Page 25 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
There are plenty of things to be nervous about. “I’ll feel better once we’re inside.”
Kelli went through the double front doors first. I followed her into the hallway and almost stopped dead. It was exactly how I remembered. Even the smell. Musky teenage boy and cotton candy-scented body spray. The walls were the same cream color, and the lockers down the hall to the right and left were still royal blue.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Talk about ablast from the past,” Kelli muttered as we joined the line forming in front of a table in the hallway, where two young high school girls sat. I didn’t recognize the two couples in front of us.
After they had their tickets, we arrived at the front of the line. Another woman, one with a familiar crooked smile and cunning brown eyes, came down the hall and stood behind the girls at the table. She peered down at the list of names before them as one of the girls lifted her eyes to us and smiled. “Hello. Names please?”
The woman peering over her shoulder answered before either of us had the chance. “Kelli Rollins and Lina Nelson.”
The girl went through the list to seek us out.
The woman, who I recognized as Caitlin Nowell, gave me a not-so-sweet smile. She and I had not gotten along well back in the day. In fact, she’d often seen to it that I was miserable. On more than one occasion, she had spread foul rumors about me—some of them involving Cal. Some involved other boys. When I met her gaze, one thing became crystal clear: she still wasn’t my biggest fan.
“Hi, Caitlin,” Kelli said. Her voice dripped with false nicety as she watched the girl check off our names on her list. “Nice seeing you. Lina and I are going to run in and start mingling.”
Kelli hooked her arm through mine and tugged me away from the table. We moved down the main hall toward the gymnasium where I could already hear music. “Thank you,” I breathed. “I was not in the mood to deal with her.”
“I don’t think anyone is ever in the mood to deal with Caitlin. Mind you, I’m sure she’s not as bad now. She can’t be. Fifteen years should be enough time to get your shit straight, don’t you think?”
“I’d hope.”
“Besides, she probably knows who you are now. Your face is on ads everywhere.”
I sighed. “Right.”
When we stepped through the gymnasium doors, I was struck with memories. Memories of assemblies, Mothers Against Drunk Driving seminars, Christmas dances, prom, Cal’s basketball games—
“This is insane,” Kelli whispered beside me. “Look, there’s Ty Whitwell. And Brandon Connery. And is that Annabelle? Damn, she looks smoking hot! You know, I heard through the grapevine that she’s a psychology professor at some swanky university in Texas.”
“Texas?” I asked.
“Yeah, she moved there after she got married.”
I glanced around the gym. “There must be at least half of us here. That’s a pretty good turnout, right?”
“For a grad class of over a thousand kids? Yeah. I’d say so.” Lina pointed to a stage in the corner. “Looks like there’ll be some entertainment later. And look! A snack buffet. Come on. Let’s go scope it out for later. I think I see chocolate-dipped strawberries.”
“Always with the food,” I muttered as she took my hand and pulled me through the sea of bodies across the gym. We drew up in front of the buffet.
Kelli clapped her hands together. “What a nice spread!”
I couldn’t argue with that. Whoever was on the planning committee had done an excellent job. Pastries and slices of baguette sat beside a tray of various assortments of cheese, including a baked brie wheel smothered in cranberry chutney and candied pecans. My stomach growled. Cheese was my kryptonite.
The table also had fresh vegetables and dip, mini sandwiches, chocolate fondue, a selection of fruits, and Christmas cookies.
“Dinner is being catered,” Kelli told me. “I suppose this is appetizers and desserts.”
I picked up a piece of bread and smothered it with brie and cranberry. I popped it in my mouth and nodded appreciatively. “So good,” I mumbled with my mouth half full.
“Oh no.” Kelli sucked in a sharp breath and swatted at my hand as I reached for another piece of bread.
“What?” I scowled, still chewing.
“Swallow, Lina. Swallow!”
I winced as I choked down my mouthful, which was not nearly chewed enough. It hurt my throat. “What’s with you?”
