Page 72 of Kill Your Darlings

“Are you going to hug me, or at least shake my hand?”

They hugged, and Thom wondered if she could tell that he was trembling.

“I can’t believe it’s you,” Thom said again.

“I knew you were going to be here,” Wendy said. “You were on the list of names in the orientation packet.”

“Oh, right. Of course.”

“My name is there, too, but you probably didn’t recognize it.”

“Wendy Barrington,” Thom said, remembering that he had spotted the name and even briefly considered the possibility that the attendee from Lubbock, Texas, might be a married version of the Wendy he’d known so many years ago. But he’d discarded that idea as a ridiculous pipe dream.

“Yes, I’m a Barrington now.” She showed her left hand, the ring finger circled by a diamond ring that Thom recognized as being abnormally large.

“Congratulations.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not married, but cohabitating,” Thom said, holding out his hand to show his ringless finger.

“You’re in Connecticut now?”

“I am.”

“What’s the name of your...?”

“Her name is Maggie. We went to college together.”

“Same with me. I married my college boyfriend. His name is Bryce.”

“Bryce Barrington.”

“You are correct.”

Neither said anything for a moment then they both laughed again. “Are we all caught up now?” Thom said. “Should we go our separate ways?”

“I mean, if we have nothing left to talk about.”

“You live in Texas?”

“Terrible topic, but, yes, I do live in Texas.” She said it with a slight drawl, and her eyes flashed, the way they did when she was joking. It brought her back to him as he’d first known her—just a kid, really, but world-weary and sarcastic and his favorite person to talk with.

“Where in Texas?” Thom said.

“Lubbock. My husband’s from there, and went to school there, and his whole rich family lives there, so chances are I’ll spend the rest of my life there as well. Unless we get divorced.”

“Any chance of that?” Thom said.

“Depends on how long we stand here talking,” Wendy said, her eyes brightening more. Thom didn’t immediately speak, and Wendy laughed. “You look scared.”

“I am scared. You’ve always scared me.”

“Have I?”

“Maybe not scared me, but... What’s the right word? You always stop me in my tracks.”

“I’ve missed you, Thom,” Wendy said, lowering her voice.

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