Page 74 of Hometown Girl

Dina took another drink. “The ad agency is doing really well.”

Beth should’ve asked. She didn’t have to, though, because Dina’s grandmother Ginny had already told her—ad nauseam—how well Dina’s business was doing. “That’s what I’ve heard. Congratulations. You’ve done everything you set out to do.” Her lack of enthusiasm resonated in her tone. Beth heard it loud and clear; she could only assume Dina had too.

This unspoken competition between them had always been there, simmering below the surface, pushing Beth forward in an effort to outdo, out achieve, out win. But now, it had turned into something even uglier.

Beth shrank under the weight of Dina’s stare.

“Will you be ready to open by August?” Dina turned the glass around in her hand.

Beth glanced out the window and saw Drew in the yard with a few of the workers. She hadn’t asked about the timeline lately. Part of her didn’t want to know. “I hope so.”

“I’ve already planned to bring Harrison back here when you’re open. We really want to support you however we can. Maybe we can talk about an ad campaign—you know, when you’re ready?”

“I doubt we can afford you.”

Dina flicked the air. “I’d give you the best-friend discount.”

For the briefest moment, Beth saw a glimmer of sadness behind her eyes. It skittered away as quickly as it had come, but it was the first indication that there was more to Dina than flashy cars and beauty-queen fashion.

“You’ve been back in Willow Grove a lot lately,” Beth said.

Dina studied her glass. “I have. Thought I’d use the chance to check up on you. I have to admit, I never thought I’d see you on a farm, covered in dirt, but I guess things change, don’t they?”

Beth looked away.

“I admire you for doing something like this—completely unexpected. It’s hard to break out of the mold everyone else puts you in. Especially when that mold turns out to be different than you thought.”

What was she saying? That she resented her successful company, gorgeous husband and wealthy way of life? Didn’t she know she was living the dream? Beth’s dream.

“It’s just ...” Dina’s eyes found hers.

“What?”

“You’re not hiding out here, are you? I mean, thisiswhat you want, right?”

She sat with that for a moment. “Hiding from what?”

“I saw Michael’s engagement announcement in the newspaper this morning.”

Beth’s heart dropped. “Oh.”

She hadn’t seen it. She’d been too busy digging around in the dirt.

“You hadn’t heard?”

She shook her head. “But I’m not surprised. I wish him nothing but the best.” How many lies could she tell in one day? She didn’t wish him the best. She wished him the same heartache he’d caused her. That made her an ugly person, and she knew it.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you.” Now it was Dina who lied. She was probably thrilled to dole this kind of news out to her high school frenemy. Beth wanted her to leave. She wanted to get back to her gardening, to something soothingly monotonous that took her mind off everything else.

“To be honest,” Dina said, “I always kind of thought you two would get back together.”

To be honest, so had Beth. The realization of that stabbed at her.

“You always were everyone’s favorite couple. And when I saw the two of you at the reunion—well, there were still sparks.”

Beth remembered. Michael had walked in wearing that custom-tailored suit, and Callie had let out a low groan. “Why does he still have to be so good-looking?” she’d said. Beth had waved her off, but as soon as she saw him, her heart flip-flopped and she was sixteen again, out on their first date, wondering if he was going to hold her hand during the movie.

Their life together flashed in front of her. High school sweethearts. Homecoming royalty. They’d gone to the same university and made plans together. Future plans. They were supposed to live happily ever after in a city apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. Ten years after graduation, they’d start their family. Two kids. House in the suburbs.

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