by Scott, Lisa
He put his hands on his hips and laughed. “So you dump me the first time because you don’t think I have a future. And now you’re turning me down again because you don’t think you have a future.”
Chelsea said nothing.
But he wasn’t going to give up. “If you don’t believe in me and you don’t believe in you, maybe you could believe in us. Maybe the key here is the two of us—together.”
“Tripp, it’s just not meant to be.”
Tripp’s heart sank, but this wasn’t over. This wasn’t the last time he’d see Chelsea. He’d have another shot at the reunion, and he’d be pulling out all the stops. But first he’d give her a preview she’d never forget.
The hotel manager came back and asked if they had any questions.
“We’re not going to be needing the ballroom after all,” Tripp said. “I’ve got something else in mind.”
***
Tripp refused to tell Chelsea what he was doing but promised to fill her in some time the next week. He’d let up on the extravagant deliveries, but she did get a Whitman Sampler filled with nothing but molasses chews. She didn’t share that with anyone at work. But she also didn’t think she could bear having it around, so she went to Grandpa’s again after work.
“Hi Chelsea, your grandfather is in the dining room, arranging things,” said the receptionist.
Good golly. Was he making the seniors work out before dinner? “Uh, okay. I’ll go find him.”
Grandpa was setting beautiful flower arrangements on each table. Balloons filled each corner of the room. It reminded her of a wedding reception. “What’s going on here?” Chelsea asked.
“That Tripp sent over flowers and balloons for us. He told us to have a ‘Whatever Party.’ We’re all supposed to celebrate whatever we want.” Grandpa slapped his hands together. “Imagine that! He had the idea for each person to write down what they’re celebrating on a nametag. Everyone’s been peeking in, wondering what’s going on. The lobsters and steak will be delivered later tonight. Everyone is abuzz, I tell you.”
“Wow.” Tears pricked Chelsea’s eyes and she blinked them away. She looked down at the box of candy. “Well, this isn’t quite as exciting anymore. Tripp sent me this today.”
Grandpa took it from her and opened it. He laughed at all the molasses chews. “Despite the money and success he still has time for thoughtful gestures.”
“Tripp said he wanted us to get back together.”
“Congratulations!” Grandpa said, hugging her. “Fantastic. Most of us men are complete heels. That one’s a keeper.”
“It wouldn’t work. He lives in Dallas. And I still don’t know what I want to do with my life.” She snatched one of the candies and popped it in her mouth.
“So figure that out in Dallas. Might be easier to find your purpose with someone by your side.”
Chelsea held up a finger as she finished chewing. “But I wouldn’t want to leave you.”
Grandpa crossed his arms and fixed her with the same stare he’d given her years ago during a sleepover when she denied drinking a quart of Kool-Aid despite her red mustache. “Don’t you lay this one on me, young lady. If you’re too scared to go, say so. But don’t you hold back on living your life because of me. I’ve got lots of family here in town, and I know how McCall Me works. I’ll get myself a laptop and we can stay in touch.”
“I don’t know, Grandpa. I just don’t know if it’ll work out.”
Grandpa threw up his hands. “Life would be boring if we knew how things would turn out in the future. You don’t plot out your life and then live it. You live your life and see how it turns out. Life’s an exciting gift, and you’re not even willing to open it.”
Chelsea twisted her lips, saying nothing.
Grandpa handed back the chocolate and set a soft, warm hand on Chelsea’s cheek. “Ask yourself this: at your twenty-year reunion will you be wondering if you should’ve given him a chance ten years earlier?”
Chelsea looked down at the chocolate and sighed. There was a good chance she’d be eating that whole box later that night.
***
Tripp called Chelsea a few days later to set up a meeting to discuss the reunion venue. “I’ve got the perfect place for the reception. Come see it.”
“Where should I meet you?”
“I’m sending a driver. No arguments. Can I have him get you at work? When are you done?”
