Brooke tossed her phone on the shelf, resolved. If Trevor freaked out, he freaked out. She couldn’t lie about her past or who she was anymore. “That was my ex-husband.”
Chapter 13
Trevor fought it, but his eyes still bugged out. “Who?”
“My ex-husband. The man I was married to until last year. He’s calling me, but he shouldn’t be.”
A million questions swirled around him at once. “You’re—Wait, you were married?”
“For almost four years.”
Trevor didn’t say anything. What should he say? Instead, he nodded.
“I would’ve said something sooner, but I don’t like talking about the past and there was no reason to mention it before, so…” Her explanation ended with a shrug.
“No, I…I understand not wanting to bring it up in casual conversation.” He stared into the far reaches of the basement, his head spinning like he’d taken a knock upside the head. “I had no idea.”
“Most people in Windamere don’t know. That’s intentional. But I…I wanted you to know.”
Struck silent again, he stood there.
Prioritizing privacy was something he totally got. His own family didn’t know half the stuff he’d done or did.
Of course, he’d never been married, but still, he didn’t like people up in his business.
“I’m surprised I never heard a word about it though. Towns like Windamere? Keeping a secret is tough.”
Brooke shrugged again.
Her being a divorcee didn’t dim his interest. Divorce happened. Hell, his parents were divorced. But Brooke seemed the type to succeed at everything. He’d assumed, during the time she lived away from their town, she’d made a ton of money in some big city, and racked up all the experience she needed to kick butt at running a hotel and winery.
He couldn’t imagine her falling in love, getting married, and then things going south.
“Please say something,” she whispered.
His gaze jerked to hers.
Normally, Brooke was the quiet one. He was the ice breaker, the talker, the awkward-silence filler. His silence had to be killing her.
“Not so appealing now that I’m a divorcee, huh?”
“What? No. I mean, yes. You…Brooke, this doesn’t make me any less interested. You caught me off guard is all. I think I’m more in shock that I never heard so much as a hint of a rumor about any of this.”
“I’m a private person.”
“So am I, but…”
“And I’m, I don’t know, embarrassed. Divorce is still a big deal around here. I feel like I failed and let people down.”
“What people? You don’t owe a successful marriage to anyone.”
“My parents.”
“Oh.”
“We’re a really close family. They never liked him, but I still think I messed up.”
“Is he from here? Do I know him?”
Her laugh was as dry as dust. “No. He’s most definitely not from here. I met him after I moved to Richmond. He and I worked for the same company. That’s how we met. I was an analyst, with all these aspirations and dreams. Hardworking, but with reasonable expectations. I thought we had a lot common. But I was wrong.”
There was clearly more to the story, but Brooke glanced away, saying no more as she fiddled with the foot of a Ranger.
A few seconds ticked by, and they stood there like that, in the silence of the basement, two Power Ranger toys standing guard.
Brooke was the one to break the silence this time. “I don’t know what else to say. I just wanted you to know.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Her gaze widened. “I guess I felt like I was hiding something by not telling you. I don’t know.” She rushed through the rest in one quick sentence. “And in case you weren’t interested in dealing with the baggage or something, I wanted you to know so you could back off now. Divorcees aren’t always the most attractive option for good-looking young guys.”
Trevor smiled with his entire body. “If anything, you’re hotter now for having the guts to tell me something you don’t like to talk about. And second, I believe you just called me good looking. So let’s bring that into focus for a minute.”
Brooke’s laughed echoed across the basement. “This is news to you?”
“Maybe. You did turn me down last summer and then spent about eight months avoiding me.”
“I did not avoid you for eight months.”
“If I saw you in town, you’d throw me a quick wave and then avoid eye contact and take off.”
“That’s because I’d filed for divorce only a few months prior.”
The coin dropped. “That’s why you said no when I asked you out at Dev’s wedding.”
“Yes.”
He moved to stand right in front of her. “I’m glad we’re past that now.”
“I haven’t actually agreed to go out with you yet.”
But she’d opened up about her past, and there was nothing to stop them from going out, again and again, and having the time of their lives for as long as it lasted. “I’m not worried. You’ll go out with me. We’ve already gone out for pizza, had a picnic.”
“When did we go on a picnic?”
“The other day. With Beau and the cookies.”
With a slant of her gaze, she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Very sneaky. I’ll have to check my schedule for a real date.”
He took her hand, pulling her closer. “Then let’s go check.”
“We still have to find plumbing to fix the sink.”
“The pipes are over there.” He nodded toward the back corner. “Several of them, on a shelf. I saw them while I was poking through your toy collection.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“I was enjoying the moment. I like basements, remember?”
With a roll of her eyes, she took the piping from him and led the way from the basement.
Reagan and Laurel had disappeared to manage the reception area, leaving him and Brooke alone with the plumbing.
“I meant to tell you,” Trevor said as he scooted out far enough from beneath the sink so he could see Brooke, “I called DJ Knight last night.”
