called out. “You win the prize for jail time. We won’t say what for—we’ll let everyone keep guessing. But it’s your lucky night, buddy, because you just won yourself and a date dinner at The Roof! I’d take my parole officer if I were you.”
Jared sauntered uncaringly up to the stage, seemingly untouched by the public knowledge of his downfall. Amazing. Megan hadn’t known Jared all that well in school. All she could remember about him was that he had always been extremely worried about grades and deadlines. It most likely had something to do with taxes.
“This next one is good. The most likely to succeed. Who can forget Dylan Carlisle? Running back for the football team and class president. Hmm. According to our sources, Dylan has done very well for himself working in his father’s advertising firm; however, we feel the most successful member of our class would have to be Trevor Riley. Trevor was president of his seminary class and a member of the karate club. Why don’t you head on down to the stage while I make everyone jealous of you, Trevor.”
Megan watched Dylan’s spot-lighted face as it became a mask of diffidence. She knew he was furious behind his bland smile.
“Trevor started his own company eight years ago, after his mission to Guatemala. He is now worth—now, I’m not making this up, guys—eleven million dollars. We got that little tidbit of information from Forbes magazine, by the way. So I hope all you single women will start counting your money for the auction, because as of now, he’s still unattached, too.”
Megan tore her gaze away from Dylan and glanced up on stage to see the man who had defended her so audaciously just minutes before. Who was he? Megan racked her brain for any memory at all of this guy and still came up blank. Had she been that oblivious to the people around her in high school? He was very interesting to look at; she was sure she wouldn’t have forgotten a face like his. She turned her eyes towards his yearbook picture emblazoned on the wall. Quickly, all of the forgotten memories resurfaced. Trevor. Of course. The seminary president. But he had been off limits. She could still remember the crush she’d had
on him so long ago. They had both been so different back then.
He had been in a completely different social circle than hers. He had been attractive back then, but there was a different quality about him now. She didn’t remember him being so tall either. She recalled how she used to catch him staring at her in the hallways and cafeteria. She couldn’t help returning the favor now.
Megan let the announcer’s voice drone on and on as she stood there like a mannequin and stared at Trevor. He looked very uncomfortable by all of the attention. Why hadn’t he ever gotten married? What was his story? If he was as rich as they said, she wouldn’t mind selling him a house, that was for sure. She’d take a commission from anyone these days. Even someone like him.
When she heard the category for the most popular girl and boy, she knew that was her cue to leave. She had been voted most popular her senior year; she still had the CD player her father had given her as a reward. She hadn’t meant to stay so long, but now it was too late. As the spotlight blinded her, she closed her eyes and tried not to listen to the announcer’s words.
And to think she could have been halfway home by now.
“According to our sources, Megan isn’t the party girl she used to be. She sells real estate for Western Realty, she’s still single, but she does have a dog, ladies and gentlemen, so don’t feel too bad for her. At least it’s not a cat.
“And now the moment you’ve been waiting for. The most popular girl now, would have to be . . . Brooke Truman! Brooke works as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines and assures us that she does indeed have a boyfriend in every port. Come on down, Brooke, and stand by the winners.”
As everyone’s attention switched to the stage, Megan felt herself relax. No one was staring at her anymore, no one cared what she did for a living or if she did stay home every night. She smiled. She had lost the contest and she couldn’t be more relieved. At least they hadn’t asked her to walk up on stage in front of everyone. Now that would have killed her.
“Now, this last category is one we just made up at the last minute, but I think you’ll agree with us when you hear what it is. The most unrecognizable classmate. Now, there was no way we could vote on this ten years ago, but we’ll throw in the carriage ride anyway if Megan Garrett wouldn’t mind taking a walk down memory lane. Come on down, sweetheart, and let us all have a better look at you.”
Megan felt her skin turn to ice and her eyelids freeze to her eyeballs. She forced herself to move her uncooperative limbs as she stumbled towards the lobby. What a fool she had been! Even after she’d been spotlighted, she had stayed, lurking in the doorway. That was it. Her parents were right: she was crazy.
“There she goes, boys! After her!”
Megan began a full-on sprint after hearing the announcer’s words. What was this, a fox hunt? Could she sue for public humiliation? Megan threw her keys at the valet attendant and ran outside to stand behind a pillar. Thirty long seconds passed. Come on! How hard could it be to find an El Camino amongst all of the Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators? The cool wind of the night soothed her red cheeks as she stood there with her hands clenched at her side. Why anyone ever showed up to reunions was beyond her.
“Megan, please come back inside. It will be worse if you don’t. You have to face down your enemy. Running only drags it out. Trust me.”
Megan peeked from behind the pillar where she was hiding.
It was Brenna.
“Don’t make me do this, Brenna,” Megan pleaded. “I can’t handle this right now. You didn’t hear how Dylan embarrassed me in front of all of those people in there. And then Trevor—can you believe he kissed me? I really don’t enjoy crying in front of crowds, so if you’ll just tell the valet to hurry for me, I will be eternally grateful.”
Brenna walked slowly around the pillar, as if she were cornering a wild animal, and held out her hand.