“Five o’clock. If you must.”
“I must,” he said.
***
Chelsea was hoping everyone would’ve cleared out of the office by the time the car came, but of course, Peggy noticed the big stretch Mercedes parked outside. Peggy looked out the window, one hand shielding her eyes for a better view. “Is Tripp McCall in there? Do you think he’s bringing in champagne? He hasn’t sent that yet. I love champagne. I haven’t had any in a while.”
“He’s not in the car. I’m meeting him.”
Peggy pouted. “Well, if he gives you anything good, bring it in to share. You know, since you have something against gazillionaires and their gifts.”
Chelsea went outside and climbed in the limo and wondered why Tripp hadn’t picked her up himself. She was excited to see what he had planned, but also excited to see him. She hadn’t decided yet whether they could give a relationship another chance. Chelsea was hoping seeing him in person once more would answer that question.
The driver dropped her off at Rowe’s Wharf and Tripp was standing there with his hands in his pockets and smiling like he had the biggest secret ever.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why didn’t you pick me up?”
“I wanted to make sure everything was ready.” He held out a hand. “Come on.”
She looked at his hand and took a deep breath. Remembering her Grandfather’s advice, she folded her hand into his and he hurried along the dock.
“Wait until you see this.” He stopped in front of a huge yacht. “We can have the formal night here. On the ship.”
She felt her eyes bulge. “You’re going to rent this yacht for us?”
“Well, actually, I bought it.”
“You bought a yacht. For our reunion.”
“I’ll have some company events on it, too. I had some promotional ideas for it, as well. Pulling in to different ports, tossing bottles out to sea with a note inside to McCall Me. Our service works at sea, you know.”
She dropped his hand and stepped back. “A yacht.”
Tripp shifted his weight from one foot to another. “It was a floor model.”
“Right.”
“It wasn’t custom-made. I had to settle for what they had.”
Chelsea shook her head, staring at the enormous boat. “I can see where you settled. What did you name it?”
“I have some ideas, but I’m not sure yet. Come on. Let’s go on board.”
“Are you sure about this?”
He held out his hand for her again. “Yes.”
She took his hand and followed him up the ramp and onto the deck. “This is incredible. Brandi will die when she hears this. Oh, and she’s offered her body to you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not interested in hers. It’s yours I want. Not just your body, of course. Everything.”
His stare was melting her insides. “Tripp, I think you’re just looking for some kind of closure.” She wanted to go to Dallas with him. She really did. She knew that now. But she wasn’t convinced that was what he really wanted.
“Chelsea, our relationship was the best I ever had. I can buy anything in the world. But I can’t buy something like what we had. And I think it meant something to you, too. I think we at least owe ourselves a chance to try it again.” He took her other hand and squeezed both of them.
Looking into his eyes, her heart felt warm and full. She hadn’t had that feeling in a long time. She let go of the last bit of fear and said, “Let’s do it.”
His eyes bulged. “Really? I had a bottle of tequila waiting back
in the room for when you turned me down. Whiskey, too.” He shrugged. “But I also have champagne on board just in case you said yes.”
Peggy will be so jealous. “I want to be more like you, Tripp. You bring fun to everything you do. I mean, look at this boat. If you had dropped out of medical school, you probably would’ve thrown a party.”
He nodded. “Hell, yeah. Not having enormous medical-school debt would’ve been reason to celebrate. There’s always a way to find fun in a situation.”
“Like a ‘Whatever Party.’ My grandfather thanks you. And you should thank him. He’s a big part of the reason I decided to move and give us a chance.”
His jaw dropped a bit, then a smile split his face. “So you’re moving to Texas?”
She couldn’t hold back her own grin. “I am. I want to live in my own place and find my own job. Maybe I’ll even go back to school. But I want to give us a real shot.”
He picked her up and spun her around. “When?”
“I’ll have to give my two-week notice and pack up. Then I’ll have to find a place. A month?”