“And?”
“And he has an event out of town the Friday before the prom, but should be able to get back in plenty of time Saturday to hook us up. Hand me the wrench?”
“Should or will be able to? There’s a difference.” Brooke passed him a wrench.
“He’s going to let me know today. All he has to do Saturday is drive back home and then to Windamere. He’s based out of Asheville, so I’d say more will than should.”
“What about a backup plan? Maybe we should book another DJ, just in case?”
With a huff of laughter, he passed her back the wrench. “With what money?”
“Good point.”
“I’ll know today. If he’s a no-go, or even still on the fence, I’ll find someone else. No worries. I’ve got this.”
Once he finished tightening the connections, he eased his way out of the cramped space and stood.
Brooke had a look on her face like the whole bathroom was about to flood.
“I know what I’m doing. Relax.”
“What?” Her gaze met his. “Oh, no. It’s not that. It’s this DJ thing. I’m just…concerned. Music is only the most important part of a prom—right after what to wear and who wins king and queen. A bad DJ and lame music can ruin everything.”
“Lame music? I am not going to hire a DJ who plays lame music.” Trevor closed up the toolbox and set everything aside.
“I know you wouldn’t. Normally. But we’re low on time. Most nonlame DJs aren’t going to be available.”
“Except for the one who is available and happens to be the best and happen
s to be a friend of mine.” He turned on the tap. The air clearing the new piping caused a few spurts and burps, but within seconds, hot water flowed from the sink’s faucet, without a single drip beneath the sink. “I’m telling you, I’ve got the music covered. Trust me.”
She turned the water off and on and off again. “Thank you so much for fixing this.” Her gaze locked with his. “And I’m trying, Trevor. I promise I am.”
Chapter 14
An empty math classroom served as their meeting place with Dorian and Lance. Colorful trigonometry charts lined the side walls, an equation remained half erased on the whiteboard up front.
Trevor squeezed into one of the desks in the empty classroom. The plastic blue chair connected to a tiny desk top with Class of ’15 carved into the wood laminate.
A lifetime had passed since Brooke was a student at Windamere High, but the desks remained the same. While she was here, her parents were enjoying the height of their success. The winery growing and the hotel thriving. The Sargent girls were all in school and their oldest, the pride and future of the family business, was pulling straight As and running the student government.
She should’ve been happy, but with few friends outside of her sisters, and no life, her joy came from dreaming about getting out, going hundreds of miles away to learn and live on her own, before coming home as a raging success to take over the Jolie crown.
Jeez, she’d been such an idiot.
“Hey, sorry we’re late.” Dorian breezed into the classroom, Lance right behind her.
“No problem.” Trevor shifted in the tiny desk, making it squeak.
Brooke stopped exploring the room and pulled her planner and notes from her bag. “We have a lot of information to share with you guys in a small amount of time though, so let’s get started.”
“Y’know, I was thinking last night.” Trevor shifted again. “Have you guys heard anything from that place in Newton where you sank all your money?”
Brooke gave him a look. “I’m sorry, I’m sure he meant that to sound more sensitive.”
Lance shook his head. “Nah, it’s okay. That’s exactly what happened. We lost our money like it’d gotten flushed down the toilet. But no, we haven’t heard a word.”
“And we can’t get in contact with anyone at the location,” Dorian added.
Lance leaned back against the teacher’s desk, arms crossed. “We tried to reach out to the owners, even after we got the final letter telling us our money was gone. Pointless though. No one would call us back.”
Dorian’s dark braids were styled up today, and she smoothed a hand up the back and sighed, far more animated than her co-chair. “Did you hear how we found out there was a problem with the venue?”
“No,” Trevor answered for them.
A huff of a laugh from Lance. “Dorian set up an appointment to meet their designer there. Since Zen, the place in Newton, did everything in house, she was going to discuss how we wanted things to look, because she’s got great taste.”
With a tilt of her head, Dorian gazed up Lance. “Aw, thank you.”
He shrugged off the gratitude. “You do, and we didn’t want them doing whatever and it sucking. She showed up to meet with their designer, and the place is, like, pitch dark. Doors locked, not a car in the lot, no one home.”
“I panicked and called Lance.”
“I drive all the way out there and there’s Dorian, alone. She’s upset, nobody showed up, we can’t get anyone on the phone. Man, I was pissed.”
Dorian patted Lance on the arm. “I had to convince him not to call the sheriff.”
“You were all alone and it was getting dark,” Lance said again.
With an understanding nod, she let go of his arm. “We called Mr. Cooper—our teacher sponsor who works with the committee—as soon as Lance got there. The next day, the principal did some digging and we found out the place went out of business.”
“Some of our committee members thought we should sue.”
“Like we can afford to pay for an attorney and a lawsuit,” Lance scoffed.
Tell me about it, Brooke wanted to blurt, but she resisted.
“That money is long gone. We can’t even afford to pay you guys anything.”
Trevor’s gaze caught Brooke’s.