“Dylan has a bet for five hundred dollars going around that you’ll chicken out. I’m almost positive he’s the one who put the reunion committee up to the extra category. Let’s go back inside, Megan. Just think about how small Dylan is going to feel when he has to ask Daddy for a loan to cover all of his bets. I made Jack bet against him, and Jack doesn’t bet. Come on, we’re using our kids’ college funds.”
Megan felt the blood swimming in her veins and the steel returning to her spine. Dylan was betting on her, as if she were a dog at the races. Fine, she wouldn’t mind ruining his night and his bank account, even if she did feel like the main attraction in a freak show.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Brenna put her arm protectively around Megan’s shoulders as she escorted her through the now quiet groups of people and to the steps leading onto the stage.
Just thinking of Brenna’s kids working at Taco Bell to support themselves through school had Megan forcing a smile onto her stiff face. She repeated the words, “This too shall pass” over and over in her mind as a mantra while she was escorted to the line of “winners.”
“Thank you, Brenna, for tracking Megan down for us. It usually helps to have the after picture to go along with the before. It’s not very fun otherwise. All right, now who out there recognized our own little Megan when she walked in the door tonight? Now be honest! Anyone? No? I didn’t think so.”
Megan moved her eyes over the crowd, relieved that Dylan had kept his hand down. He had recognized her immediately. Why was that? Megan turned her head a fraction and noticed they hadn’t been satisfied with her yearbook picture and had picked a shot of her doing a back flip off a pyramid of other cheerleaders. She actually liked the shot, except for the fact that her behind took up most of the picture. Megan blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. Why hadn’t she just promised to send Brenna’s kids a check in the mail, postdated fifteen years?
Standing beside her, Trevor whispered, “Don’t let them get to you. Just picture yourself at The Roof, stuffing your face with grilled salmon and crème brulée, while everyone else is eating leftover Tuna Helper.”
Megan frowned suspiciously at Trevor. How did he know that was what she’d had last night for dinner? And why was he being so nice to her? Megan winced as she looked at his face, the cheek she had slapped was still noticeably reddened. The kiss really hadn’t been that bad. She almost regretted slapping him. But not quite.
“All right, folks. It’s the time you’ve all been waiting for.
Let’s all get our checkbooks out, because it’s time to spend some money! I personally know of a couple guys right off the top of my head that would have killed to dance with Taffie in high school. Myself included. Wives and girlfriends, just turn your heads and think of all the nice new textbooks the kids will be getting. Here’s your chance, boys. Who will start me off with one hundred dollars?”
Megan wasn’t surprised Taffie went for a thousand dollars.
On the other hand, she would be very surprised if she went for more than twenty-five cents. The announcer went through the line quickly, selling off Trevor for a measly fifty bucks.
“Now, last of all, our captain of the cheerleaders. Is there anyone out there who has waited ten years to dance with Megan Garrett? Dylan’s not around to fight everyone off this time. Who will start me off with one hundred dollars? All right, all right. Fifty?”
Megan closed her eyes in agony as the ballroom became completely quiet. If she wrote a check for herself, would they let her go home?
“I’ll give you five thousand dollars for a dance with Megan.” Megan choked as her eyes shot open. What idiot . . . ? Trevor? The announcer looked taken aback, but was obviously pleased by the amount bid.
“Trust me, I would love to accept your bid, but you’re already taken. Our own Ms. Wilburn, who, by the way, still teaches art at Jefferson High School, has already given us a check for your time.”
Trevor turned to catch Megan’s eye and winked at her.
Megan was too shocked to do anything but stare back stupidly.
“If it’s all the same to you, I
would actually prefer to collect my dance at a later time. I wouldn’t miss dancing with Ms. Wilburn for anything.”
Applause filled the ballroom. Megan found her mouth twitching at the charming way Trevor had handled the problem. She was free.
She wanted to thank Trevor for bidding on her, but he had already been claimed by Ms. Wilburn. Since there was really nothing keeping her at the reunion, she collected her gift certificate and did what she had been aching all night to do. She left.
Two
TREVOR WAS STUNNED. He had assumed she would wait for him. He shook his head as the valet went to get his rental car. She had taken off just like Cinderella, but hadn’t even had the courtesy to leave him a shoe. Or her phone number, for that matter. He leaned up against a pillar and pictured her in his mind again. Megan. He could hardly believe it was her. She had transformed herself from every teenage boy’s wildest dream into a sophisticated man’s vision of a perfect woman. Who’d have ever guessed that under all the hairspray, blond curls, blue contact lenses, and risque clothes, she was a classic beauty? That’s the word that fit her now. Classy. Trevor smiled. She was just what he had been looking for.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice that sounded as frustrated as he felt. “What is the matter with you? The party has just started, and there’ll be dancing for another few hours. Let go of me! I don’t want to go home, Dylan.”
Trevor moved back towards the wall so he wouldn’t be noticed. This could be interesting.
“She ruined it. She ruined everything. I can’t go back in there. Besides, all those guys are going to want their money. Do you want to be the one to tell them we’re broke? You’ve spent every last dime we had. There’s no way I can pay off everyone. Uh uh. We’re long gone.”
Trevor leaned forward and saw Taffie with her arms folded across her chest and a fighting look in her eyes. He smiled, anticipating what she would say to her husband.
A Trusting Heart Page 2