“It’s not soon enough.”
“It’s better than never.”
“True enough. You always were smarter than me.” He wrapped his arms around her neck.
“You always underestimated yourself. I wish I wouldn’t have. I wish that I’d had more faith in you.”
“I’d say it all worked out.” He stepped back from their embrace. “I’m going to give you a tour of the boat, with special attention to the big bedroom in the master suite. But first I have to make a call.”
“Why?”
“I’m ready to name the boat.”
“What?” Probably some fun play on McCall Me, she thought.
“Second Chance.” He pulled her in for a kiss. “They’re a wonderful thing, and I didn’t think I’d ever get another one with you.”
Her lower lip wobbled a bit, then curled into a smile. “Neither did I.” She closed her eyes and returned to their kiss. She heard the sound of violins. It was getting closer. When she opened her eyes there musicians were walking up the boarding ramp. “What is this?”
He circled her waist with his hands. “Besides the champagne, I had a few other surprises planned just in case you said yes.”
“A few?” That’s when a horse-drawn carriage showed up at the bottom of the ramp.
He scratched his head. “Do you still like ponies?”
Her jaw had already dropped, but she couldn’t quite close it.
“Hmm. Maybe I should ease up on this kind of stuff,” he said.
“No, I’m starting to enjoy it,” she said. “I don’t need a gem polisher, but your surprises have always been fun.” She beamed at him. “I never know what to expect from you.”
“And I usually know what I can expect from you. I need that stability in my life.”
She pressed her hand right over his heart. “I guess we worked better together than I thought.”
“So, shall we take that carriage ride?” he asked.
She tilted her head and lowered her voice. “I was looking forward to the tour of the yacht. And the master bedroom suite.”
Tripp waved off the horse and carriage and picked her up off her feet and headed for the bedroom.
Chelsea sighed. “I hope this isn’t all just a dream. Or a joke.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’ve never been this serious about anything in my life.”
Class Flirt
It was nine o’clock Saturday morning and the doorbell rang to Martina’s apartment. Most people probably would’ve been annoyed. Like her roommate, Keri. She’d probably start groaning any minute. But Martina was awake, reviewing an account. She’d already jogged five miles. She was showered, made up, and dressed. She hurried to the door. “Hang on!” she called.
She opened the door and took a step back. A guy dressed as a ship captain handed her a balloon bouquet attached to a tiny box. “All aboard for a weekend of fun. The Central High Class of 2002 requests your presence at the festivities for your ten-year reunion. Open the box for all the information.” His delivery lacked the enthusiasm his costume conveyed.
Martina blinked at him. “I already got an invitation in the mail two months ago. I threw it out.” That day, Martina had opened a succession of small boxes until she found the reunion invitation and flash drive in the last box. She wasn’t interested back then and she still wasn’t now. Even before she had gotten that invitation, class secretary Chelsea Hallman had personally called her, telling Martina the committee really hoped she could come, which had made her that much more determined not to attend.
The deliveryman was still holding the balloon bouquet. “I’m following up with a special invitation to those guests who didn’t respond to the first one.”
“Wow. Guess they really want me to come.”
He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Look, I have a few other stops today. I’m supposed to stay and make sure you actually watch the presentation in here.” He tapped the box. “Can you just promise to watch it?”
“No need to come in. I’ll go watch it now,” Martina said, taking the balloons and the box from him.
“Thanks.” He tipped his hat and trudged down the hall.
Keri wandered out of her room with a scowl, wrapping on a kimono. “That better have been Publisher’s Clearing House with a giant check for me. One of those huge ones that you can’t really hold.” She looked up and frowned. “I don’t see a big check.”
“No, this is the exact opposite of good news for you. It’s bad news for me—another invitation for my ten-year class reunion.” Martina opened the box and found a maroon flash drive in the same shade as their school colors with their school mascot etched onto it. The Jefferson Jousters. A guy holding a giant shish-kebab skewer. Of course, everyone had always called them the Jefferson Jesters. She dropped the flash drive onto her palm.