The full story made their situation even sadder.
“We’re going to make sure you have the kind of meal you already paid for,” Trevor promised.
“We’ve discussed the budget and the food for the prom, and we plan to do better than a few appetizers,” Brooke added.
“Really?” Dorian clasped her hands together.
“That’s our plan anyway.”
“You’ve done so much already, but a sit-down meal would be… We’d be over the moon. Really.” The girl appeared ready to hug her at any second.
Lance remained statue-still at the desk.
“We also talked to a florist, Brenda,” Trevor added. “She’s going to cut us a deal so you won’t be dancing in a bare ballroom. There will be table centerpieces, a couple of large arrangements, some greenery—”
“You guys!” Dorian basically hugged Brooke then. She clung to one of Brooke’s arms and leaned in. “You guys are the best. This is amazing. Thank you!”
“We’re pretty stoked things are working out too.” From his spot at the desk, Trevor stretched his legs out and leaned back, probably the exact same way he’d sat in class when he was a student here. Cool as a spring morning, he’d cruised into their meeting today in decent jeans and a T-shirt.
His attire was plenty appropriate for the day, seeing as how they were meeting with two teenagers dressed similarly, but Brooke still found it necessary to don a skirt and a blazer.
Even if she and Trevor had been closer together in high school, they wouldn’t have been friends.
Trevor was jeans and flip-flops. Hiking and yoga and no worries.
She had on three-inch black heels without really knowing why.
“All we have to iron out now is the music and the food,” Trevor said. “Other than that, we’re good to go.”
That wasn’t really true. Music and food were two huge, important tasks to accomplish. She and Trevor were barely getting started, but she appreciated the enthusiasm that lifted her from the quagmire of details.
Dorian clapped her hands together. “Well, the prom committee met yesterday and they’re super pleased with everything we told them. They were really excited about the prospect of getting DJ Knight, but we totally understand if that ends up being a no-go.”
“As a matter of fact, I’ve got some news on exactly that topic.”
Brooke’s stomach rolled and flip-flopped like a Slinky.
“He’s in! I booked him last night.”
Dorian squealed her delight and Lance gave Trevor some kind of odd high five.
“I can’t believe he’s going to play our prom!” Dorian clapped her hands together. “Thank you.”
“Glad to help.” Trevor grinned.
As wonderful as the news was, Brooke felt more anxious than before. Delivering on a DJ of that level set precedence. They could not let these kids down.
If they let these kids down, they’d let down the whole town. She’d be letting down her family, and she’d never forgive herself.
“What about you guys?” Trevor asked. “Did you find someone at the school to do the announcements of the prom court king and queen?”
“Yes!” Dorian was a flurry of movement as she rounded the teacher’s desk. She opened her book bag and dug inside. “I have everything here.” She pulled her phone from the bag. “One of the vice principals, Mrs. Meadows, agreed to emcee that part. She’s perfect. Great speaking voice. And we did manage to nominate a prom court in a hurry, because for a while there nothing got done. We’d all given up on everything. But anyway, six guys and six
girls. Final voting is next week.”
“Sounds good.” Trevor gave Brooke an expectant look.
“Yes, very good,” she said. “I think we’re making amazing progress.”
“Agreed.” Dorian smiled. “Luckily, no one returned or sold their prom dresses, even when we thought all hope was lost.” She gazed up at Lance, pink hearts practically dancing in her eyes.
Lance never moved from his spot, looking completely oblivious.
Brooke stopped staring at the two of them, only to find Trevor studying her. He pushed his way out of the desk. “I think that covers everything. We better let you guys get to your next class.”
Dorian hoisted her book bag onto her shoulders. “Yeah, we better get to calculus.”
“We’ll reach out to you early next week.”
Dorian waved on her way out with Lance, and the boy still looked upset about her ever being abandoned in a parking lot.
Once they were gone, Trevor slid up beside her. “You don’t seem that excited about the music. I thought you’d be thrilled.”
“I am thrilled,” she said, and meant every word. “I’m just… You know me, I’ll celebrate when it’s all over and we’ve pulled everything off without a hitch.”
A small frown caused a wrinkle between his eyebrows. “That’s no fun. We should celebrate the little successes along the way. Yay us! Good job. Go team.”
Brooke grabbed her purse. She didn’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but her mind insisted on practicality. Worst-case scenarios and backup plans.
She’d gone into marriage with none of the above, and she was still paying for that mistake.
“How about you and Dorian and Lance celebrate as we go, and I’ll save my backflips for when it’s over.”
Trevor opened the classroom door for her. “If I get to see you do a backflip, I’m one hundred percent okay with that plan.”
They made their way down the hall, dodging a few students as they rushed to class.
Voice low, Trevor leaned closer. “Y’know, I get the feeling there might be something between Dorian and Lance.”
Brooke turned. “I was thinking the same thing. I don’t know if they’ll ever be a couple, but I think she’s into him.”
No One Like You Page 10