“How you guys doing?” Grady asked, oblivious to the bomb he’d just dropped.
“Can we go outside?” Vic asked.
He took my hand and started pulling me away from Grady, who shrugged and left us to go to the back room with everyone else.
“I can’t believe it,” I said, my mind still blown from the revelation. “You remembered me… on Friday night, you called me by name… why did you say your name is Vic?”
Vic waited until we were out on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, then he took my hands and looked earnestly at me.
“My name is Theodore Victor Manning,” he explained. “In high school, everyone called me Teddy. I hated it. So, when I went to college, I started going by Vic, and that’s what I’ve been called ever since. Except when I’m back here.”
I nodded, then scrunched up my face and asked, “But, why didn’t you clarify who you were? Were you trying to keep it a secret?”
Vic ran a hand over his face and sighed.
“I liked you… freshman year. I spent the entire time we spent studying trying to work up the nerve to ask you out, but I never did. Then, when we came back sophomore year, you were gone. When I saw your name on the RSVP list, I couldn’t believe you were going to be here, and, it’s stupid, but I thought if you knew who I was, you wouldn’t give me the time of day. So, I devised this plan and have been less than honest with you.”
“Less than honest? Is that a fancy way of saying you lied?” I asked, my mind still whirling.
Vic chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the side, and in that moment, I wondered how the hell I hadn’t seen that he was Teddy.
I guess we only see what we want to see…
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying,” Vic admitted, then took another deep breath and cleared his throat, before finally saying, “I’m not in the FBI, undercover or otherwise… and, I don’t live in Seattle.”
“You’re not? You don’t?” I asked, my heart beginning to thump as I realized what had happened. It was almost too unbelievable. “What’s your real story?”
He held out his hand.
“Hi, it’s me, Teddy Manning. I go by Vic now. I’m a divorced accountant who lives in Las Vegas. I had a crush on you in high school and came to this reunion specifically to see you.”
“Wow,” I breathed, and then… I started laughing.
Big, loud, belly laughter. The kind that hurts your sides and makes tears fall out of the corner of your eyes.
“Molly?” Vic asked, bending down to look closely at me. “Are you okay?”
He probably thought I’d lost it. Or worse, that I was laughing at his declaration, but I couldn’t seem to stop.
I tried to stop laughing and catch my breath. It took a while, but eventually, I was able to stand back up, clutching my sides, as the last chuckle escaped my lips.
“Oh, man, sorry,” I panted, then looked into his face.
Vic was standing still, clutching his hands and looking guarded.
I held out my hand.
He looked down at it, then back at me, before placing his hand in mine.
“Hi, I’m Molly Murphy. We were in freshman math together, and in the summer before our sophomore year, my family moved to Phoenix. I’ve been there ever since. I’m a divorced, mother of two, and I manage an Applebee’s.”
Now it was Vic’s turn to look shocked, then his face split into a wide grin.
“It’s nice to see you again, Molly,” Vic said, shaking my hand.
Then he tugged, pulling me until I crashed into his chest. My hand settled on his pec as I tilted my head to look up into his face.
“Phoenix is pretty close to Vegas,” he said softly.
I nodded, my stomach clenching in anticipation.
“I’d like to see you again,” he said, and my lungs filled as my chest puffed out with excitement.
“I’d really like that,” I whispered.
Vic’s teeth flashed as he grinned, then he lowered his face and caught my lips with his. I leaned in, crushing my breasts against his chest and I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tight.
He tilted his face slightly, to gain better access, and I opened willingly for him, caught up in the moment.
“Jeez, get a room,” someone called out. Probably one of the reunion goers on the way to brunch.
Vic pulled back and chuckled.
“Want to get out of here?” he asked.
“Where are we going to go? We’re all checked out, and our flights don’t leave for a few hours?”
“We could get rid of these rentals, check in for our flights and go hang out in a restaurant or airport bar… really get to know each other…” Vic suggested.
“Sounds perfect,” I agreed, and took his offered hand.
As we walked to our cars, he asked, “Can I get your number?”
“I’ll think about it,” I joked, then brought his hand to my chest and clutched it there.
Thoughts and emotions swirled within me, but one stood out above the others… hope.
The End.
About the Author
Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
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Also by Bethany Lopez
Young Adult:
Stories about Melissa – series
Ta Ta for Now!
Ciao
TTYL
With Love
Adios
Nissa: a contemporary fairy tale
New Adult:
Friends & Lovers Trilogy
Make it Last
I Choose You
Trust in Me
Indelible
Contemporary Romance:
A Time for Love Series
Prequel - 1 Night
8 Weeks
21 Days
42 Hours
15 Minutes
10 Years
3 Seconds
7 Months
For Eternity - Novella
The Lewis Cousins Series
Too Tempting
Too Complicated
Too Distracting
Too Enchanting
Too Dangerous - Coming Soon
Three Sisters Catering Trilogy
A Pinch of Salt
A Touch of Cinnamon
A Splash of Vanilla
Romantic Comedy/Suspense:
Cupcakes Series
Always Room for Cupcakes
Cupcake Overload
Lei’d with Cupcakes
Cupcake Explosion
Women’s Fiction:
More than Exist
Short Stories:
Contemporary:
An Inconvenient Dare
Christmas Come Early
Harem Night
Reunion Fling
Fantasy:
Leap of Faith
Beau and the Beastess
Cookbook:
Love & Recipes
Love & Cupcakes
Children’s:
Katie and the North Star
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