Keri squinted at it. “That’s the invitation? Are you sure you haven’t been assigned to a secret spy mission?” She dropped her voice. “Do you work for the CIA?” Keri snapped her fingers. “That’s why you’re so responsible and never party. Wait, do you have a file on me?” Keri held up a hand. “I can explain that nude picture in the park three years ago. It’s not what you think.” Keri twisted her lips. “Actually, it’s probably exactly what you think.”
Martina blinked at her. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m really just an accountant, not a spy.” She sat down and slid the flash drive into her computer. A group of people appeared on the screen and started singing and dancing on a yacht. Confetti rained down on them. A marching band appeared.
Keri leaned over her shoulder. “Is that an episode of Glee?”
Martina squinted at it. “No, I think it’s the reunion invitation. I heard Tripp McCall is bankrolling the whole thing.”
“The guy who owns McCall Me Inc.?” Keri whistled and walked into their kitchen. “Are you going to go?”
Martina closed her computer. “No.”
“Why not? Looks like it’s going to be the party of the century.” Keri poured herself a bowl of cereal. “If you like all that high school spirit crap.”
“I don’t. I left high school way behind me.”
“What do you mean?” Keri had only been her roommate for six months. There were still many secrets to be shared, although when Martina had answered the roommate-wanted ad, Keri had told her in the first five minutes of the conversation that she was a lesbian, so really, Martina should be a little more forthcoming with information.
Martina closed her eyes. “I was different back in high school.”
Keri settled on the couch with her bowl. “Different how? Were you the ugly duckling? Cause you look great now. That would be awesome to go back and be all like, look at me now, suckers! All you’d need is a sexy dress and you’d be a hit. You can borrow one of mine. I’ve seen your wardrobe. You’ve got nothing that would work.”
“What?”
Keri waved her
spoon in the air. “I needed a pair of red stilettos one night and looked in your closet. I don’t know why I ever imagined you’d have a pair.”
“Actually, that’s the kind of stuff I wore in high school.”
“Oh. I get it. You were Class Slut,” Keri whispered. Then she slurped a big mouthful of cereal.
“No, Class Flirt! But I’m not like that anymore. And I don’t feel like hanging out with a bunch of people who will only be able to see me the way they saw me ten years ago.”
Keri pointed the spoon at her, a drop of milk dribbling onto the coffee table. “I’d want to prove them wrong. I went to mine just to confirm for everyone that yes, I’m a lesbian. I wasn’t exactly out of the closet in high school.” She shrugged. “Everyone was really cool about it.”
Martina picked up her files. “I don’t care what they think.”
“Still, you should go. Not for them, but for yourself. Clearly, you’re still hung up on your image from high school. Showing up and showing off the new you might help put this whole flirt thing behind you.” Keri cocked her head. “Are you sure they didn’t vote you Class Flirt as a joke?”
Martina frowned. She frowned a lot more often than she’d like to admit. “No. They voted the homecoming queen as a joke, but not me. I earned it, believe me.”
“So, how did you change? Nothing about you seems flirty now. No offense.”
Martina held the files against her chest like she could keep the memories away from her heart. “Let’s just say I made some big mistakes along the way. I don’t need to be reminded of them when I go.”
Keri stood up with a hand on her hip. “Hiding from your mistakes only makes them bigger. Like shadows in your room when you’re a kid. Once you face them, you realize they’re not so bad.”
Martina tossed her folders onto the couch. “Oh yeah? I sent a topless picture of myself to a guy and it ended up on the Girls Get It On website. I’m well aware of how bad it was.”
Keri fell back on the couch, laughing. “Girls Get It On? You?” More laughter. “No you didn’t.”
“I did.”
Keri kept laughing until she was out of breath. “Seriously?”
Martina crossed her arms. “Seriously.”