Page 17 of A Secret Chance
“It doesn’t matter if I think he’s hot or not. He’s the CEO of the company that I’m going to be in a battle royale with if they don’t smarten up.”
“I haven’t seen your cheeks this pink – ever,” Charlotte teased. “Don’t let those blue eyes knock you off your game, Sis.”
“Have you ever seen eyes that color?” Lauren asked.
“What color?” Tabitha looked up from her book.
“Ice blue,” Charlotte said.
“Like mine?” Tabitha said.
“Actually, just like yours,” Charlotte said. Lauren realized she was right and wondered if that’s why he seemed so familiar. His eyes weren’t those of someone she knew, they just resembled someone’s she already knew.
“Was he arrogant to you?” Charlotte asked. “I thought that he was the most civil of the bunch.”
“Me too,” Lauren agreed. “Actually, the weirdest thing happened. And before I tell you the story, I need to ask you a favor.”
“What’s that?”
They both turned their heads as the huge front door opened. “Pizza man!” Logan shouted.
Tabitha jumped up and ran to greet her Uncle Logan with her book still in her hand.
“Can I borrow four hundred dollars?” Lauren hated asking her sister for money, and it was something that she rarely had to do. Her sister had helped her through the lean times and had even let Tabitha and Lauren crash at her place until they got on their feet in Chance Rapids. “It’s only until my next check. I had an unexpected expense today.”
“Of course,” Charlotte whispered. “I’ll grab some cash for you.”
Charlotte was the kind of person who always had a stash of cash hidden somewhere in her house. “What was the sudden expense?”
“That stupid sweater,” Lauren replied, her face burning.
“You spent four hundred dollars on a sweater? That’s not like you,” she whispered.
They met Logan and Tabitha in the kitchen. Logan had pulled some plates out of the cupboard and had already doled out slices of the thin crust Margherita pizza. Charlotte had a huge formal dining room, but like most nights, they pulled out the barstools and sat around the kitchen island laughing and eating their pizza.
“Lauren,” Logan smiled. “I hear you took a little spill today.”
All three of them turned to look at her. “Where did you hear that?” She had fallen down on Main Street in a small town. The gossip train was alive and well in Chance Rapids.
Lauren wasn’t planning to tell the story about how she first met the Caldwell executives, but it seemed like that was no longer an option. She launched into the story about the girl grabbing her arm and the coffee flying. She didn’t know why, but she decided to leave out the impromptu shopping spree.
“Are you alright?” Logan asked. “They need to put some more gravel down on those sidewalks if you ask me.”
“Or people need to stop wearing their heels.” Charlotte grinned; her lips stained purple with wine.
“It wasn’t too long ago that you were the one stomping around town in your Jimmy Choo’s,” Logan laughed. Lauren caught the glance between her sister and boyfriend; Logan had picked Charlotte up from the middle of the street after her own baby deer on ice heels moment.
Lauren helped Charlotte rinse off the dishes. “Would you like another glass?” Charlotte raised the bottle. Lauren could’ve easily drunk another full bottle, but she shook her head no. “It’s a school day tomorrow.” She checked her watch. “We should actually get going.” She yelled to Tabitha, “Honey, gather up your things.”
Logan had disappeared to watch hockey and while Tabitha packed her backpack, Charlotte charged upstairs and returned with an envelope in her hand. “Here you go,” she whispered.
“Thanks.” Lauren tucked the envelope into her purse and pulled on her mittens. “I’ll get it back to you soon.”
Tabitha headed out the front door and Lauren followed. When they were halfway down the pathway, Charlotte peeked her head out of the door. “Lala?” she whispered.
Lauren stopped and turned. “Yeah?”
“He bought you that sweater, didn’t he?”
