Page 46 of Love, Rekindled

“So,” Catherine says with a hint of excitement in her voice. “I’m here at the office with Jackson, checking on things before we fly out.”

“Right.”

“Gretch, do you remember Benjamin Pryce?”

Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in forever.

A shiver runs down my spine as a perfect image of his face comes to mind.

“Gretchen?” Catherine calls my name when I don’t say anything.

“Yeah, of course. I don’t think I ever could forget him. He was my first kiss.”

And my first love.

Every woman knows, and remembers, her first kiss. We were those friends who made a pact that by seventh grade, if we hadn’t been kissed, we’d kiss each other.

Sure enough, my super nerd vibe wasn’t exactly bringing me a slew of boys that wanted to kiss me. So Ben did.

It was sweet.

And awkward.

And braces were totally not sexy, but Ben was my friend and a nerd like me. He told me after that he watched a ton of movies to try to get it right. I smiled, loving that he cared. It was that moment that I realized just how much I loved him.

“He was your first kiss? How did I not know that?”

“No idea. Anyway, I haven’t forgotten him, why are you asking?”

“So, I was taking a call, not paying attention, and this guy walks into Jackson’s office...I knew I recognized him, but I couldn’t place it. Then he remembered me. But my point is, dude, Ben has really grown up.”

“Wait, he’s there?” I ask. “At Cole Securities?”

“Yup, yup he is.” Catherine’s voice drops. “He has...umm...transformed. He’s very different than what you remember.”

I shake my head. “Okay? What does that even mean?”

“I’m just saying, you have a friend here! One who specifically asked about you too.”

He asked about me? That seems so weird. I haven’t heard from him since he left after I told him I was in love with him. He promised to stay in touch, and then he was gone. I figured he just forgot about me or at least wanted to forget, which is why he disappeared. He was the first boy I ever loved and it broke my heart when I never heard from him again.

“Okay, but...it’s not like that. We’re not friends anymore. Once upon a million years ago we were...”

“No, but there’s nothing saying old flames can’t be rekindled! Just wear something cute. Trust me. That pink dress or even the blue.” There’s a weird tone she’s using. I don’t like it.

“Catherine?”

“I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow when you get here! Love you!”

I look down at the phone and then back to Ashton. “Well, that was weird.”

She laughs. “Catherine is weird. What did she say?”

“Apparently Ben, from middle school, is working for Jackson.”

Ashton purses her lips and taps her nails on the arm of the chair. “Ben?”

“The guy I was friends with who moved away in high school...the one I told you about that I really liked and kept waiting to call me.”

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